Bit advice please?

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WelshRareBit

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Murphy is ridden in a french link loose ring snaffle for everything. As we are getting fitter and doing fast work I am noticing he needs a little more encouragement to pull up and I dont want to sit around tugging his mouth with a light bit when perhaps he needs something a bit stronger.

We've tried a gag on the snaffle hole - not liking that he just opens his mouth.

We tried a pelham once, NOT for us...

He's a good horse and although our schooling isnt GREAT he knows how to stop, he just tunes out and goes for gold.

Any advice would be great.

Thanks!
 
i'd try a waterford next... they can't lean on them, and i've found they work wonders. maybe borrow one first, cos i've been told that some horses ignore them!
i tried a horse in a Myler Combination bit the other day, which has nose and poll pressure as well as bars/lips/tongue etc, and i was very impressed with it. not cheap, but an option to try maybe?
 
Thanks Kerilli - just looking at the Mylers now - they mention short shank etc - i believe (am i right) the shorter the shank the lighter the action?
I dont mind spending some money on something that works - better than buying 8 different bits for a tenner each!!
 
HI, I normally ride my horse in a KK ultra loose ring (similar to yours but the centre piece is a lozenge not flat shape). For extra brakes Xc or jumping I use a Neue Schule Universal (think that's what it's called!) KK make one too but the Neue Schule one is cheaper, it is basically a two ring gag but with a lozenge so is similar to his normal bit in the mouth but with added poll pressure. If the gag you tried before was single jointed, this one might be more similar to what your horse is used to and may work better? Good luck
 
yep, the short shank is the one everyone seems to go for... in fact i've never seen anyone using the long shank.
the one i rode in was in the one with 3 revolving pieces, and the mouthpiece is kind of bendy but firm, if that makes sense (won't 'break' the way a single joint will).
talk to the Myler people maybe, describe what happens when he's strong. you haven't said whether he pulls with his head down, mouth open, or tucked in, or stretches neck out, whether he runs on his forehand and tries to lean, etc etc.
sometimes it can just be a matter of using your hands differently. if he's learnt that he can take a solid pull against you and run into it, then short sharp jerks on the bit with one hand only, to shock him into not leaning on you, can work wonders. my philosophy is that if he's being bl***y rude, you can be rude back! it's like a tug of war team - if both keep up the pressure, they get stronger and pull harder and harder. if one team lets go and then jerks the rope, the others will have nothing to pull against, and lose. hope that makes sense.
 
He kinda stretched out and just goes flat out. I can always stop him but it usually takes me turning him, or running him up a hill and he loses puff!!

Kerilli - do you think a noseband would be of any use? A lot of ppl rate a noseband change too...
 
Running/cheltenham gag? I prefer them to the 3/4 ring gags.
noseband wise how about a kineton? what noseband do you use at the moment as if it's just a cavesson swapping to a flash or grackle might be worth trying to begin with.
 
He is currently ridden in a cavesson - occassionally with the flash, which he tolerates if I use the snaffle! If I use any other bit he opens his mouth.
 
i would try a grackle first, or a waterford snaffle

out of intrest was the gag a french link? if not he may be opening his gob to aviod the bit hitting the roof of his mouth - in which case trying a french link one with a flash may do the job
 
I would try a Waterford, it's what I ride Corroy in for faster work. She too won't tolerate a gag, pelham etc.
grin.gif
 
we use either the myler short shank combination or we also use a waterford with a kineton noseband and a cavason noseband.
the kineton does keep the horses mouth shut but puts pressure on the nose .
you could try a australian cheeker as this tends to prevent pulling and is not invasive.
 
I tried a waterford for H, worked wonder for a month until he started to lean on it !! yes he leans on a waterford, changes to a lozenge english tom thumb and it works brilliant. can be used, double reins, pelham roundings or just one rein. I am now in a position to try him in a french link loosering for the first time in months and months.
 
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