Bit problems!

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HayleyBurlo1998

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i have a welsh D x arab and he can be rather strong when doing xc, shes ridden in a hanging cheek snaffle otherwise but he does bomb off sometimes in the school. any ideas of a bit that i could use all round? :)
 
He's just had a recent checkup and his teeth have been done (they were fine), his back is fine, he's had a new saddle in the last 9 months and that fits fine :) I'm just not sure what bit to use for him?
 
Not being funny, but

Lessons?

After you've covered all of the bases mentioned, I'd give the BitBank a ring. They are very helpful and run a trial service.

My mare can be very strong out hacking and changing the mouthpiece from a 'linked' mouthpiece with a lozenge to a solid mouthpiece proved to be the key for us. She likes a 'still' bit and is now in a NS Show pelham (2 reins) with a forward portford tongue room and solid mouthpiece, changed from a 'NS Tranz Lozenge Universal'. She's much more accepting now.
 
My instructor is coming today to see what bit he goes best in, last time she only had a few basic bits with her and none of them worked. I think she's going to try different gags because we don't want to go too harsh and use a pelham like his old owner. But he only goes off when he's on his own or the ride are a distance away, he just doesn't respond to the bit and what I'm asking him to do when he goes.
 
Personally, I don't think a pelham is harsh, it's the hands that make a bit harsh.

If the head goes up when he's about to 'bomb off', then I wonder if a gag is the right answer?
I used a Universal and it used to make Star throw her head up.

I find a pelham, with 2 reins gives me much more control, and I can be much lighter with my hands. Look at the mouthpieces as well.
Does your horse prefer a solid mouthpiece or a jointed? Star was abysmal because my 'then' trainer said every horse could go softly in a french-link/lozenge snaffle and my life was a misery until I thought about this and realised bits were like a pair of shoes for people. Individual preferences. The problem being that the horse can't use words to tell us what they like and don't like.

The bit my mare goes most softly and calmly in, is a........Sam Marsh Pelham. One of the most horrible looking things you can find, but I can ride on a loose rein, her ears are forward, her back swings.
Put her in something milder, but with a round mouthpiece and she leans, grabs, pulls........ Strange horse.
I think it is because the mouthpiece is broad and flat, taking up very little room in her mouth, and having a wide plate of metal, instead of a narrower round mouthpiece, it spreads any pressures.
 
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My instructor came today and we think we have found the right bit for him! Its a neue scheul (not sure how to spell it :P ) he doesn't throw his head up (he never has) and he likes the french link in the middle, for flatwork we have put him in a neue scheule loose ring frenk link snaffle and he responds nicely and rounded in it! Thanks for all your help!
 
Janette said:
Personally, I don't think a pelham is harsh, it's the hands that make a bit harsh.

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Gotta agree with you. There's nothing wrong with a pelham. I'd rather give a gentle tug with the pelham and have my horse listen to me than a continual tug of war in a snaffle. People hear things about bits and just make judgements rather than ask the people that use them. However I'd make sure the pelham chosen is suitable for your horse mouth confirmation. Don't make the mistake I did and used a mouthpiece too thick which beared down on the mouth just by its action alone - mullen mouth pelham. My horse is dutch bred, and typical of his breed he has a large fat tongue so was very uncomfortable. I spent £75 on a Neue Schule tranz angled lozenge pelham and can confidently say that it was the best £75 I've ever spent. Wish I'd realised sooner, had a right battle with my EDT when he said I couldn't jump in a pelham again and it HAD to be a snaffle. Finally compromised on the NS pelham with its narrower mouthpiece, lozenge, and warm metal moutpiece (thankgod)!

I use the pelham for everyday riding and situations where what I, and I stress the word 'I' consider 'dangerous'. That is for jumping and for hacking out. In other situations, i.e. quiet day, no hazards, nothing to shy at, no wind, etc I would be quite happy to ride my horse in a headcollar in walk, trot and possibly canter and I feel confident he would stop.

In preparation for a dressage test/ODE I start riding in the snaffle. My horse goes very well in a snaffle but because he is used to a slight pressure on his poll, he prefers the hanging cheek snaffle, he tends to do the opposite of what a loose ring snaffle is meant to prevent and leans like mental. We compete up to unaff elem dressage and nearly always seem to get placed so I think we are on the right lines, even though I could do with the odd lesson.
 
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I wouldn't feel safe using a pelham as I do have soft hands but I wouldn't want to cause any damage seen as Dickens does shake his head rather vigourously sometimes. When he came to us his mouth was very tender so we put him into a hanging cheek to let things calm down. We have now found a bit for him and he responds to them very well! Thanks for all your help 'again' :P :)
 
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