Best Bit??

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Siam Jack

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Hi folks!
sorry but did not want to hijack the previous thread "Brakes or lack of"
I have a 15yr old cob who has previously done it all, riding school, pony club etc... she is really good except I am finding it hard to stop her when out on a hack!! she was in a snaffle until she one day tanked off with me at full pelt.... so now in a kimblewick which did help and I felt I had a lot more control when out, BUT she still takes a lot to stop and as I am a very inexperienced rider I dont want to be constantly pulling at her mouth when out. She is a very gentle lady and brilliant in the school but when out with others she wants to go all the time, it makes no difference if she is first or last... any suggestions on a stronger (but gentle!) bit?????
 
I've had great success with a hanging cheek waterford bit on a hot cob that like to take the bit & run!!!

He was doing really well in a french link hanging cheek but I change it up with the waterford to stop him from leaning & grabbing it & running off!!

It can be a severe bit in the wrong hands though but used right, its not that bad :)
 
Thanks Legon
Someone once said on a hack, that I was giving her too much "head" and advised to keep my reins short when out! which I now do, but like I said I am so concerned that I am the cause by pulling at her mouth, I have tried everything people have told me...turning her, a sawing motion on the reins etc but if she goes then it takes so much to stop her, I might try the french link first... bet I end up buying every bit out there!!!!
 
I know the feeling! But you dont want it to become a tug of war match aswell, the more you shorten the reins with my cob, the faster he goes- drop the contact & he stops!

You will never win a tug of war match with a horse! I love my hanging cheek french link, he jumps in it aswell & goes really well - I just change to the waterford from time to time to keep him thinking! Sometimes you just need to change it up every now :) Does no harm!

I have three bits I use, the hanging cheek french link, a sprenger double jointed loose ring & the waterford hanging cheek :) Good luck!

Oh & trust what you want to do, dont listen to everyone else - everyone has an opinion but trust your gut! Anyone who tells me to shorten my reins on my cob - I tell them to get up & try & then soon shut up :p
 
I would find an instructor who is willing to go out for a hack with you so they can see what is going on and give you advice on how to deal with it. You may not need to change the bit just do a bit of schooling but an instructor will be able to advise you what bit would suit you both.
 
I agree with Dafthoss, have someone experienced actually watch you hacking out and get on your horse to have a feel. Unless you plan to complete please dont feel that you HAVE to stick to some sort of snaffle, IME they are much abused by hard pulling when in all honesty some horses and (light handed) riders are very much happier in pelhams.

As has already been said.....get into a tugging contest with a horse and theres no way you will be the winner!
 
I've had my mare in a loose ring french link KK for about 6 years and she is very well schooled. However, on hacks she is very strong and can lean or take hold of the bit, her habit when excited is chin to her chest. I have been looking at a few bits over the last couple of months and rang the bit bank and hired out the Neue Schule loose ring waterford and she is just great in it www.horsebitshop.co.uk
 
Oh thanks Lotty, I am off to that site now!
I have had someone experienced with me and he said I was holding my reigns too loose, he also said it was a better problem to have than having your horse too tight on the reigns (if that makes sense?) I have a young girl who rides her for me (we take turns) and she is very experienced and even she said she had difficulty keeping her from running off on a hack. I defo need to get myself sorted as well as the bit, and will keep going, even when she shot off at a gallop one day I felt really safe on her,as in not falling off! it was just the actual stopping that really worried me, I had a vision of me galloping straight into the stable!!!!!

p.s the fact when she tries to run her head is high is why they said I had her too loose
 
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As I said in the other post it's not always about the bit, my cob is extreamly strong and I've been 'advised' on bits by everyone who knows me and everyone has an opinion...I've tried Mylers Triple barrel bits..worked for a while, Gag..worked for a while, so on and so forth. I then bought a NS universal which the mouth piece is absolutely fabulous for him, he loves it and I was happy he was happy..but even with it on the strongest setting he was still able to bog off. A new instructor came hacking with me, and said she'd put a mexican grackle on him....tried it and now I can ride on the snaffle part of the bit and have absolutely 100% control!!! It's been a god send and I'm not forever changing his bits or risking his mouth, he's now light in my hands (okay not when schooling but he hates schooling!).
 
I would still get a few hacks in with an instructor, an expiereanced person is fine but it is not the same as a lesson especally as you say you are inexpiereanced. They will teach you whilst out and be able to show you methods of dealing with things out hacking that you may no know of and having seen what is going on will be able to advise on any tack changes.
 
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