Bit advice please?!

[littlen]

Hi,

I am currently bringing my horse back into work. He has always been in a happy mouth snaffle (straight bar one) and has worked well in it.

Recently though as he gets fitter I am finding him strong in certain situations. He is okay alone, but in company I am finding it difficult to stop once he gets going, and instead of taking a nice steady canter I am flying at a flat out gallop with no control.
I am also starting to do faster work and he is getting very excitable, pulling his head down and shaking it about etc.

He has a soft nice mouth so I dont want to go diving into loads of different bits as I dont want to hurt him, but then again it cant be good for his mouth when I am pulling trying to get him to stop. I certainly dont need a pelham or dutch gag etc, but I think I need a little extra something other than a snaffle to get him listening.

A friend has lent me a hanging cheek snaffle and I am going to try that this afternoon, how much stronger is this bit than a normal snaffle bit and how will I know if he is uncomfortable in it?

 

[KatB]

A Hanging cheek isnt much stronger at all, is it with the same mouthpiece? I would try a lozenged bit so it has a bit more movement and he cant fix onto it You can get those with the happy mouth material. Either that, or try a happy mouth loop ring snaffle which will have a bit of poll pressure so can help keep him together a bit more, but still with the nice mouthpiece

 

[Kat]

A hanging cheek isn't stronger, but it has a different action which some horses prefer and others hate.

What does he actually do when he gets strong? If he opens his mouth or crosses his jaw and leans then rather than changing the bit I'd change the noseband.

If he chucks his head in the air and trogs off above the bit then a martingale might be the answer.

If he leans on the bit then a loose ring lozenge would give more movement that might help stop him leaning. If he still leans on that then I'd try a twisted snaffle or cherry roller snaffle. The twisted snaffle is not strong if it doesn't have sharp bits, but it will make it difficult for the horse to hang on to as it sort of spirals.

If the bit you have is just not strong enough and he isn't respecting it then you could try a narrower mouthpiece, I have switched one loose ring french link for another with a narrow mouthpeice on a big strong horse and it has made a noticeable difference.

Personally I don't like wilkies and dutch gags much but lots of people do. They do tend to give a bit of extra braking, but most people don't understand the action and lots of horses will raise their head and come above them due to the leverage, rather than drop it due to poll pressure as people expect. If you do go down this route I would try a dutch gag with two reins so that you ride off the snaffle rein generally and just use the bottom rein when you need an extra woah.

 

[KatB]

.

Personally I don't like wilkies and dutch gags much but lots of people do. They do tend to give a bit of extra braking, but most people don't understand the action and lots of horses will raise their head and come above them due to the leverage, rather than drop it due to poll pressure as people expect. If you do go down this route I would try a dutch gag with two reins so that you ride off the snaffle rein generally and just use the bottom rein when you need an extra woah.

A wilkie and a dutch gag have a completely different action. I hate dutch gags, as the extension is the same above as it is below the main bit ring on the middle ring, which means a mixed message for the horse or lift and lower your head! The bottom ring gives a HUGE amount of leverage but in a pretty "wooly" fashion.

The wilkie on the other hand either has a small extension above the main ring which offers a bit of poll pressure, and the second fitting is in the bit ring, so there is no elevator action, it just helps round the horse up a bit, and gives a more direct action. The loop ring again offers a small amount of poll pressure through the rotation of the bit, and again helps keep the an outline. Thats why they were originally created for small riders on leadrein/first ridden ponies

 

[littlen]

Its hard to explain but once he takes off he just gets faster and faster, he lowers his head and just goes and no amount of leaning back or pulling stops him.

He is fine in 99% of situations. Its mainly hacking in company, particulally cantering in a group as he gets excitable and then just takes off. If i try and hold him back his head goes right up into the air and he prances, so I suppose he does a combination of things.
He does not feel as though he is leaning though, he does not feel heavy in my hands in any way, he just wont stop!

He also yanks his head down to unseat me.

I am only thinking of trying a new bit to make him respect it more, as at the moment he can do what he likes and I have no control which is starting to scare me. Normally I ride with a loose contact and I am never harsh with his mouth, he is sensitive and I dont want to ruin him!

 

[Kat]

A wilkie and a dutch gag have a completely different action. I hate dutch gags, as the extension is the same above as it is below the main bit ring on the middle ring, which means a mixed message for the horse or lift and lower your head! The bottom ring gives a HUGE amount of leverage but in a pretty "wooly" fashion.

The wilkie on the other hand either has a small extension above the main ring which offers a bit of poll pressure, and the second fitting is in the bit ring, so there is no elevator action, it just helps round the horse up a bit, and gives a more direct action. The loop ring again offers a small amount of poll pressure through the rotation of the bit, and again helps keep the an outline. Thats why they were originally created for small riders on leadrein/first ridden ponies

Sorry I know they are different bits I just don't like either much, and don't know many horses that actually go well in either.

I'm sure they both have their place in certain circumstances but I think they are over used. Both often end up with the horse behind or above the bit rather than on the bit..... most horses I have ridden that have had them generally go better in an ordinary snaffle or hanging cheek snaffle.