Bit advice needed

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peanut

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My 8 yo ISH is in a happy mouth straight bar loose ring snaffle and goes well in it for normal schooling/hacking. She is well schooled and well mannered on the whole, but it simply isn't enough for xc and when we went hunting, I had no brakes at all :o

It has been suggested that I use a HM straight bar 4 ring dutch gag and try her with one ring down, but having read the other thread on dutch gags, I'm not so sure and I don't want to have to use two reins.

She has a lovely mouth and I don't want anything severe, just something a little stronger. She has never gone well in jointed bits.

Any suggestions please? :)
 
if she likes having a straight bar then I would stick with that and just consider different cheek pieces. A kimblewick or a pelham might be good. http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/...xeter_kimblewick_slotted_kimblewic-(477).aspx if you have a utoxeter one then you have the options of changing the rein position to give varying pressures. Poss a pelham might be good then you can stick with riding off the snaffle rein, but at least you have the curb rein there as back up when you need it?
If I were you then I would call a bit bank then you can try a few to see what your horse gets on with without buying enough bits to stock a bit bank!!
 
Thank you, I'll have a look at it.

Maybe I should have said that I only want to use it on occasions, she's fine in her current bit for every day. :)
 
P.S. you mentioned she likes her happy mouth - I would just stick with that and change the cheeks if you can find one she likes - poss try the wilkie, or a hanging cheek? Both would give a touch of poll pressure with the action. If you need more than that then maybe try a metal mouthpiece - poss mullen or ported, so it doesn't bend when you ask for a bit of control!
 
Zoomy has a really soft mouth but I like to have a bit extra xc. I use a Happy Mouth hanging cheek snaffle. She doesn't like straight bar bits so I use the double jointed with a roller in the middle.
 
MontyandZoom said:
I use a Happy Mouth hanging cheek snaffle. .
Click to expand...

I didn't realise hanging cheeks came in the HM range. I tried a french link hanging cheek once and she hated it, but that could have been because of the joint rather than the hanging cheek bit.
 
If she is happy in the HM straight bar then using the same but as a dutch gag might work. I believe it is personal preference to use two reins (although many will disagree) and one rein on the second ring may just give you enough 'hold' with the lightest touch.

One bit I just adore is the nathe butterfly flip. It is light, kind on the bars of the mouth but provides just enough poll pressure to make the horse respect it. It has a fabric curb which ensures it stays in the correct place. They aren't cheap and unlikely to be available on trial due to being plastic.

A pelham may be an option. If it is just a blunt stopping instrument required then roundings may suffice so that would take the two rein option out again and won't provide such strong curb pressure.

I'm not a massive fan of hanging cheeks although they are widely used, I just feel they are a something and nothing bit, but might be worth a try as they do suit some horses
 
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Thanks foxglove. I started her in a Nathe and they are great bits, I really only changed her to HM because they were so difficult to come by.
 
If it is just brakes for xc and hunting and needs to be a bit without a joint that can be ridden off one ring I'd go for a kimblewick. Get one with slots and try it both ways. Not using the slots is milder. You can also use a softer curb if you don't think you need all the available stopping power.

I wouldn't go for a dutch gag, lots of horses really come up above the contact and fight them when you need the brakes most.

Kimblewicks used to be really popular bits for hunting and jumping as they give extra brakes and a curb action but only need one rein.

The alternative would be a pelham. In an ideal world you'd use it with two reins so that you can be gentle when he is being good and only use the curb when you need to, but you could use roundings or split reins until you have had enough practice with two reins. It is easier than it sounds though and you quickly get used to them.

Remember that with a curb bit raising your hand will tend to bring the curb into play so be careful you don't tend to do this when you get tense.
 
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