Bit advice please!

Devonshire dumpling

Devonshire dumpling

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 March 2011
Messages
3,795
Visit site
The 5 year old goes nicely in his Eggbutt french link snaffle, he's not at all strong and can stop him in gallop.

He went hunting in March once as a just 5 yr old and was a tank! but stoppable! Had to put him in a muckheap at flat out so as we didn't overtake field master.

Anyway back to hacking and hes a nice sensitive mouthed horse, he would throw his toys out of the pram if anyone grabbed at him or was harsh!.... couple days ago, we played him the sound of hounds ont he mobile, interested to know if he would actually remember them and it blew his brains ( lol he remembered alright) queue him putting his head between his legs, pawing, running backwards, pooing through the eye of a needle, head up evading bit, head down, mouth open etc etc.

hunting he was ridden in his flash and running Martingale, but hacking like i said we take all that off.

We planned to take him hunting again in his frenchlink as want to give him a chance rather than lob loads in his mouth etc, but worried he will be a total brute... so would you take him and yank him around in that all day? or

try something like a 3 ringed french link with 2 reins with the view to use the snaffle rein, but if we really need extra help have the lower rein? or would you advice something totally different???
 
I would definitely try a stronger bit if you think he may need it, i think it's better to have a happy responsive horse that you can easily and safely stop than one you have to keep taking a check when in a snaffle- i use a 3 ring happy mouth with the reins on the 2nd ring for one of my horses and it does him no harm at all, he's just easier to hack in it, in fact i would defy anyone to hack him out in a snaffle as he can just bolt off unexpectedly as he is so sharp! it doesn't happen very often but if and when it does i need to be sure i'm in control.

i'm not one for over bitting but i think you have to go with what's best for the horse and what they like so maybe have a play with a few bits and see what is best?... Others you could maybe try would be a pelham, or a tomb thumb or even a double?
 
thanks for replying¬

It's hard to test him in anything because we can stop him from flat out gallop in his french link, hes not strong at all, until he went hunting and he pulled like a train, ripped the reins, evaded the bit in everyway he could...hence why i was thinking 3 ringed french link so he can sort of go what he is in already?


Do I make any sense?? lol xx
 
monkeybum13 said:
I would definitely try a stronger bit, much better to use a stronger bit lightly than a snaffle harshly. If he behaves in the stronger bit then you can go back to the snaffle next time :D
Click to expand...

hehe so where do you go for stronger? as i suggested?? or just lob any old metal work in his gob, won't be able to try it until the day, because he isn;t ever strong! x
 
Devonshire dumpling said:
thanks for replying¬

It's hard to test him in anything because we can stop him from flat out gallop in his french link, hes not strong at all, until he went hunting and he pulled like a train, ripped the reins, evaded the bit in everyway he could...hence why i was thinking 3 ringed french link so he can sort of go what he is in already?


Do I make any sense?? lol xx
Click to expand...

Yeah you deffo make sense!- i'd give the 3 ring a go!- mine is exactly the same in that he doesn't pull and isn't strong at all, but need the brakes to be there if i do need to use them lol!!
 
monkeybum13 said:
See this is where it gets tricky.

I used the bit with a single rein, I read somewhere that if you were to use 2 reins you need a curb on it as well. I stand to be corrected though!
Click to expand...

Thought that would make it harsh?? hmmm dunno bout curb lol..

K27 said:
Yeah you deffo make sense!- i'd give the 3 ring a go!- mine is exactly the same in that he doesn't pull and isn't strong at all, but need the brakes to be there if i do need to use them lol!!
Click to expand...


Do you use 2 reins??
 
K27 said:
I use one rein on 3 ring bits :), have never tried 2 reins!
Click to expand...

obviously 1 rein would be alot easier out hunting as he gets very uptight, ripping the reins, lowering head etc and can see 2 reins getting complicated especially with the hunting whip... BUT

My idea was could ride him on top rein as normal and have the 2nd rein as an emergency brake, didn't really want him in a harsher bit for the sake of it?

Need some 3 ring snaffle bit experts to reply lol XX
 
I would ride him in the school in the three ring gag. Even though he isn't strong you should get an idea of whether he objects to it or not.

The "best" way to use the bit is with a leather curb and two reins. The curb sits higher and isn't so much there to put pressure on as to prevent the bit rings rotating too far so it is kinder with the curb and you are less likely to end up with a horse with its chin on its chest. Use it with two reins in the school and see how he reacts to you using the bottom rein, if accepts the action and doesn't tuck his head in or get upset then try hacking in the bit a few times, see what happens if you use just one rein on one of the lower rings too.

If you use it out hunting I'd be inclined to put the works on so that you can take it off if you want to. Better than wishing you had stuff that you haven't got. Put the curb on, on the basis that you can take it off if you want to. Put two reins on, you can always knot one or take it off.

Consider other options too though, you might find a kimblewick good for hunting, they are great bits for strong horses doing fast work and you only need one rein. Consider a martingale, either running (but not on a gag rein) or standing. Consider changing your noseband for a grackle drop or flash too (flash if you use a standing martingale, otherwise use a grackle or drop).
 
KristmasKatt said:
I would ride him in the school in the three ring gag. Even though he isn't strong you should get an idea of whether he objects to it or not.

The "best" way to use the bit is with a leather curb and two reins. The curb sits higher and isn't so much there to put pressure on as to prevent the bit rings rotating too far so it is kinder with the curb and you are less likely to end up with a horse with its chin on its chest. Use it with two reins in the school and see how he reacts to you using the bottom rein, if accepts the action and doesn't tuck his head in or get upset then try hacking in the bit a few times, see what happens if you use just one rein on one of the lower rings too.

If you use it out hunting I'd be inclined to put the works on so that you can take it off if you want to. Better than wishing you had stuff that you haven't got. Put the curb on, on the basis that you can take it off if you want to. Put two reins on, you can always knot one or take it off.

Consider other options too though, you might find a kimblewick good for hunting, they are great bits for strong horses doing fast work and you only need one rein. Consider a martingale, either running (but not on a gag rein) or standing. Consider changing your noseband for a grackle drop or flash too (flash if you use a standing martingale, otherwise use a grackle or drop).
Click to expand...

Thankyou!! We hunt him in his french link eggbutt and a flash and running martingale, like I say we could stop! but I don't think tis that nice battling non stop with a young horses mouth in that bit really, not all day! At home you can stop him flat out gallop in a headcollar, hes a sweety :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top