Bit Ideas (Sorry I know its done often)

S

SarahRicoh

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 September 2010
Messages
1,105
Location
Cheltenham, England
Visit site
Well I have my old loan horse back Yay :) but just want to sort out a few things to try make him happier and us a better team!

He came to me in a 3ring gag(dutch gag) and as far as I know he has always been in this. Its on the bottom ring and he also has a running martingale.
Martingale is needed but when I rode him today he just didnt seem happy in the bit.
He was quite strong in it even in the school and although I could stop(And out in field) it was quite a pull to get him to listen and I had to be really strong with him to get him to stop.

I noticed he was opening his mouth a lot so contemplated putting a flash on him or a drop or a grakle? To me on board it looked like he was crossing his jaw so I thought grakle but from watching a video he may just be opening it.
Which nose band do people think best?
Do I try a noseband first and same bit or change both?

Every so often when trotting round he would put his head down and lean on myt hands/the bit which is what makes me think he doesnt like it.
I also know the dutch gag shouldnt be used with one rein(which I am) but I dont want to use two reins and thats how hes always been ridden in it.
Should I change bit? Any suggestions?

So many different bits and nosebands I dont know where to start really. I also think hes quite hard mouthed as was used in a college for a while in the gag so please dont say a snaffle as his mouth is just too hard now, shame I know :(
 
He might be uncomfortable in the bit he's in so is opening his mouth to avoid that feeling, using a flash or grackle to hold his mouth shut will only make that feeling worse for him so I would look at changing the bit first.

Personally I'd go for a double jointed loose ring and snaffle and school in it for a while and then work from there

And I agree with the first reply that teeth check would be my first thing
 
His teeth were done recently so its not that(should've said).
I think hes in a single jointed gag. Think I have another with a french link or lozenge so I could try that first.

So we think change bit and he should stop opening his mouth when hes not happy?
 
it would be a good place to start -single jointed bits are quite harsh and lots of horses just dont have the room in their mouths for them. he might also find the martingale stopping his head coming up and the gag forcing his head down a bit too restrictive . id take the martingale off and see if that helps a bit. if hes putting his head down to evade then a cheltenham with a lozenge is brilliant cos it brings the head up . you might have to do a bit of re schooling to lighten him up once he feels more comfy ,he sounds quite unhappy from your other thread about him. hes been shouting somethings wrong and no ones been listening so good for you for hearing him:).
 
I shall switch tomorrow and see if it makes a difference thankyou :) I'd rather keep the martingale on as he generally carries his head quite high so I'd rather change bit. I think that him pulling down and leaning shows he's unhappy in it :/
I did wonder about a waterford snaffle?

Thankyou :) I just rode him today and thought hes not happy with something and I want him to be happy. This I will find the right option for him but bless him he's not happy with his grumpiness, such as a shame as hes a brilliant horse otherwise
 
yes waterford might be an option but just a bit of trial and error i think to see what suits him . id try the french link gag and see what happens . -you could try tesco ranitidine (sp?)if you think hes got ulcers it blocks the stomach producing excess acid and can make them more comfy until the vet has a look . id also use a soft girth or a sheepskin girth sleeve .:)
 
I willl try that and see. Do you think I might be better off trying a hanging cheek snaffle or a normal snaffle with the martingale and just see if hes strong or whether I could work with a snaffle? Or put dutch gag up a to 2nd or big ring?

Thankyou for that idea :) what is ranitidine?
 
I think if that was a horse that came to me, the first thing I would try is removing the gag, or putting the rein on the main ring so it's just used as a snaffle. I think (forgive me if I read this wrong) that having a martingale attached to a curb rein is too harsh and will be applying an excessive amount of pressure on the horse's head with each head raise. My thoughts would be that this is possibly causing the horse to be uncomfortable and resistant, hence the pulling and leaning, which in turn makes you feel that he actually needs a strong bit.

I would give him a go with a snaffle (prob french link as suggested) to start with, in a controlled environment, perhaps on the lunge, and see how he goes. I would then work up to stronger nosebands before bits.

