Alternative to unslotted Kimblewick?

TeamWazz

TeamWazz

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This is a long story which I've attempted to cut as short as possible!

My horse has always been rather hot headed to jump, which turns out is mainly due to rider error and through some lessons with my WONDERFUL new instructor he has completely changed his tune and seems to be going much better and calmer - although we're not out of the woods yet! So I'm a very happy girl. However last night in my lesson I was trying him in a kimblewick in my lesson but he went best and happiest in the unslotted part of the bit - which am I right in understanding has nearly the same action as a hanging cheek?

I would INFINITELY prefer to have a simpler bit, and for once with this rider and horse retraining I actually feel like its possible however I don't want to kill myself in the process so before I buy a hanging cheek snaffle to try I want to check I'm right in thinking this is correct? And does anyone have a neue schule hanging cheek and recommend it?
 
It could be the hanging cheek action or could be the mouthpice.

Up can put a kimlewick in upside down so it acts like a d ring snaffle (cheek pieces and reins both on the D) to find out which your horse likes - Cambridge or mullen mouth or hanging cheek.
 
The kimblewick, I should add, is a KK Sprenger with a french lozenge.
He tends to be a fan of jointed mouth pieces, rather than a mullen mouth.
 
TeamWazz said:
The kimblewick, I should add, is a KK Sprenger with a french lozenge.
He tends to be a fan of jointed mouth pieces, rather than a mullen mouth.
Click to expand...

In that case you can put the cheeks at the top of the D to try. TBH I would never use a jointed bit with a curb as it confuses the action.
 
Hey:)
I ride my Connemara pony in a French link hanging check.
I don't use this bit as a control bit as its not very strong but stronger then an eggbut, D ring tec. I use it to help my pony to round through his poll and neck.

You are right, not having the reins in the unslotted part is like a hanging check. However a hanging check would work better then what you did woth the bit in the lesson
This bit works on the poll of the horse ( the bit between their ears ) it puts a little more pressure there and in my opinion brings there head down and in. So perhaps because ye both aren't out of the woods yet stick with the kimblewick
As there's more control ( when reins are in slot)
The bit should be used with care but your instructor can help you with that.

The hanging check worked wonders for my pony but that was for flatwork. I would recommend this bit instead of the normal snaffle but not in exchange for a kimblewick.

Hope this helped :)
 
He was in a dutch gag before that, ring below the snaffle ring, but it just encouraged him to bury his nose in between his legs and he was just leaning into it.

I don't like the kimblewick slotted at all and neither did Winnie, he just sat behind the contact the whole time. Much happier when it was unslotted!

Hmm, you could be right about too much going on though, he's just not a fan of straight bar mouthpieces though.
 
I have a ns hanging cheek with lozenge but my mare is different to yours, she prefers the Mullen mouth of a snaffle or Pelham. There was too much movement with the lozenge mouth piece.
 
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