another bit question! Bit for hunting...

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sloulou

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Am after some suggestions/ advice on alternative bits for hunting my 7yr old TB x Irish Cob

Pic here so you can see his build etc!

Anyway - He went out about 8 times last season... and I tried a selection of bits:

1) Snaffle & cavesson = no brakes (oops)
2) Pelham with 2 reins and cavesson noseband = really hated the curb and opened his mouth to evade the bit anway, so also not good.
3) 3 ring dutch gag with french link mouth piece, two reins and a mexican grackle - which is ok.

So i used option 3 from our 3rd outing onwards... but this is the deal - he isn't strong as such - he doesn't pull and stands nicely etc, but I can't stop if I want to... which means we end up stopping suddenly and nearly running into people unless I have the gag on - when i can stop - but he gets a bit overbent - and although I try to just use the top rein it isn't quite enough out hunting - plus his schooling has come on alot and i think he will tend to be more overbent in a gag this season...

Our normal every day tack for everything else is currently a loose ring french link and mexican grackle. I never need a stronger bit except for out hunting...

Might there be something better than the gag?
 
I'm taking mine this weekend in a double so that might be worth considering?

I think a cheltenham gag raises the head so maybe consider that? Quite strong but might stop him getting over bent.

Good luck getting something sorted, I know from experience how rubbish it is when yo ucan't stop (I've only just stopped aching!)
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I did think double, but he's not got much mouth room... so am thinking it might be too much metal? Plus he really hated the curb on the pelham..

One bit i was thinking about was an english gag... maybe I should try that?

It is so frustrating - i only want him to stop with the others a bit quicker - apart from that we're ok! I also wondered about a tom thumb bit... but unsure!
 
Widget - with the Pelham was it definitely the curb chain he hated or could it have been either the poll pressure or the port (if it had one)?
 
Me again! Without sounding rude, from his picture he looks as though he may be quite thick through the jaw - is that about right?
 
I assumed it was the curb as he is fine with the gag - which I would expect to have lots of poll pressure?

It was a straight bar vulcanite pelham that he didn't like - the curb wasn't overly tight. Should add that he absolutely hates flash nosebands - they make him twitch his head around - but fine in grackle...

is not rude - is accurate - he has a huge head with a huge jaw!
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I don't blame him Widget - I hate flashes too!

When you tried him in the gag, did you have two set of reins - if yes, how much did you ride on the lower rein as that is the one that really exerts poll pressure?

Sorry to keep asking more questions but it's hard to work out the issue unless I do!!
 
Camilla - I had 2 sets of reins and I found that even with a pretty loose contact on the bottom rein (I even tried knoting it and ignorign it totally for a while - once he's in the gag he overbends. But I need the bottom rein to stop when he just sets against me
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- he doesn't go like this in his snaffle - so I know it is the bit - and we've done group rides in the snaffle/ mexican grackle combo and he is fine - but something switches in his head out hunting!
 
Okay Widget, this does seems to be an attitude/schooling issue if the problem arises only when hunting. Can I ask if you ever use the gag for everyday use or is it only when he is doing something more exciting? It may be that he is anticipating an adventurous outing when his gag goes on. Is it worth using it occasionally for hacking/schooling (without necessarily using the bottom rein) so that he comes to be more used to it?
 
Its quite normal to need extra brakes - mine that does everything in a cavesson and sanffle gets treated to a long shanked lozenge pelham and grackle (to be fair he semi-bolts away from the field)

Anyway first thing I would do is get a pair of spur straps and put them through the top rings of your 4 ring gag and see if that has any effect (its a high curb action, and stops the bit from over rotating). Does turn it into a hybrid pelham and likely to lower the head.

If you are into needing to raise the head then a running gag is going to be the only option. However you'll need to find a double jointed mouthpeice or he will just open his mouth.
 
Camilla - I don't think so - it the whole hunting thing that sets him off. I took him on a pleasure ride - lots of people - so put him in the gag just in case and he didn't even try to pull
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Although it did make him overbend when i took a contact, he still didn't set against me when I asked him to slow or stop...

CotswoldSJ - not totally sure I know what you mean re: spur straps - do you mean make them into roundings or do you mean loop one like a leather curb strap? Sorry to be thick!
 
My cob mare does everything in her waterford loose ring snaffle - ODE, HT, fun rides etc but for hunting I have to use a waterford cheltenham gag.
I tried in a mullen mouth pelham with 2 rein about 5 times and although I had brakes they weren't brilliant and the 2 reins were killing my hands. She also would drop her head and pull in the pelham.
My mare, hates all bits except a waterford or a straight bar and she has a very large tongue and big bars so I was limited to what I could try on her.
 
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