Bitting Evolution
On Saturday, Leo and I had a cross country lesson over the fences at the farm. Once upon a time the farm held hunter trials and that's why there are natural fences outside the riding ring. Most are beginner novice size or smaller, so they come in handy for practicing all the other stuff related to riding cross country (outside of the fence itself). Though it would be nice to have some more technical jumps to practice with! Like a ditch and bank. The jumps are not portable either so their position can't be changed. The field is great though - with ups and downs in the terrain.
Bitting
Lesley had me try a new bridle and bit on Leo. The bit is called the Citation bit. It is named for the racehorse, Citation. Evidently, after a race they couldn't stop him so they created a bit especially for him. It consists of 2 snaffles. One acts like traditional snaffle, exerting pressure on the horse's mouth. The second is attached to the first bit with steel rings, once in the horse's mouth, a leather strap then connects 2 additional steel rings to each other. The strap goes over the top of the horse's nose. When the rider uses the reins (which are attached to the first snaffle), the pressure engages the second snaffle so that is can apply pressure on the horse's nose.
Lesley explained that some horses prefer pressure on their nose, especially if they have sensitive mouths. Her 3-star horse, Felix, actually went in this bit. Even Becca's 3 star horse, Dollar Spot, went in a combination snaffle and hackamore bridle that Bruce Davidson created and recommended for him. I read online about the citation bit and it has a reputation for being very severe, but Lesley says it is kinder to the horse's mouth than twister snaffles and other bits.
Leo immediately respected this bit more than the slow twist snaffle I had been jumping him in. Just walking around, he didn't try to drag the bit out of my hands and was more respectful of the contact. Because for several weeks now, Lesley has been working on teaching me to control Leo without pulling back on the reins, everything fell together with this bit.
Update: The citation bit only worked for a very short period of time. Leo started backing off his jumps and eventually started stopping. He wouldn't move into the bridle with this bit and use his neck, so while it might have given me control, it destroyed Leo's confidence which is unacceptable. Over the course of Leo's development, the corkscrew has been the most successful for xc jumping and I switch back and forth between the slow twist and the jointed copper roller snaffle for stadium.
Galloping Position
When galloping fences, Lesley wanted me to keep my knuckles on Leo's neck at all times, using just my weight and a counter bend to balance him. I found that I kept picking up my hands when I saw a short distance to the fence. Lesley instructed me that I need to develop the canter and let Leo take over at the jump. He needs to learn that when he rushes the fence and changes the distance its not as comfortable as maintaining a level pace. Right now, she said when I try to use the reins to correct him, he blames me for the uncomfortable jump even though he created the situation. He needs to begin to understand that he is responsible and to learn from his mistakes. But for him to connect the dots, I have to be extremely still and not interfere.
In my canter departs and in my gallop position, my core needs to be totally still and engaged. This way my seat and leg aides can give the proper command without the additional noise that comes from moving my core and upper body. When it comes to my galloping position, Lesley wants my hips to move back to balance and slow the gallop. In general, my seat needs to be closer to the saddle. Let me tell you, these lessons are a workout!
Building Respect for the Leg
We did have two stops, which turned out to be good because Lesley schooled me in dealing with the stop - which is that its not acceptable. Period. Like Sally Cousins told Becca with Lilly, no matter what we do, their job is to jump. With Leo (and Apollo too it turns out!) they don't respect my leg aides. When I put my leg on to move them forward, if they don't care to go forward they don't. This needs to change. Lesley had me "get after" Leo after the second stop. Reinforcing my leg aid with my crop.
In my lesson with Apollo this week, we started correcting this at the walk. Apollo is getting retained to appreciate and respect my leg. In the walk, I was going more work than him to keep him moving. Lesley didn't think this was acceptable and said it only contributes to our problems cross country. Apollo needs to always be motivated to move forward without any aides from me. If he doesn't respond to my leg, I need to back it up with my whip. He need to get to the point where when I take my leg off, his first respond is to move forward rather than drop back behind my leg.
