bit advice?

C

connemaras

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I have a 16.2hh TB (ex-racer) i have just started riding him ( have not had him long) at the moment i have him in just a plain snaffle with nutcracker joint. i dont find him pulling my arms out when in canter but he does take hold of the bit when we trot, specially in company, i know racers are taught "to run into the bit" but he did not much (15 times)
i would just like to know what bit to try and stop him from taking hold of the bit, would also like somthing with abit of poll action as he always has his head up in the air! ( i do have him in running martingale)

sorry this is such a long winded way about asking, but was told to try waterford???
confused.gif
 
Why change something thats not technically broken?
Sticking a bit with more 'poll action' into his gob may make him go ont he bit, but it is also likely to make him resist even more... including the inclination to rear.

Racers are taught that hand up is go, hands down is slow.. so maybe you lift your hands in trot, he clocks on to this a speeds up, then because you ask him to slow.. you block him and he grabs the bit. Ive never met a racer that has been taught to run into the bit. (This is just a possibility, i am not saying you do do this)

I would be more inclined to try a narrower french link loose ring snaffle if im honest. I have always found this bit to be the one prefered by both parties. especially the racer.

Lou x
 
15 races is a lot, he'll know all about the game, and if you are hacking him out in company he'll think that's what he's got to do.
i'd change it to a french link or lozenge snaffle (sprenger or similar), and school him carefully to teach him to carry himself and to build up the muscles so he can go in a rounder outline.
 
thanks- my friend where i keep my horse, she has an ex-racer, he was the same but not taking hold of the bit, my horse does push his way through if we at the back and start to trot, it only seems to be in trot he does this, my friends horse was the same at the start, she tryed a few different bits and found a hanging cheek worked best, her horse used to lunge forward when getting excitied.
i just want a simple bit that he cannot take hold off, i dont want anything nasty,
it doesnt make a difference in tort to what my position is, as i have tryed all different posistions, have also had my friend sit on him, also a friend who works with race horses.

i feel like im going on and on and on!! SORRY! xx
 
Agree a french link would be better. And lots of schooling. He has been trained to race, which is a totally different way of going to a riding horse. Sometimes horses need time and schooling to go in a better frame rather than taking a short cut with different tack.
smile.gif
 
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