This bit is different from Gavin's old bit in that it's an eggbutt rather than a loose ring, it has a differently shaped link in the middle, it's thicker in general, and it's made of aurigan (some metal HS created), which is supposed to help them get all slobbery.
I wanted a fixed ring bit as it helps to stabilize contact and take out a little of the rider's "noise". I don't think I'm a "loud" rider with my hands, but I wouldn't call them quiet either.
I also wanted a material to make him salivate more. I realize salivation comes from bit acceptance, but I also think salivation helps with bit acceptance (a little bit of the ole chicken and the egg scenario there). My thought being if he salivates more, he may come to accept the bit more.
Based on these wants, I bought the Herm Sprenger dynamic aurigan eggbutt bit. What a mouthful, huh?! I've ridden Gavin in it twice and he is definitely steadier into contact. This is especially noticeable on the straight aways, where he likes to pop up and take off. It's harder to keep him on the bit when I'm not also asking for bend, but he seems happy to work into it now. He is also salivating more. I know this because every time we take walk breaks I'm leaning over to check his mouth (horse people are weird…) ;)
This is also a milder bit. I didn't realize how thin his other bit was until comparing it to the new one. The change has got to feel better on his lips. Though I'm unsure of the height of his palate, he doesn't seem uncomfortable - so I don't think it's too big for his mouth.
So yes, I'm happy with the bit! And that was my criteria for keeping it. I wasn't going to keep it if it was just okay, and he went about the same in it. That wouldn't make sense - as I nearly wiped out my monthly spending money on this thing.
On another, slightly embarrassing note - I have the hardest time getting Gavin to transition from trot to canter. He almost always (95% of the time) runs into the canter. I try to prepare him better, I balance him, I get him feeling more forward, then I say "ready?…", I sit, I ask and kiss at the same time. He always takes between 2-4 strides of fast trot before cantering and before I'm able to think to give him a tap with the whip (tap sounds so much sweeter than spank) my legs are all tensed and curled up and I'm just squeezing the hell out of him and looking like a jockey. I know I need to ask with my legs and then ask with the whip (and not move my legs out of position), but I have a hell of a time remembering. Anyone have any suggestions?
Yes, and it's not all you. Every horse of Lisa's that I've ever ridden or observed in the training process had a hard time with 1) the confidence in themselves to pick up the canter and 2) knowing where their feet are, and how to get messages from your aids to their brains to their feet quickly enough. That is actually how Cathy Jones-Forsberg described Connor when she first met him, he didn't know where his own feet were enough to pick up the canter. I will go back through my blog and try to find what she and my trainer had me do to improve that and let you know. A lot of it was asking really clearly, and timing it perfectly so they didn't have to think as hard about getting their feet from the trot to the canter. Hang in there and keep at it! Cobs aren't natural canter-ers, so this is really hard for them.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you saw this post! I was hoping you (and other cob owners) would chime in, as Gavin would most certainly rather power trot than canter. Do you and Connor have it down now?
DeleteI am in the same boat with Rosemary. She prefers to just trot bigger. I know she needs mileage, but I will watch for suggestions too. She did get better when I did a bunch of transitions one day. Transitions can help with so many things. I just changed her bit too.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you wrote! I was hoping cob owners would write in! I feel like Gavin has mileage at this point in the canter, but now it's like - okay - when are you going to just canter when I ask for canter? I feel like it's a bad habit now.
DeleteWhat did you change her bit to?
A boucher (sp?) three piece, the loose ring three pc was just not helping enough. I have had since July, but misplaced it in the move.
DeleteI know some of Rosemary's issues are due to bad habits, but we will work through it.
One of the things my trainer told my to work on with Nancy is to not wait for a specific moment to ask for canter, but to make regular transitions whenever the trot is going well. And transitions, transitions and more transitions are to become our best friend.
ReplyDeleteAlso work on a circle to help her balance and once she is balanced between my hands, seat and leg then help guide her down the long side of the arena.
Sorry if this isn't helpful :/
Aoife's comment just rattled my brain: that was one of the things CJF used with us. I was stuck on "If I say I'm going to canter at F, I must canter at F." She encouraged me to pick up the canter only from a good controlled trot, regardless of where in the arena that occurred. If I didn't have the "right" trot at F, I shouldn't pick up the canter just because I am at F.
DeleteI'm definitely guilty of the picking a point to canter and just focusing on it (and they tend to be the same spots over and over again). What do you guys do though if lets say the trot feels perfect and you ask for canter and they zoom away in the trot? Bring them back down to a controlled trot and ask again? Once I ask it's like I can't get my brain to think or say to my legs fast enough "wait and try again" I just start vice gripping the poor beastie!
DeleteYeah I would say don't panic, rebalance and try again. Also don't beat yourself up of it doesn't work first time or even many times - this is all a learning curve and the only way to get better is practice practice.
