A question for those of you who own/Ride an Ex-Race Horse.....

I am currently borrowing a KK Aurigan french link loose ring snaffle - I do everything in it, dressage, SJ and XC, plus hacking and hopefully hunting (if I have the guts to go next season
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KK full cheek conrad snaffle for flatwork, with drop noseband.
haven't found anything perfect for jumping yet, experimented last year and found that a vulcanite pelham was about the best, am now playing around with a high-ported myler combi bit.
 
before I sold her as a broodmare, I had mine in a straight bar full cheek happymouth snaffle- all i had to do was sit up and she would stop for me. Unfortunately our competing career was terrible as she frightened me for 2 years, but out hunting ive never needed anything more than that =]
 
Dressage in a KK ultra loose ring snaffle or NS Verbindend bradoon w/ KK conrad forward port weymouth if in his double

Hack in a jefferies revolver link wilkie snaffle

Hunt/HT in a mullen ported kimblewick
 
OH has his in a french link snaffle or a single joint Dutch gag on the 2nd ring - he hunted with his previous owner in the gag.
 
My daughter has an ex race horse who we are hoping to event. He goes in a loose ring french link for flat and sj and a tom thumb for xc - he thinks hes back on the rececourse when his feet hit the grass!
 
I now use a myler comfort snaffle with cheeks for everything except showing when I use a pinchless jointed pelham. Found the cheeks made a huge difference to steadiness in contact as he used to head tip given half a chance.
 
currently in a french linked cheeked snaffle with flash for pretty much everything, however for jumping and XC a french link 3 ring with roundings as she does tend to get a little strong
 
Both of mine are in lozenge-type snaffles, one full cheek Neue Schule and one in a Sprenger Type 2. I stick the chestnut in a pelham and roundings for hunting though as he's inclined to piss off with me. I stick a flash on the grey horse for cross country to make him pay attention but he doesn't need a stronger bit really.
 
dressage and sj.. a small ringed eggbutt french link.. xc a french link fulmer... sometimes he still thinks he's a racehorse!! hence the full cheeks for steering!
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snaffle, my horse is an ex-racer turned polo pony who is now about 16. i ride her in a snaffle for hacking,schooling, playing polo, hunting... everything! shes not very strong but he can bounce up and down!
 
Loose ring, french link snaffle for everything. I occasionally swap to a loose ring waterford snaffle as my boy gets a bit stuffy & wooden if he's always worked in the same bit. He won't go in any bit with a single link, he hates it & becomes like a giraffe!
 
mainly french link plastic snaffles with full cheeks for flatwork & hacking, one of them needs a french link kimblewick for jumping, have also found waterfords work really well for XC/hunting
 
NS loose ring tranz lozenge for everything. If I think I might have problems (jumping fast outside for instance) then I'll pop in a tranz lozenge nelson gag. He's very simple to bit, not really had any problems.
 
I ride mine in a snaffle for flat work and hacking, it's a NS Starter bit. For jumping I'm using a D ring copper roller which seems to be ok (touch wood!). I also took him hunting in this and he was strong but controllable. Although I am looking for something with slightly better brakes for when I next take him out!
My lad hates any bit with leverage action so it's snaffles all the way for me.
 
Ride mine in a loose ring kk with lozenge for flatwork/ dressage and a fench link bubble bit with leather curb strap for jumping/ xc.
 
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