Bit/Noseband advice for older horse

CastlelackSportHorses

CastlelackSportHorses

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My 16yr old ex eventing, now 120 mare has always been in a straight happymouth pelham since we stepped up to 2* over 8 years ago.
She used to throw her head and I would lose all control(shes very forward and keen jumping, but has a very sensitive mouth)

We now have the opposite where she will bear down on me between fences and I cant hold her.
She is very honest(never had a stop in all the 12 years we have been competing)
Its usually at the start of the season she is like this and the more shows we go to then I can change her into a 2 ring Poppincini which she quite likes.

Im wondering If I can put a Kineton noseband on with the pelham to help lift her in front. (Shes quite a downhill TB type mare anyway)

Please dont advise me putting her in a snaffle like some have, last time that happened we had a rotational when she decided to jump 2 strides out from an oxar and get pole stuck between her front legs and I broke my shoulder.
I have owned her 16 years and ridden her her whole life so I know her inside out.
Just looking for ideas.

I also dont want to overbit her totally and take away all her initiative. She knows her job and just wants to get it done.
 
You might find with the Kineton you don't need the Pelham as well. I have an incredibly strong horse who's go-to is to bear down and lean and tank - he was previously hunted by a 6'3 16 stone bloke so little old me doesn't get much say in things! I can just about hold him together in a Bomber Happy Tongue with a Kineton. Previously tried with no success/zero brakes - pelham, waterford universal, tom thumb, american gag & 3-ring. He just responds really well to the Kineton.

I do also use a balding gag when needed which works really well to lift his head before fences but he does back off it a bit, it's good for XC as I can let him run-on between fences and take a check at a fence to make sure he's up and looking. But for SJ when I want him to sit in the contact a bit more I find it just a bit too much.
 
KikiDee said:
You might find with the Kineton you don't need the Pelham as well. I have an incredibly strong horse who's go-to is to bear down and lean and tank - he was previously hunted by a 6'3 16 stone bloke so little old me doesn't get much say in things! I can just about hold him together in a Bomber Happy Tongue with a Kineton. Previously tried with no success/zero brakes - pelham, waterford universal, tom thumb, american gag & 3-ring. He just responds really well to the Kineton.

I do also use a balding gag when needed which works really well to lift his head before fences but he does back off it a bit, it's good for XC as I can let him run-on between fences and take a check at a fence to make sure he's up and looking. But for SJ when I want him to sit in the contact a bit more I find it just a bit too much.
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I find this sometime with my girl, I got a american gag off a friend and when I was asking her to wait she would literally drop off the bit and trot. Shes sooooo sensitive that I have to be very mindful of that.
Some bits I find I have too much WOAH and others I have too much GO! :P
Shes a great girl but I just need to find the happy medium.
 
CastlelackSportHorses said:
I find this sometime with my girl, I got a american gag off a friend and when I was asking her to wait she would literally drop off the bit and trot. Shes sooooo sensitive that I have to be very mindful of that.
Some bits I find I have too much WOAH and others I have too much GO! :P
Shes a great girl but I just need to find the happy medium.
Click to expand...

I have the same - he's actually very sensitive in his mouth and too much pressure just makes him lean more, but at the same time when the adrenaline takes over I have NOTHING in a milder bit and it's downright dangerous when you're galloping at solid fences. I think that's why he likes the Kineton as it's less pressure on his mouth so he's inclined to lean less, I keep meaning to try a Myler combination or similar but don't want the expense if it doesn't work!
 
KikiDee said:
I have the same - he's actually very sensitive in his mouth and too much pressure just makes him lean more, but at the same time when the adrenaline takes over I have NOTHING in a milder bit and it's downright dangerous when you're galloping at solid fences. I think that's why he likes the Kineton as it's less pressure on his mouth so he's inclined to lean less, I keep meaning to try a Myler combination or similar but don't want the expense if it doesn't work!
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Sounds good. I might try get a loan of one to try. I wonder would it work with my 2 ring poppincini as its a lovely mouthpiece.
I just hate having to be pulling on her to get her head up when shes barreling down related distances :(
 
It should work with anything I imagine as you can just hook the loops over the bit rings. How do you find the poponcini? I've heard good things and want to try one but again - very expensive bit to add to my collection if it doesn't work!
 
KikiDee said:
It should work with anything I imagine as you can just hook the loops over the bit rings. How do you find the poponcini? I've heard good things and want to try one but again - very expensive bit to add to my collection if it doesn't work!
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My girl loves it, again shes very sensitive in the mouth, can ride her on the flat in a soft nathe! So the mouthpiece of the popincini suits her and the 2 ring gives me extra brakes :P
 
I'm sure you've already tried it but she sounds very similar to my old boy. A waterford 3 ring gag with 2 reins worked very well for him. We tried so many bits and this was the only one we agreed on. He was comfortable in it and I had enough brakes and could keep his head up in it, otherwise he'd have his head between his knees and he'd be off. He was in a mullen mouth hanging cheek snaffle for 95% of his work but when he got excited, Geoff Capes would have struggled to hold him.
 
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