A bit if biting advice (also in competition)

[YummyHorses]

So, lovely KWPN gelding, 8 years old, fantastic jumper.

Have jumped in a dutch gag for a while however he has taken to a bit of headshaking when cantering between the jumps. My trainer felt that he didnt like the poll pressure so we put the reins onto the snaffle ring and he improved immediately. This was at home and the trouble is out at shows he pulls like a train! He gets very excited and jumps really well but tends to tank off a bit. This spoils the canter and despite my efforts to use my seat I just cant control him.

So I dont want anything too strong, brings poll pressure, or pulls him in too much (he tends to tuck in).

What would you recommend? Friends have suggested a pelham but am not sure. What else could work?

Cheers very much. x

 

[toomanyhorses26]

A friend uses a myler combo short shank on her eventer who is fairly sensitive but again pulls like a train on the xc - seems to work as it spreads the pressure as such as it has a band that rests across the nose. I have no idea though if they are BS legal as such .

 

[suzysparkle]

Stronger snaffle mouthpieces without poll pressure are usually Dr bristol and Waterfords. You could try a pelham but they use curb pressure and some Horses don't jump so well with this (an elastic or leather curb can help with that). You can try the reaction to curb pressure by using a flash strap behind the jaw on the vey top ring of your gag. In fact many people would say you should do this with a dutch gag anyway and use 2 reins. Personally I think many Horses go better in pelhams as most are mullen mouth so don't have a squeezing effect on the tongue and jaw.

Myler combo's are very good as they distribute the pressure several ways but one of these is over the poll. Horses very sensitive in the mouth can take to them really well. I found my rather strong gelding goes best in a ported mullen mouth hanging cheek (a hilary vernon dalehead) with a grackle. Basically a pelham without the curb action. It's worth trying a grackle as flashes aren't comfortable if done up tight as they sit over the fleshy part of the mouth.

 

[natalia]

My mare is very similar sounding to yours. I jump her in a kimblewick. She likes the straight bar action, and also rides well in a pelham, but I don't like riding with two reins to SJ and kimblewick is strong enough. I tried a Neue schule jumper bit today on recomendation as they are meant for horses with very fussy mouths, but mare hated it and ran round and round the school blind, snatched a lot and was basically unridable. If you want a straight bar also consider trying a pee wee bit, very kind but also fairly strong and lots of horses go very well in them.