Bit Advice

[maxapple]

I have a welsh x pony (on full loan) For hacking / schooling he is just in a french link loose ring snaffle, but i need something a bit stronger for jumping as he is very strong and I find it hard to hold him.

He does have a 3 ring gag that came with him which i used on the 2nd hole for jumping / xc but i wondered if there was a better option. If I try jumping in the snaffle I have to really pull to slow him down and I hate being so heavy handed - I'd like something to use where I can still be soft with my hands but have some control!

 

[OiskiPoiski]

its nice you are trying to find a nicer solution for the two of you! ideally, i would first off say that it might be worth spending some real intensive time schooling over fences, and trying to get him soft in your hand- obviously, if you have a bad fence and catch him in the mouth with a snaffle, it will be much less painful than catching him in the mouth with a gag! Not to say that you are the sort to get left behind, but it happens to everyone on occassion.

I would try a french link gag on the second hole, given this is what he normally goes in, and jump school in that. or, you could go for a short shank pelham, but it depends how he is strong; A gag encourages the horse to raise his head, and the pelham encourages the horse to lower his head, so picking the correct one is important. If he simply leans into the bridle, perhaps a waterford gag would be more your thing- or even a simple waterford snaffle.

Good luck!

 

[Paint it Lucky]

Maybe try a happymouth gag, eihter a jointed one or a mullen mouth which is milder, though may not give you much control! Alternatively I find tom thumb bits can be usefull on strong horses, particularly those who try to run through or just avoid a contact. You don't need much pressure on them to be effective.

 

[maxapple]

Thank you - thats very helpful.

The 3 ring gag he has is a happy mouth one. I definately need to do more schooling with him. He's a very experienced jumper (I'm not!!) and has hundreds of rossettes for jump offs. I think his last owner (a teenager) used to just fly round courses and I'm not that brave - so just want to slow him down

We got placed 4th yesterday as I let him go a bit faster than normal but it didn't feel particularly controlled - but I guess thats the nature of jump offs?