Question
Hi I have a 16.1hh 10 year old ISH x Warmblood Bay Gelding who I have owned for 5 years. We compete at 4* level Eventing. He is quite pony like in his way of going, has a tendency to be tight behind and finds it hard to sit and lift in front. He also puts his tongue out to the right. I have tried a variety of bits but he doesn’t like the nutcracker action and pokes his tongue out in resistance to the bit. This is more apparent jumping when the contact is much more varying and he resists when the contact is taken back after a fence. I need something more than a snaffle or he doesn’t have enough respect for me in the ring, however the more poll pressure there is the more he resists the contact. I want to improve on his ability to take the contact and ultimately accept it whilst taking the weight behind to become lighter in front. He is currently working in a loose ring French Link snaffle for dressage and a rubber Pelham for cross country.
Suggestion
After reviewing your question and from the detailed information given we would
suggest that the most logical choice for you would be a Verbindend for flatwork and theWarmblood Show/Loose Ring Pelham for jumping. The Verbindend is comfortable encouraging the horse to relax the tongue therefore eradicating most tongue evasions. The Verbindend is now our most popular design for dressage. The Warmblood Show/Loose ring Pelham is often used for faster work again for comfort and control and where help is needed to overcome resistance and tongue evasions. You don’t always need the curb chain in fact sometimes more lift and response is achieved by doing away with the curb. With all poll sensitivity extra cushioning is required, we would recommend that you use a thick gel poll guard with any bit that applies poll pressure.
Resources
The Recommendation Given Is As A Result Of Information Gained From The Completed Bitting Questionnaire And In Some Instances An In-Depth Telephone Conversation.