Medium Walk between X & C

Start slow? heck no! We dive right in and have a show to go to in August even though we just had our first official lesson. Coming from a hunter pleasure world we had a good head start so I wasnt too worried, except for one simple little thing.

da da dum....The snaffle bit

I know I know, what could be the problem with a innocuous little thing like a mild snaffle bit? In huntseat pleasure we use a kimberwick because she tends to get pretty strong in the show ring. She was initially trained western in a bosal so snaffles were pretty mild to her and while walk/trot was fine, cantering was a whole 'nother story. I know that a horse that goes well with a mere snaffle is worth its weight in gold but this was going to take a lot of work. Knowing what she does and doesnt like for western and english bits I went with the french link like the above example, probably the mildest of the mild. Ive worked on this off and on (more off than on) over the last couple years really, thinking someday maybe we would do dressage. But not seriously until the last few months, even then I spent far more time on getting ready for huntseat shows this spring. I dont like to use training aids such as martingales or anything else I cant rely on in the ring. After all if I cant get her to listen to my aids at home, how on earth am I going to do it in a hectic show environment!

But how was I going to get her to behave at the canter? I figured I would just have to stick to intro level classes in August that have no cantering in them. Ive never been bucked off or otherwise fallen off Diva in the 6 years I have owned her. She has small spooks on occasion, but never bucked, yet she had me worried with this behavior (which was not at all present when using the kimberwick). I figured I would have to wait until getting lessons to figure out how to get past this issue until I bought bargain item #2.

Your generic lower level dressage bridle with white padding and a flash noseband. I will admit this is not a top quality dressage bridle, which is against my cheap but not cheap quality policy, but I had ebay bucks that were about to expire.  Enough to nearly pay for it entirely (thats what happens when you buy 4 saddles off ebay within 3 months. I bought her a better fitting hunt saddle as she has muscled up more over the years, first one didnt fit, sold it, second one did, just like with the dresssage saddles. Apparently second times the charm with us) You wouldnt really know by looking at it, its supple and it fits, not super thick leather or anything, so what if it leaves black dye on my hands on occasion.

Anyway, the first time I used it on her, WALLA! Canter misbehavior gone. Apparently she was just evading the bit and the flash acts more like her familiar curb chain. Shes not entirely perfect yet but is safe and controllable again, phew!