Bit Advise Please.......Cherry Roller or Something Else!

[shellyjop]

My horse is very strong and when I hack out he plays up big time. He tries to get a hold of the bit, he also tries to get his tongue over the bit - someone suggested a cherry roller. I don't want anything to harsh but that will help give me back some control when we are out. He is generally fine when in the school. I was also looking at the sweet iron tom thumb but I am a real novice owner so not sure what would do the job.

 

[bex1984]

A cherry roller is, I believe (and please someone correct me if I'm wrong - I often am

) designed to stop the horse taking a hold of the bit. However, it did b*gger all to stop my pony when he tanked off - he once managed to canter right out of the school because someone left the gate open - rather embarrassing. I knew a pony who went brilliantly in one, but she was a stresshead and liked to play with it in her mouth; it seemed to calm her down.

When looking for a stronger/different bit, you need to consider what the horse actually does when it becomes strong (head down and tucked in, head in the air, clinging onto the bit, setting the neck?) and then the action of the bit, and try to fit them together.

If you can provide a bit more info on what your horse does when gets strong, and what you're doing when he gets strong (i.e., is it just when walking down the road on hacks, or when cantering), I'm sure someone on here will be able to help

 

[shellyjop]

He seems to use the excuse of spooking at stuff to try and get to canter or gallop off. When he is trying to get his tongue over the bit he is head and neck are right down. When he's trying to get a hold of the bit he is just the opposite.....head right up, dancing around.....he even went up on two legs yesterday. I try to get him to just to walk on nicely and dont give in but its a real struggle and makes hacking out exhausting! Once he gives up he does just then walk on but I can never let my guard down with him. I have been told that when I ride him in the school that I dont collect him up enough - could that also be the cause of the problems. I came back to riding after a very long gap.

 

[Lolo]

I hack my strong, silly TB in one and he is very prone to taking a hold. Ooops, just saw- we use a COPPER roller which works wonders on him and stops him from getting his head down and tanking.

 

[Kat]

A flash or drop noseband would probably help you, if he can't open his mouth he can't get his tongue over the bit (unless he's very clever!) It will also stop him opening his mouth to evade the bit. Most horses that get their tongue over the bit open their mouth too and stick their head out.

If he's taking hold of the bit and or leaning on the bit a cherry roller or twisted snaffle might help.

Try both at once, the horse I'm riding at the moment has a twisted snaffle and a grackle and it makes no end of difference to both her controllability and her softness and willingness. A twisted snaffle and flash worked a treat with another horse I was working with a while ago who tended to open his mouth and lean if you challenged him to work that extra bit harder. It is a favoured approach of my current instructor and seems to be very effective indeed.