On Sunday, we picked right up with the bit following work with more
emphasis on me. She wanted me to use the opening rein with my hand
either at 9 or 3 on the clock face, if my body was facing 12, which put
my hand at or behind my thigh.
Then she had me put my elbows just in front of my torso, saying mine always wanted to be behind or next to my torso, and if they're in front and my hands are down, I can't pull. "You've seen Charlotte Dujardin ride, right? Her elbows are so far in front of her torso. Yours are behind it."
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| Not me |
This is when things really started to click. I finally had control of his body, AND I was very much with him and no longer pulling. In the posting trot, I felt him reach down into the contact, not in a rude, leaning way, but in a relaxed, solid, pleasant sort of way. "Did you feel that?!" GP trainer squealed, "That looks SO much better! This is what contact should feel like!"
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| Hot, tired pony |
It was about that moment I felt him sigh and fill up underneath me, blowing out so hard he pressed my legs out. He did that one more time a few seconds later, and as he did it I looked in the mirror. He looked so free, swingy, soft and happy. A huge lightbulb clicked for me in this moment, and it was the first time in three lessons I didn't hear "You're pulling" every so often.
At this point we were still in the Universal, and CGP brought out a pile of legal bits with similar mouthpieces to try. We tried several - Herm Springer KK Ultra French Link Loose Ring, Neue Schule Turtle Top Loose Ring, NS Tranz-Angled Lozenge Loose Ring French Link, and finally the NS Turtle Tactio.
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| Connor's CLEAR favorite |
In the rest of the loose rings, it was like I had to shout a little louder to get my point across, but in the Turtle Tactio, he felt incredibly soft and pliable. I still liked his balance with the loose lever action of the Universal better, and I asked CGP if she thought that would be a good thing, if it would help us both break the cycle of pulling, or if there was a risk I would go home and start pulling against it. She said she'd keep us in that bit for now if she saw us every day, but since she didn't, she recommended the loose ring.
And side note, on my first ride on my own last night, I started out in my old Herm Sprenger KK Loose Ring French Link and he was AWFUL awful awful. And then a barnmate just happened to have the NS Turtle Tactio in Connor's size, so I put him in that, and it was an IMMEDIATE and big improvement. So, nice to have confirmation that that purchase is a good one!
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| #dressagebarnthings 😂 |
Sounds incredible!
ReplyDeleteIt really was!
DeleteI love those aha moments! So exciting, but of course he loves the expensive bit... Lol. Worth it though, if you feel that much difference!
ReplyDeleteOf course. I've just given up on cheap bits with him, lol. Truly I do think the bit should be where you put your money, it's the only piece of equipment that's IN the horse's body, so I don't mind spending when he tells me he likes something.
Deletei wish there was some sort of magic trick for keeping my hands out in front of me lol... sigh. yay tho for finding a bit that Connor likes so much!
ReplyDeleteRight! Is there like...a harness we can rig up from the ceiling for this or something, lol
DeleteTape a broom handle to the front of your elbows so you physically can't get them behind you?
DeleteI need to get it together and find a NS bit to try on my kids. It's inspiring to hear such great results!!
ReplyDeleteI really like them, but it's bit-to-bit whether Connor likes them or not. He HAAAAAAAAAAAAAATED the Verbindend and tolerated the Trans-Angled Lozenge Baucher. I do think they do a great job really understanding the horse's mouth and designing good bits in general, worth the money for sure!
DeleteIs the loose ring Turtle Tactio USDF legal? For some reason I had it in my head that the mouthpiece was not legal for dressage...
ReplyDeleteYep, it's legal! https://www.usef.org/forms-pubs/96D17lSsaCo/annex---bits-saddlery-equipment
DeleteIs it bad that I keep reading that as "turtle taquito?" Glad you found a bit that works though!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE TAQUITOS!
DeleteThanks for writing this series. I'm really enjoying it. The opening rein exercise reminds me of the Jane Savoie suppling exercise, which is a good one too.
ReplyDeleteI have always liked the double-jointed bits with a rounded lozenge. Feels very alive in the mouth. I think the flat link can be uncomfortable on the tongue, depending on the horse/pony.
I'm so glad you're enjoying it. I'll have to look up that exercise, maybe it'll be helpful to add to my arsenal.
DeleteI've come to realize that Connor really DOESN'T like anything rounded in the middle - the bits he has liked best are all thin and flat in the center, like the Tactio and the Bombers. It's probably a function of his mouth anatomy, he has a very low palette and large tongue, not a lot of room in there. There's so much I still feel like I have to learn about mouth anatomy and bits.
Peony might still have that bit for sale if you want one of your own.
ReplyDeleteWill you be selling your bombers bit? Inquiring minds want to know...
ReplyDeleteProbably not? But I'd be willing to loan it out.
DeleteCan we hire someone to go to these lessons with you to get media? I VOLUNTEER AS TRIBUTE.
ReplyDelete