The Natue of Cumulative Errors Over Time Or Space

The first thing I asked you was age and history. No answer was given to that request. Your use of your withheld information to point out a flaw in my post is typical of a poster not authentically engaged in a discussion of horsemanship. My work here is to inform. With minimal information, I give the best available information based on experience, and what you describe is a profound lack of competition training. If, in fact, the horse has a long competition history, then you cannot ride a competition horse without a hurtful bit. Which is it?

P.S. I am still waiting for an answer to my question on the "different pressure points" on which a twist bit works. If it would not be too much trouble for you, I'd really like to learn about those points.

"the edges amplify pressure on the mouth, especially the bars and tongue"

Bars and tongue are "different points"? They are the same as any snaffle. The difference is not different points than the snaffle she goes well in at home, but rather harsh, painful edges on the same points. Do you know that pain tightens a horse?

"Competed at Training level and now ready to move up"? Is this thanks to the twist bit that she is ready to move up? What do you have against training her to relax in competition so she would not "require" this sharp edged painful bit?

One of the horses my daughter rides/trains is an OTTB mare.  She goes well anywhere in a snaffle; however, when there's a big event on the premises, with trailers and horses everywhere, loudspeakers, etc. she goes into "race mode".  My daughter also thought she needed a stronger bit at such times.  But instead, Horseguy taught her ways to "take the edge off" the horse.  If I remember correctly, he said all horses are different as to what works best, but that particular day he had her back the horse up a hill several times.  He gave her other ideas as well and taught her to examine her surroundings well and use whatever was available.  These simple things only took a few minutes.  The next weekend there was another big show, and she didn't even have to use any of the "tricks" he had shown her - the horse remained calm. 

The tone, intent, etc. behind "words on a page" can be hard to interpret, but in the years my daughter has known Horseguy, she has brought many riding and training "issues" to him, and he has ALWAYS had a solution - a training solution, not a purchased solution.  Not only does he really know horses, he is a very gifted instructor.  I hope you will seriously consider his advice.  I don't know how much time you have between dressage and stadium jumping or cross country, but if you are opposed to a "throw-away competition" as suggested, maybe you could find a way to "take the edge off" your horse in-between.  Good luck.

Jacki

 

I think nit picking on terminology such as "show" or "showing" isn't really worthwhile. You understood her to be going to an event with the purpose to compete. Using "show" is acceptable, for brevity's sake.

I still think that there are things that could be ironed out when the horse is in "competition mode" and is not quite as calm as when working at home. I have low tolerance for what I would consider crappy behavior. Some people are not bothered by it when their horse is "up" as it gives them more to work with at a competition. They aren't changing bits though. They either accept the behavior and try to shape it or they donate fees to be able to fix it.