Bit experts???? need advice on what bit

[Vicki1986]

when out mock hunting yesterday on a few occasions my pony decided to gallop long and low...on slightly dodgy/boggy ground...down a steep hill. which was interesting to say the least. i had to fight with her to get her back to a canter so that we both didnt go arse over tit.

anyway...she was very strong and excited (jogged whenever the field was walking etc) she has come back with a slightly sore mouth from all the pulling and has even got a tiny cut in the corner of her mouth were i desperately tried to get her up and stop us both plunging down hill rapidly!! [apart from the one episode she was a total darling and i had a lovely day btw!

]

at the moment she is in a tom thumb sweet iron mouthpiece with copper which i think is whats caused the soreness as its not smooth - with those rubber bit guard things (fat lot of good they are!)
http://www.shires-equestrian.co.uk/cgi-b...rw/2.0.82.1.2.1

what would people recommend i try next time? something with a rubber mouth piece maybe? she leans rather than tanking off and not listening. i tried a pelham once to see how she would react and she went straight up in the air (i think more of a reaction to the curb chain)

the tom thumbs action seems to have suited her quite well so i wasnt sure if an american gag may be a good idea? they seem to look like a similar action or am i totally wrong?

im going out on boxing day and i cant have this again!

p.s no negative comments please i felt absoloutely awful when i noticed she was bruised. although she didnt really care she scoffed and drank as normal!

sorry its long i have tried not to waffle too much

 

[Thistle]

Something with a waterford mouthpiece

 

[KatB]

Worth trying a curb strap on the Tomb thumb if she goes well in it?

 

[Kelly1982]

Sounds like you need something to lift her head if she is going long and low and leaning.

What about a french link or do you think that would be too mild? I know that stops them leaning though.

 

[Vicki1986]

sorry i dont know ive explained that well? i think its the copper ridges that have caused the mouth to be sore (u cant see form the picture link but it was copper ridges)
i wont ride her in that bit again i dont think.

i school in a loose ring waterford so maybe that is an option

 

[Vicki1986]

i think it would be to mild kelly. she's strong as anything when she wants to be. some people have said kimblewick but ive never really had any sort of experience of those...since i started riding 15 years ago (god i feel old now) ive only ever ridden in a snaffle, waterford snaffle, pelham or dutch gag x

 

[KatB]

These bits are reversable, so if the other side is smooth, you can use that? I have the same bit, and use the smooth side. Using a curb strap can help though, as just distributes the pressure off her mouth a bit!!

 

[Kelly1982]

Thing is the kimblewick has a curb chain too so if she reacted quite badly to the pelham then i would of thought it would of been the same for that as well.

You could always try her in the pelham for a few days and take her out hacking in it etc to see if she gets used to it, it may have just been a bit of a shock for her.

Again though, horse can tend to lean on pelhams so it may make her worse but i have just put my horse in one and she is the complete opposite and carries herself really well.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

How about a pelham with an elastic curb rather than a chain.

 

[Vicki1986]

mmm could do good ideas there

what about mouth pieces though wouldnt rubber or vulcanite be a bit softer he mouth is quite delicate

 

[piebaldsparkle]

Go with what ever mouth piece your pony prefers. Rubber/valcanite will be softer, but are quite thick which some horses don't like. Mine goes really well in a Pelham with a french link (lozenge) mounth piece. She doesn't like a curb chain, but goes well with an elastic curb. I also always use two reins rather than roundings, that way I only have to use the curb/poll action when I need it!!!!

 

[sojeph]

Sounds like you may need to try a gag.

 

[flyingfeet]

We now have tom thumbs in stainless steel with a lozenge, if you want a smooth version.

Otherwise you could try a 3 ring gag with either a lozenge or peanut in synthetic version.

An American gag has more poll pressure than a tom thumb due to the length of its shanks, so good if her head isn't already a bit low.

 

[Chex]

I persoanlly wouldn't go with a pelham or anything with poll pressure, I know on Chex it just makes the low head problem worse. I think you could have the softest bit, but if the horse keeps on pulling they'll still get a sore mouth. I've seen a normal snaffle cut and bruise a horses mouth after a common ride that it pulled and pulled his way round.

 

[LauraBR]

I have exactly the same issue with my boy out hunting and xc- gallops along with his nose on the ground which can end up pulling me forwards out of the saddle... not nice at all.

I wouldn't recommend a pelham as these have a lowering action on the head, what you want is something with the reverse effect. I tried a neue schule trans lozenge bit which actually worked really well- it had a bit of poll pressure hence 'lift' and gave me extra brakes.

It only worked temporarily though and I ended up swapping to a grackle and gag on the second ring... which also worked temporarily. I now swap between the two and keep the grackle for hunting/xc.

Also, my instructor recommended I try a copper roller snaffle with D rings for SJ- really lifted him up although not tried it out doing fast work.

 

[mrdarcy]

My first choice for either extra brakes or for a puller is a Myler Combination. The action of the mild mouth piece combined with the nose and slight poll pressure really seems to work on a lot of keen horses.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Sorting out a bit can be an expensive business if you don't get it right first time. Plus you end up with a pile of bits that are nomuse to you and a dent in your bank account.

Speak to a specialist who will listen to the problem you have & by their experience * knowledge they will tell you which bit will help you sort out the problem.

There are several sites that can help. The one below sorted my problem. I am not conected to the site, just a satisfied customer.

Speak to Heather at:
http://www.neueschulebits.com/

Good Luck

 

[flyingfeet]

Ok I am bored with seeing this blatant Heather plug on her 10p a minute hotline number...!!

 

[Vicki1986]

i saw another pony out with a myler combination bit and did wonder aboutt hose. i also thought of a cheltenham gag but not too sure im experienced enough to use one, and im not 100% with two reins as very out of pratice in that department

i think i will do some research into myler combo's and neue schules thanks for the suggestions everyone