DeleteAlso I don't know how much space you have to lunge but if you could incorporate a lunge session (maybe instead of riding) once a week and have a certain sound that asks for the canter this can then also be transferred to tack when under saddle.
For example I make a kiss sound for walk, cluck for trot & smack my lips together for canter. I'll try to make a video next time i lunge Kika, she has it down a treat whereas I still haven't gotten around to working with Nancy to lunge better.
Sorry if i am not explaining properly nor making sense *blush*
No - you're making sense and explaining everything properly! :) Gavin knows the kiss means canter, the little booger is just like "oh you want me to canter? Here are four giant strides of trot before hand!!! Take that lady!!!" ;) In my mind he's vengeful about it - hehehehe. But you make good points. I need to be obvious about what I want, direct, and if it doesn't work, rebalance and try again.
Deleteglad you like the new bit! i LOVE my hs french link - and isabel goes really well in it. and good luck with the canter! sounds like you already got a lot of great advice too. the transitions idea is good - as is only asking when the horse is trotting well (meaning yes - reorganize the trot if he gets zoomy. it's nbd if you need to take a deep breath and trot another lap or something just to reestablish the trot)
ReplyDeleteThanks for the luck! :) I just rode him last night and SHOCKER - when I really set him up for the canter he doesn't run into it. Oh right, I forgot I have to actually ride him. Grrrr!!!
DeleteI have a dressage coach who also suggested posting on the wrong diagonal for a couple strides before asking for the canter. I forgot the whole explanation, but something about the balance of the horse. Obviously not correct for show ring world, but helpful for a horse that isn't always picking it up.
ReplyDeleteMy one Arab mare is a bit lazier and would rather trot/trot/HUGE RUNNING TROT instead of just cantering, so when she begins trotting bigger, she is to be brought back down, more circles, rebalanced and quiet instead of chasing her into it. Remembering to sit up/back to help balance as it is hard if I am so focused on picking up that canter, I have inadvertently dumped her on the forehand.
Not sure if anything is helpful, but thought I'd share. :)
Recently I have noticed myself leaning forward for the canter. It's like I'm trying to will him to canter with my body! ;) This is a good reminder to sit back - thank you!
DeleteIt's all about finding what works for you and your horse. With bits, I've found experimenting and trying new things is the way to go. If it doesn't go well, you can always go back!
ReplyDeleteThis experiment has gone really well! He seems to really like the new bit! :)
DeleteThanks for the bit review - this sounds like one that might work for my girl!
ReplyDeleteI meant to comment on the canter as well...both my cobs had/have a tough time with it and would rather show you a big trot. With the older one, it's gotten better as she has gained strength/confidence and the transition is good now, but for a couple of years there it was not so great! My 'new' girl can barely canter at all...so we start the process again. As others mentioned, I've been told to wait until you get a good, balanced trot and then ask. Then transition back down to trot when/if the canter feels like it's not so balanced. I immediately tell her if I'm pleased with the transition as well since I feel like both are super tuned into my voice and want to please more than anything. Repeat ad nauseum :)
DeleteAfter riding in the bit a few times I've found that I really like it, mostly because Gav seems to realy like it. It was pricey, but I'm starting to believe it was worth it! I know Bit of Britain does a rental on this particular one if you want to give it a try without committing.
DeleteI hate to say that I'm glad to hear you had issues with the canter as well, but I am glad to have some cob comraderie on the issue. :) On Tuesday I worked A LOT at prepping him for the canter, and it really, really helped. It's so strange to me that they aren't natural canterers because I find that their canter is really bold and pretty when they finally get it!
I know, right! I watch that beautiful uphill canter out in the field and get all excited, but the reality is 90% of the time mine are trotting around instead while everyone else canters. I think with my bigger mare her canter is just so big and bold she has trouble balancing and containing it in a smaller space and was backing herself off. B, on the other hand, is just lazy and uncoordinated :)
DeleteI won't use anything but HS and occasionally the Stubben version of it on the dressage horses. They're more than worth investing in.
ReplyDeleteWhat has worked best for me with horses that want to run into the canter is if they start running, bring them back to a balanced and organized trot and ask again until they get it right. This usually gets them more prepared for and anticipating the transition and they tend to get it after a few tries. I also repeat the aids to ask in my mind: inside leg on, outside leg back, softening inside rein, half halting outside rein, ask for canter. Sometimes just thinking about the aids step by step helps me get the transition better. I also make sure that they are in a slight shoulder-fore before I ask. I've also used leg yielding down the long side and then asking when I change the bend in the corner or leg yielding from the quarter or center line and asking when I get to the rail. I don't know if any of this will help or not, but I'm sure that you'll get there soon :)
Thanks for the tips - I've never tried the leg-yielding, but I'm going to give it a try. No harm in trying a new technique! :) And thanks for your vote of confidence - I slacked off so bad when Gav was younger. I should have gotten the canter down a long time ago, but I just put it off and put it off, but we're dealing with it now - so I hope you're right and that we get it down soon!
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