Lesley says not to give up on Apollo yet. We may still be able to turn him into an eventer yet.
Bitting
Lesley had me try a new bridle and bit on Leo. The bit is called the Citation bit. It is named for the racehorse, Citation. Evidently, after a race they couldn't stop him so they created a bit especially for him. It consists of 2 snaffles. One acts like traditional snaffle, exerting pressure on the horse's mouth. The second is attached to the first bit with steel rings, once in the horse's mouth, a leather strap then connects 2 additional steel rings to each other. The strap goes over the top of the horse's nose. When the rider uses the reins (which are attached to the first snaffle), the pressure engages the second snaffle so that is can apply pressure on the horse's nose.
Lesley explained that some horses prefer pressure on their nose, especially if they have sensitive mouths. Her 3-star horse, Felix, actually went in this bit. Even Becca's 3 star horse, Dollar Spot, went in a combination snaffle and hackamore bridle that Bruce Davidson created and recommended for him. I read online about the citation bit and it has a reputation for being very severe, but Lesley says it is kinder to the horse's mouth than twister snaffles and other bits.
Leo immediately respected this bit more than the slow twist snaffle I had been jumping him in. Just walking around, he didn't try to drag the bit out of my hands and was more respectful of the contact. Because for several weeks now, Lesley has been working on teaching me to control Leo without pulling back on the reins, everything fell together with this bit.
Update: The citation bit only worked for a very short period of time. Leo started backing off his jumps and eventually started stopping. He wouldn't move into the bridle with this bit and use his neck, so while it might have given me control, it destroyed Leo's confidence which is unacceptable. Over the course of Leo's development, the corkscrew has been the most successful for xc jumping and I switch back and forth between the slow twist and the jointed copper roller snaffle for stadium.
Related Posts on Bits:
- Another New Bit for Leo (January 2012)
- More on Bits (January 2012)
Galloping Position
When galloping fences, Lesley wanted me to keep my knuckles on Leo's neck at all times, using just my weight and a counter bend to balance him. I found that I kept picking up my hands when I saw a short distance to the fence. Lesley instructed me that I need to develop the canter and let Leo take over at the jump. He needs to learn that when he rushes the fence and changes the distance its not as comfortable as maintaining a level pace. Right now, she said when I try to use the reins to correct him, he blames me for the uncomfortable jump even though he created the situation. He needs to begin to understand that he is responsible and to learn from his mistakes. But for him to connect the dots, I have to be extremely still and not interfere.
In my canter departs and in my gallop position, my core needs to be totally still and engaged. This way my seat and leg aides can give the proper command without the additional noise that comes from moving my core and upper body. When it comes to my galloping position, Lesley wants my hips to move back to balance and slow the gallop. In general, my seat needs to be closer to the saddle. Let me tell you, these lessons are a workout!
Building Respect for the Leg
We did have two stops, which turned out to be good because Lesley schooled me in dealing with the stop - which is that its not acceptable. Period. Like Sally Cousins told Becca with Lilly, no matter what we do, their job is to jump. With Leo (and Apollo too it turns out!) they don't respect my leg aides. When I put my leg on to move them forward, if they don't care to go forward they don't. This needs to change. Lesley had me "get after" Leo after the second stop. Reinforcing my leg aid with my crop.
In my lesson with Apollo this week, we started correcting this at the walk. Apollo is getting retained to appreciate and respect my leg. In the walk, I was going more work than him to keep him moving. Lesley didn't think this was acceptable and said it only contributes to our problems cross country. Apollo needs to always be motivated to move forward without any aides from me. If he doesn't respond to my leg, I need to back it up with my whip. He need to get to the point where when I take my leg off, his first respond is to move forward rather than drop back behind my leg.
Lesley says not to give up on Apollo yet. We may still be able to turn him into an eventer yet.
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