Okay, calling all my fellow Eventers -NEED ADVICE!
I'm after some bit/gear recommendations for B for XC.
Brendan currently goes XC in a single joint full cheek snaffle. I also use a grackle noseband and rings.
He is not strong, never takes over or anything nasty and is a nice snaffle mouthed horse, however, lately I'm finding him "dull" on XC. He leans, especially after long stretches after I ask him to open up a bit. He leans like hell when I try and steady him up in prep for a fence. He does come back and sit up, it just takes a long time for him to get the message, and I end up fighting with him a little.
Not to mention I am tiny. I'm 5'3" and weigh less than 50kgs, and he is almost 16.3hh, and I really do have to use my whole body to bring him back and lift him up.
He used to fight me a bit more, but since putting him in the grackle he is much happier. He has always jumped in rings, he's not sensitive and has never been offended by them or anything. He is fine showjumping (in the same bit & gear) and doesn't lean anywhere near as much.
I'm just struggling to find something he wont lean on, literally the only thing he won't lean on is a double bridle, and I don't want to use one on him regularly for flat, let alone jump in one!!! I've tried both single and double joints of the current bit he is in -absolute no difference. I have tired him in a D-ring copper roller, he was soft on it for a bit, but now just leans on it too!
Tried him in a dutch gag once (with two reins on it) and found it was too much correction, he just didn't need it and he ended up sucking back over jumps.
So, does anyone have any recommendations? I'd like to stay as close to snaffle type bits as I can, as he's just not a horse that needs too much correcting, plus I have little to no experience using 'stronger' bits, in the sense that I don't know of any/how they all work. I've really only ever ridden snaffle mouthed horses. And like I said, he's not strong or overly heavy, just dull.
So does anyone have any recommendations, any at all? Much appreciated!