Another bitting help post

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zoon

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I am quite small at only 5'3 and ride a big 16.2 WB who's previous owner was a big strong man. I've had him for 3 years and always had issues with his strength - he does not pull or lean, it simply takes a lot of strength to get him to listen. I figure thais is the result of a large strong man owning him for many years and using more force on the reins and with his seat than I am physically capable of or would like to do.

I now ride him in a Neue Schule verbindend and he goes nicely in it and with some schooling we are even able to jump in it now, when before he would be jumped in a cherry roller gag.

My issue is with hacking him out. He is a nightmare to hack alone and very excitable in company. Alone he is nappy and spooky, but I'm perservering and he's getting there. But with any fast work, mainly in company, I have very little breaks/turning power and my main concern is I want to be safe - both myself, the horse and the public. So hacking is the one time I don't mind bitting him up, even if it is just temporarily.

The reason I am posting is that I'd like suggestions to try. I have tried (not in this order) -

a happy mouth straight bar 2 ring gag - resulted in him chomping like mad at the bit and not looking where he was going and being very over bent (he has a big fleshy tongue so maybe he didn't like the straight bar squashing it?)

a hanging cheek snaffle - no help

a myler short shank combination - helped for a while, but as I sometimes have to hold him a bit he soon got used to the nose and curb pressure and now it is no better than the snaffle

a german hackamore - works a treat, but didn't use it again as I don't want him getting used to it as I'm having to hold him back.

a waterford snaffle - only tried this in the school and he was not impressed. It seemed I needed to use more hand to get him to stop than before, but as I said he doesn't really lean so probaby wrong choice on my part

The best bit I've ridden him in for control was the cherry roller balding gag, but I've sold this so can't try it and they seem impossible to find. I'm thinking maybe try a plain cherry roller snaffle or roller full cheek snaffle (to help with the turning - although if the break were there I'd be able to turn anyway!)

Like I said he doesn't lean or pull - it's as if he sticks his head out and sets it and ignores my aids. My seat makes no difference when out and about - I can stop him and move him about with my seat in the school but when hacking there are more interesting things to concentrate on!

What does everyone think will help? I just want o be able to pull him up when needed, even in a trot or slow canter the breaks seem to fail; we don't need to be tearing about to have no stopping power!

(sorry this has ended up so long!)
 
erm.... of just thinking of a brakes point of view, not about looking pretyt..........

dutch gag?
pelham or a double bridle?

Maybe try (if using a single mouth piece) a thinner mouth piece like a bradoon size one if he has a big fleshy tongue?

Not sure if any of these are any good or if you have treid similar....
 
When you say you have very little brakes out hacking, are you constantly hanging on? I felt the same about my horse, he would pull so I would be frightened to let him go. Then one day I went to the beach with a friend and she said you have plenty of space just let him go and see what happens, so I did. All that happened was that he stopped pulling! He didn't go any faster and when I asked him to stop he stopped! Since then hacking has been a pleasure.

I know it's easier said than done as I've been in the same situation, and letting go was the hardest, most scary thing thing I've done in my life, but it's worth a try if you haven't already. Go somewhere safe with plenty of space and just one other horse so he's not too excited, put him in front and give it a go. Good luck!
 
If not already, consider a grackle or a dropped noseband with his existing bit.

A pelham or kimblewick has the action of encouraging lowering of the head and flexion at the poll as well as having a ported mouthpiece to allow extra space for the tongue. As both these bits have slightly longer bit rings, they will also help with steering.

Presumably teeth and tack etc have all been checked already.
 
[ QUOTE ]
When you say you have very little brakes out hacking, are you constantly hanging on? I felt the same about my horse, he would pull so I would be frightened to let him go. Then one day I went to the beach with a friend and she said you have plenty of space just let him go and see what happens, so I did. All that happened was that he stopped pulling! He didn't go any faster and when I asked him to stop he stopped! Since then hacking has been a pleasure.

I know it's easier said than done as I've been in the same situation, and letting go was the hardest, most scary thing thing I've done in my life, but it's worth a try if you haven't already. Go somewhere safe with plenty of space and just one other horse so he's not too excited, put him in front and give it a go. Good luck!

[/ QUOTE ]

I was in this situation too, and didn't realise I was constantly 'hanging on'. since I had the lightbulb moment and relaxed my shoulders/elbows - we've been a million times better.

Also - I switched the bit to a myler with a forward port.hooks on the eggbut sides. So we either ver y relaxed/no pressure - or when she started to take advantage - the bit was 'on'- then promptly released. Black and white/on or off/wnated/unwanted behaviour. Be very clear about what is good and bad behaviour. Good luck.
 
He is on a drop noseband at the moment and his NS bit has a 12mm mouthpiece - the thinnest one they do.

If I stop holding him he'll start to jog, then he'll trot, then trot faster etc etc - I've tried to stop holding him and he just gets faster.

He doesn't ever cross his jaw so not sure a grackle noseband would help, although in a drop at the moment as he sometimes gets his tongue over the bit.

Have tried a pelham before and he over bends, forgot that in the list above - also forgot a tom thumb (no use), and a high ported myler snaffle with hooks (no use again)

I know with time he'll get better and I'll probably take him out in the snaffle, but hacking is a new and exciting/scary thing for him so safety is a priority and I need some stopping power, but all the normal bits you'd try seem too strong (dutch gag, pelham etc) Hopeing someone would come up with something different to try
 
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