Bit for Jumping - advice needed

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Gorgeous George

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I’m wondering if you can help, I seem to be struggling to find a bit that George is comfortable / happy in for jumping. He isn’t desperately strong, but he does tend to lean and he is big lad to hold together at times (16.3 shire cross!).

For flatwork I ride him in a myler mullen mouth hanging cheek with a drop noseband and this is fab, and I can jump him in this at home without much problem. But if we go to a comp, away to a jumping lesson or xc it isn’t enough.

He doesn’t go haring into jumps, but he does sometimes get a bit excited and if I use the snaffle I find myself pulling at his mouth to slow him down / turn which is really not good news. To stop this happening we have been using a dutch gag (either a lozenge or straight bar happy mouth mouthpiece) with a drop noseband, and this has been an ok solution but he still tosses his head about / sticks his head up at times so it obviously isn’t ideal. I’m not a great rider so my hands are not brilliant, so I am probably adding to the problem.

By the way I have tried a Waterford and this was not good news, George went really stiff on this and I was having trouble stopping, starting, steering etc! Also tried a ported straight bar kimblewick and this seemed quite good until he decided he wanted to keep putting his tongue over the bit.

Any suggestions / ideas welcome, thanks.
 
If he gets on with the myler you could try an alternative. I jump my TB in a comfort snaffle with hooks (also have the option for a curb which I do use xc). He is so settled in this - gives him really clear signals and no probs stopping!
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Mullen mouth pelham??

That should help lower his head and give you some breaks, you could use roundings until you feel confident enough to jump with two reins.
 
Have you tried the gag bit with a grackle noseband made a massive difference for me. drops and gags dont really go together I believe - could be wrong.
 
My little mare used to jump in a snaffle at home, but get a bit heavy and rush a bit when out... i tried a pelham but found she went more down hill to escape the curb.... i found 2 that worked really well, one was a fulmer copper roller.... it still had the snaffle effect but she just did not lean so much and the other one for her stronger days such as hunting and cross country was a english gag (i think thats what its called, it looks like a snaffle but the cheek piece goes through the bit and attaches straight to the rein).

I have always found my local tack shop to be really helpful, and some even have 'tester' bits. Otherwise i think there is a website bit world which you can pay to try a bit and then when you find the one you want the hire price comes off the purchase price.

Good luck x
 
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and the other one for her stronger days such as hunting and cross country was a english gag (i think thats what its called, it looks like a snaffle but the cheek piece goes through the bit and attaches straight to the rein).



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It is a cheltenham gag isnt it?
 
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