Any advice on bits please?????

[Vickie_Minstrel]

If anyone has any advice on bits, please can you help me out. My boy (13.2) is fine to ride in the school, can stop him with half halts in walk and trot but have NO breaks at all in canter, and he is really strong on the road as well. I'm a very nervous rider and am panicing on the road (i know - pobably not helping) He's in a standard snaffle at the moment and was advised last week at the local tack shop to put him in a gag. Brought the gag and got back to the yard and spoke to some of the guys there as the gag just looks like such a contraption.... anyway, have now been advised to put him in a Dr Bristol with half cheeks (if i ever manage to find one) but on reading up on these bits, they seem really harsh and used by eventers..... I only do schooling and hacking - not interested in showing at all. I'm a bit worried about the Dr Bristol as I dont want him to fight against in and ditch me.. Any advice please???????

 

[Weezy]

In all honesty you need to get yourself assessed by a decent instructor - none of us know how you ride, how your pony goes, etc. Add that to the fact that you are nervous and I really do not think the internet is the place for you to be advised on this issue - sorry! A couple of really good lessons may well sort your control issue without changing his bit. Best of luck to you.

 

[Vickie_Minstrel]

I am going to have some more lessons at the local riding school, its not just me who cant stop him though, 2 of the (vey experienced) girls from the yard have ridden him and they cant stop him in canter either. I was thinking about speaking to the instructor at the local school about which bit to use...

 

[Weezy]

I would as bitting is such a minefield. So much depends on the conformation of the horse, the conformation of the mouth, what the horse does when he refuses to pay attention to the aids, etc. Personally I rate kimblewicks after snaffles, but there are so many variations on snaffles these days that it is good to have a play. I am with you re: the Dr Bristol tho, not something I would recommend.

 

[bracken1]

defo not Dr Bristol. Have you tried dutch gag as this has snaffle ring as well as two others which would give you options as to how much brake help you need although I would ask instructor or someone more experienced as in the wrong hands they could be quite harsh although there are a lot harseher ones out there

 

[Partoow]

agree with Weezy totally here get an instructor to look at you this sounds more like a schooling issue so going and getting stronger and stronger bit is not the right coarse of action to take. As you say its mostly the canter and you are a little nervous a good instructor will help you understand the use of your body to help control balance especially inthe canter as this has a lot of momentum and this is where and why the canter pften shows up schooling difficulties interms of connection and engagement. so first port of call a good instructor. Not the tack shop and the miriad of bits its in their interest to sell you.