bit advise please

[tigerlily12345]

im riding a pony atm who is a little- ahh -excitable.. absolutely love her but she is a nutter, mostly this is fine just jogs a lot and has knees that hit her chin!
i currently ride in an eggbutt french link snaffle which is fine for most work, it works great for flat work as after a lot of calming exercises she will start working long and low etc but when im jumping she just gets SO excited and completely runs though the bit and i find i have to hang onto her the whole time to stop her going completely flat and 100mph! where as i would like to be able to give one half halt and her actually notice.
what ive discussed with my instructor is that she goes a lot nicer and calmer with her head up (rather than her natural 'down' position) but this can be hard to keep up when do a round of showjumps
so what we were thinking was a three ring gag on the second ring as it has a head raising action but what my real question is which mouthpiece is the softest as she does have a very sensitive mouth and other bits in the past that have cut her mouth
also before anyone says she is not in pain, she has had every test done (ie teeth/back etc) she is just a nutty 13 yo mare who in the past has been blasted at jumps, galloped on every verge and generally wound up until her brain has been blown. so any advise would be really appreciated! sorry it ended up so long lol

 

[Echo Bravo]

Could you try her in a pelham for the jumping

 

[tigerlily12345]

i have got a pelham but never usually ride in stronger bits and thought a pelham might be a bit too big a jump? i really have very little knowledge of bits (hence why im on here!) i am having a lesson tomorrow so i will take all the bits ive borrowed to try. the thing is, her owner has said if one works well she will buy her a new bit but i was wondering which would be the most soft or comfortable mouthpiece?

 

[tigerlily12345]

anyone else?

 

[tallyho!]

pelhams aren't that harsh. they are if you use roundings though and you have to fit the curb chain well.

They provide multiple points of action rather than one (the mouth).

You can only try and see.

 

[much-jittering]

Like you I'd be inclined to work up in steps, so yes maybe try a hanging cheek or a 3 ring on the 2nd hole first before progressing to something with a completely different action. That said that is biased advise as I'm not personally a huge fan of pehlams and roundings

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Had a cracking little 14hh NF mare a few yrs ago who went nicely in a snaffle at home, but hunting blew her brains...
We put her very successfully in a happy mouth jointed 3 ring gag & never looked back for hunting or x-c.
We used it with 2 reins - tho rider was used to using a double & pelhams tho so 2 reins were not a problem.
Tho, it won't suit everyone, it did suit this little lady as a pelham definately did not except in the show ring for workers, so poss worth a try from the bit bank if you can?

Good luck

 

[tigerlily12345]

ahh thank you! i have been given a dutch gag, a Dr bristol and a rubber straight bar pelham with roundings (and a curb chain) to try
ive never been a fan of strong bits so unless i get lots of advise my reaction is alway 'ohh! isn't that a bit strong!'.. i will try all 3 with my instructor tomorrow but thanks for all the advise, it all makes me feel much easier about them!

 

[teddyt]

Only use the gag if you can ride in two reins. Despite what everyone else usually does, they are not deigned to be used with one rein and more often than not this crates more tension, not less.

You also need to check how much room there is in the pony's mouth, as although rubber bits seem softer they are quite thick and the mouth might not have enough room to take it, so a metal mouthpiece may be better.

Whatever bit you choose, based on the mouth conformation, it may not be an instant solution as you both need to get used to the new means of communication. So try it regularly for several weeks before making a decision.