Bit help

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katie_and_toto

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Basically,I have a little problem with brakes. Toto's perfect at home and can be ridden in a snaffle and cavesson. He's normally fine if I go somewhere like xc schooling on my own, we put a different bit in because he can get a bit excited. But, if I hack out (he's ok in walk and trot he just finds the canter work fun) or xc school with others, he gets wound up and strong and tends to chomp on the bit/open his mouth so has to wear a drop or grackle. He tends to put his head down and lean or just be generally excitable. Last time I took him to a xc rally he ran off with me twice, although it may have been due to the new bit we were trying because he didn't like the action much and we gave the bit back to the bit bank. I've tried him in a pelham but he leaned on that. We've currently got a NS Universal with a lozenge in the middle and took him to pc camp where he was good but very slightly strong at xc at times. Also, because the NS Universal is a loose ring, he ended up with a little sore on his mouth where the bit had pinched. Obviously, a pair of bit rings should sort this out but was wondering about a kimblewick? My mum got one before the NS intending to try it but we never got round to it. It has slots and I *think* it has a straight mouthpiece with a little port thingy in it. Maybe he'd like a bit of tongue room? Is it worth a try or has it got the same action as a pelham? I don't want to over bit him but I need full control because I'm only a skinny little squirt and only just under 5ft which is pretty depressing
tongue.gif
and he's a 14.2hh connemara x . Advice please?
 
A kimblewick is the single rein version of the pelham, they are both in the same family - curb bits.

I have a similar problem with my horse who leans on the bit and puts his head between his legs with his chin on the girth and the NS Universal has been a god send.
 
If he's dropping his head you should try a gag-type bit as they have a lifting effect. Pelhams have a lowering effect so will make his problems worse.

Gags come with all sorts of different mouth pieces and you can chose to have two reins if you want to be able to ride on the snaffle and just pick up the poll action when he's playing up...?
 
It sounds like your Universal is a bit on the small side. A LR bit needs to be between 1/4 and 1/2" bigger than a fixed cheek.

As Orange said, curb bits (pelhams, kimblewicks and Weymouths) had a head lowering effect. Not want you want for a leaner.
 
It sounds like your Universal is a bit on the small side. A LR bit needs to be between 1/4 and 1/2" bigger than a fixed cheek.

As Orange said, curb bits (pelhams, kimblewicks and Weymouths) have a head lowering effect. Not want you want for a leaner.
 
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