Bit for extreamly strong pony hunting

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1 August 2010
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Hi,

I am enquiring what bit to try in a 14.2 tb x pony hunting. the first time i took her cubbing last seanson she took off with me countless times in a dutch 3 ring gag with grackle noseband, scince then she has been able to lock the bit between her teeth and basicly tank off with you :L. Her maners are impecible as is her schooling but all of that seems to go out the window when you reach the hunt field,

Help please :)

was thinking something along the lines of a cheltnem gag, i just need some advice,

Many thanks
 
Maybe a Kimblewick or Pelham with two reins ?

Is she tucking her nose in to her chest and tanking off and throwing her head in the air and tanking off?
 
Hmmm that tends to be a bit more tricky. Often the gag / pelham type bits just encourage them to tuck even more.

Maybe an elevator type bit? It might be worth a chat with the Bit Bank people to see what they recommend. That may you can also try a bit without having to buy if and finding it doesn't work.
 
I would suggest Cheltenham gag with two reins. Dutch Gags aren't all they're cracked up to be.

As a myler fan though, I would use a long shank combination bit!

You can only ride in a Cheltenham Gag with one rein perhaps your getting this mixed up with another bit? Personally I do not like these bits.

However, the myler combination bit is absolutly brilliant, its is very severe but it works!
 
How about a Dr Bristol - a very traditional hunting bit. As it's a snaffle it won't have the same head tucking in effect as pelhams/gags etc. My little mare goes really sweetly in one, rarely have to touch her mouth but on the odd occasion she decides she doesn't want to stop it works. Far better than having your arms pulled out!
 
I would also suggest the cheltenham gag. I started hunting my pony last season and started off in a double bridle, but she ust used to tuck her head in too and off she went.
I put her in the cheltenham gag with grackle and she is now an absolute pleasure to hunt! I can stop her with the slightest feel on the rein. Of course, they can be nasty in the wrong hands, but then so can any bit. The cheltenham gag tends to lift the head, so perfect for those that tuck and and lean. The dutch gag/pelham serve to lower the head so they will just make things worse.

They can be used with 2 reins, so that you can ride on it like a snaffle, I tried this a few times but found it not very useful to me, but it is definitely something you could try.
 
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You can only ride in a Cheltenham Gag with one rein perhaps your getting this mixed up with another bit? Personally I do not like these bits.

However, the myler combination bit is absolutly brilliant, its is very severe but it works!

No, the Cheltenham gag CAN be ridden with two reins - one on the leather slip strip, and one on the snaffle ring.

I much prefer the combination bit! I used this with Jazzy to teach him what brakes mean!
 
I use a Cheltenham gag when I XC, sponsored ride, hunt - basically all the fast things haha, with my pony and he goes a treat in it. I have the two reins so all the time he is controllable on the snaffle rein I can keep it but I've also got the gag rein to fall back on which is guaranteed to bring him back to me. It really stops him from locking his head and neck down and me having to fight with him to bring him back up. You need a good pair of hands though as it is a very strong bit, particularly in the wrong hands. When its used sympathetically, it can work wonders. Good luck! :)
 
i use a pelham for fun rides ec for my 14.2 conemarra cos heis extremley strong and if i do tak him out hunting i will definatley be putting that in :D
 
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