Bit help!!

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lcharles

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Hello,

I've been hunting and showjumping my boy in a full cheek waterford, in theory i need the full cheek part so i can turn and the waterford part so he doesnt lock onto it....but he can still tank off with me/i cant stop!!

Out hunting he was ok as long as i kept him in a 'controlled' canter and 'bounced him between my legs and the contact, but as soon as i let him gallop i could not stop (strapped to a freight train image!) and i'd only stop when he wanted (with everyone else) and i had little steering either, i could wiggle to the left or right but not make a proper turn! Sometimes he'd stop ok but generally every long gallop was really hard to stop after!

So team chasing in a couple of weeks and i can see this being the next challenge!

As a team, we practised last night around our xc jumps and he was quite settled until he got into it and i thought i was going to take out my mate in front! I then shot past her over a 'tump' of grass which isnt meant to be a jump and i felt controlled again after that but i didnt come back to trot or walk, i kicked him onto the next few jumps and pretended it didnt happen so he doesnt 'get off work' by doing it.

Think i need a new bit!! What would you suggest!! I need serious brakes and something so i can turn!!

He's quite soft in the mouth generally too. I think at team chasing he'll back off a bit as he wont know where he is and he will probably listen to me more but who knows!

Even if he goes first he does it....its nothing to do with what order he goes in!!

HELP! x
 
We have a horse who's a dream in the school or on his own in a snaffle - take him out in company and he's a tank - not down to bad schooling as he knows he's meant to listen and on his own he does, he just knows he can throw his weight around and there is not a lot we can do! He's hunted/team chased in the neue schule waterford universal (dutch gag) with two reins and the curb strap - can use just like a waterford snaffle on the top rein, but if he takes hold can use the bottom rein to add on the gag and curb action...its the only thing we've found that works on him.
 
Inchy said:
We have a horse who's a dream in the school or on his own in a snaffle - take him out in company and he's a tank - not down to bad schooling as he knows he's meant to listen and on his own he does, he just knows he can throw his weight around and there is not a lot we can do! He's hunted/team chased in the neue schule waterford universal (dutch gag) with two reins and the curb strap - can use just like a waterford snaffle on the top rein, but if he takes hold can use the bottom rein to add on the gag and curb action...its the only thing we've found that works on him.
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I do sympathise, I've hunted on my cob and he is so strong. Out on his own & in company he is very good until we start to canter, he then thinks he's hunting and tanks off snorting like a freight train. He leaves everyone standing, my friend behind says he goes so fast his feet literally just skim the surface! It's starting to get dangerous now as he is not listening to me.

So, for me too, it's time for a stronger bit. I never have before just a snaffle but he is now taking advantage because he knows he can.
 
I have a Neue Schule Transuniversal. Looks similar to the waterford universal but has just the single lozenge. My horse is so good on it now, she mouths beautifully and I pop it onto the lower gag ring when hunting.

There are loads of NS bits, if you ring one of their official agents they will talk to you about your horse and recommend one to try (I had earmarked the transuniversal which is what they recommended). As NS are expensive and they are confident they will find the right thing for you they allow you to have the bit on 3 week loan. Basically you pay the full amount and if after that time you're happy, you just keep it, but if not you can return it and they will refund you the amount less a loan charge (can't remember how much it is and I didn't send mine back as I loved it!) and then send you another to try til you find the right one. I recently converted my friend to them too. Expensive yes, but worth every penny.

Good luck finding the right thing.
 
Lots of good bit suggestions above, maybe try a mexican grackle too so that he can't open his mouth or cross his jaw to evade you.

The other thing to think about would be something like a myler combination that acts on the nose and curb groove as well as the mouth.
 
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