Bear in mind also that some horses have thick tongues and in some cases grackles etc can make the situation worse by restricting the tongue in the mouth.
 
Thanks Moomin. This is what I thought today. I dont know if this is actually true but will the martingale be causing more/bad pressure as its attached to reins attached to bit.
I shall change to one with a french link tomorrow and put it up to the main ring and see how he goes
 
My mare was in a Cheltenham when I got her. And she loathed it. Tried quite a few mouthpieces. But to buck the trend. She actually is happiest in a loose ring. Single jointed snaffle. Yes she is still an arse. But is more settled when she's being settled if that makes sense. She hated lozenge hanging cheek. So yes just trial and error
 
SarahRicoh said:
Thanks Moomin. This is what I thought today. I dont know if this is actually true but will the martingale be causing more/bad pressure as its attached to reins attached to bit.
I shall change to one with a french link tomorrow and put it up to the main ring and see how he goes
Click to expand...

I assume from your description you have the martingale attached to the rein on the bottom ring of the gag? (Sounds as if you ride with just the one rein, if I am correct).

The point of the rein on the bottom ring is to provide a greater leverage on the bit shank, which in turn places pressure on the poll (obviously meaning that the lower down the shank of the bit the rein is, the more pressure is going to be on the poll). So being a 3ring gag, the bottom ring is going to be placing a fair amount on. By then placing a martingale onto this rein, the effect will be that every slight head raise is going to put the martingale in action, which will put pressure on the rein, which then will put pressure on the bit - which in this case is the bottom ring of the gag (which is already placing a large amount of pressure on the poll).

I would say (though without knowing the horse in question or the problems it may have) that this is too much pressure and pretty severe.

There is no harm in starting out from the mildest, in a safe environment, and then building up to what you find he is most comfortable and controlled in. That way you will be less likely to cause him harm and discomfort, and will find a happier horse hopefully. :)
 
SarahRicoh said:
Moomin do you say its attached to the curb rein as its on the lowest ring, is that what you mean? forgive me if im being stupid
Click to expand...

No worries, you are not being stupid in the slightest, it's actually extremely admirable and a refreshing change (compared to some of the other threads I have read on HHO today!!:rolleyes:) to have somebody who has the horse's best interest at heart. :)

Yes you are right, I mean the curb as in the lowest ring. :)
 
What about trying to get a video and post it on here. Might be easier for people to help? A mare I have on loan really didn't like the tack she arrived with which was a metal jointed bit and a tight flash. I took the flash off and used a straight happy mouth and she is so much lighter to ride.
 
You could try a hackamore. One of mine used to chuck his head up, shake it and stick his tongue out when I first got him - he was very difficult to stop! I put him in a hackamore and he was instantly much happier and easier to ride. I'm now slowly reintroducing a bit (rubber mullen mouth) for schooling and it is going well.
 
Thanks guys. Yes I thought about that as I was riding round and realised the martingale and gag combo may be the problem. He does carry his head high usually so I'd like to keep the martingale so looks like I need to change the bit. He just felt like he was ignoring it a bit, and then every so often would pull down and lean/open mouth too. My friend got a few videos so if I can work out how to put one on here I will :)
Thanks for all the suggestions, I hate the thought of him being uncomfortable and want him to be happy
 
We had a fantastic jumping pony who was very hard mouthed ( he was 19). He had a lifetime of children hanging on to his mouth.
He came with a 3 ring gag and martingale. We were advised to try a Waterford but this made him much worse as did anything more severe.
We rode him on the snaffle ring for a while and moved down a ring on his whizzier days and lost the martingale and he gradually improved. My daughter wasnt afraid of excess speed that we would get at times though! A year later he did mounted games in a snaffle as per the PC rules and I was surprised at how well he went though at times was still extremely strong.
 
I also use a hackamore (English). Shy can be fine with a bit for so long, but then he just gets it into his head to continually chomp at it, so the hackamore is great for us. Certainly worth having it as a bit of kit. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top