Quite simply. What a week. No work update this time, more about my complicated horse.
Saturdays Dressage test at the PetPlan Semi Finals spurred me on to once and for all sort Ziggys bitting issue out. The realisation Monday that one judge had him in second, which would’ve been a place at Hartpury and a golden ticket, left me more determined than ever! Don't get me wrong, I was thrilled with 11th out of 34, but I know he could've gone better!
So, feeling confident about sorting our issue out I put a post on the BD page asking for advice on what bitting and bridling specialists to use. Only for that to open a complete can of worms - it was insane!
To give a bit of background info regarding the problems we're having, Ziggy chomps constantly. And unless you've been watching me ride or ridden with me, you won't realise just how annoying it is. I've managed to block out the noise, but its evident he's not happy in the mouth. As well as this I get the feeling he hangs onto the bit. If I ask for more contact than he likes he'll shake his head and resist, especially when jumping. If we're schooling he'll just end up ridiculously tense and then we get head swaying, chomping and generally just a tricky horse to ride! He also occasionally tilts his head and becomes very blocked into the contact; I get the feeling I can't move his neck and he's very wooden. My instructor also felt his bridle wasn't quite right, but we weren't sure in what way exactly. We tried a drop noseband and that only made him threaten to go up so we quickly took that off and went back to a flash. However it was time to sort it out once and for all. On a good day out competing he was a 70%+ horse and two weeks ago in prelim we were told the majority of his work is much higher than prelim. However on a bad day, like last week, he's a 65% horse and the difference shows. I want to crack this now so we can get some Novice tests under our belt!
Anyway, I was put in touch with a bitting specialist from the Horse Bit Shop who gave some really good advice and feels he’s in the wrong bit in terms of make, and has pointed me in the direction of trying a Myler hanging cheek rather than the one I’ve got. She also felt his bridle didn’t quite sit 100%, and he would probably benefit from a comfort headpiece. Apparently connies have rather sensitive tongues and can be quite confident in letting us know about it. She also joked that the talented horses are never the easy ones to crack. By god I hope that’s the case here...
Ema was absolutely lovely and we spent an hour on the phone, discussing his bad points, good points, what a good day in terms of contact felt and what a bad day felt like. She made me feel like there was some light in our dark tunnel in terms of getting this right and the good thing is, we can trial any bit for a small fee until we find the right one!
Her reasoning for recommending a Myler comes from years of experience that Connemara's seem to have sensitive tongues and all the ones she has fitted a bit to have gone well in a Myler. Additionally, because of my issue I'm having where I can't seem to flex him, the Myler has single rein action as apposed to a normal bit.
Solid or un-jointed bits can only act on the part of the tongue which sticks up above the top of the bars. Jointed bits can drive downwards into the centre of the tongue way past the level of the bars.
The horse will resist the rider’s rein signals because he is trying to evade the pressure of the bit on his tongue so he can swallow. The Myler approach is completely the opposite, seeing the bit far more as a means of communication than a means of control .
Mylers advocate using the most comfortable bit possible, so that no restrictive gadgets are required to force the horse into the “correct” position. The horse’s tongue should be given as much release as is right for that particular animal at that particular stage in its training, and the most appropriately shaped bit selected to suit the mouth of each individual horse.
They work that if you flex with one rein, you can do and it doesn't put pressure on the entire bit.
And....so, of course, I’m now entering the weekend with a purse considerably lighter: thank goodness you can trial the bits until you find the right one!
Going back to the BD page; when it comes to owning horses, we all think we’re experts and we know better than Joe Bloggs down the road. My opinion is more of the fact that, if we think we’re doing the best by our Equine companions, and we’re trying our hardest to make them comfortable and happy then we’re doing all we can. Sometimes we make mistakes but we’re human and if we ask for help then there’s no shame in that. Surely?
Anyway, expensive piece of equipment that horse will only slobber on is due to arrive tomorrow so I’ll update on how it goes regularly! So many of you have messaged me after seeing my post on BD and asked for an update on how I crack this issue we’re having with him. Meanwhile....I’m off to figure out how much I can get for one of my kidneys to help pay for this horses expensive taste - quite literally!
Disclaimer: I love you really Ziggy, but why on earth a simple £15 bit from the local tack shop isn’t your preferred taste, I’ll never know!
Here's our diary of how we intend to crack this issue once and for all:
Friday 27th: Took Ziggy to my instructors today and mentioned the lengthy discussions I'd had with Ema at the Horse Bit Shop and what she felt our best course of action was. My instructor managed to dig a snaffle Myler out of her tack room of heaven and rode him in it for me today. One thing that soon became apparent was the distinct lack of chomping. In fact, he didn't chomp once. It seemed so quiet! We focused on getting him to take an even contact down both reins, without the swaying and focusing on getting him to bend and realise he can flex. He knows how to, he just sometimes pretends he can't! We did 25 minutes work in total and were both pleased with him. However it started discussions as to whether the hanging cheek I'd ordered was right and if we did just need a snaffle!
Saturday 28th: My hanging cheek from the Horse Bit Shop arrived this morning so I wasted no time in putting it on! I also changed my bridle under my instructors recommendation that she felt his bridle wasn't sitting right. I only rode for 15 minutes as the yard was very busy due to riding lessons happening, but again....such a difference! Three people were watching that are used to his constant chomping and all said "He's not chomped once!" which felt like music to my ears! He felt like he was resisting at the beginning but after a trot round soon settled and I asked him to work over some poles, then canter down the long side, circle and trot over the poles again. He usually relaxes much quicker if you keep his mind busy! I was lucky enough to have my other half with me today so he took some videos, and the overall picture looks promising. Firstly, no chomping, and secondly I was able to use on rein to get him even into the contact. Also, no powering on in the canter and when I asked him to half halt, he did! I could be getting ahead of myself but I hope this is a good sign of things to come! 
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