Bit suggestions for strong horse on fun rides please

M

mariond

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 May 2006
Messages
271
Location
Wales
Visit site
I would be very grateful for any suggestions as I have a 16 hh shire x mare who is a pleasure to own in all ways except for tanking off with me on fun rides. I normally hack and school with her in a NS lozenge bit with no problems its just in a large group the red mist decends and she will do her best to have her own way and go at the pace she wants. She just sticks her head down low when cantering (not a nice way of going with nothing in front of me) and then I loose all control. So far I have tried her in - a kimblewick which was very good until she started putting her head down, a cheltenham gag which worked well the first time but lost effect the second time and finally the NS waterford jumper bit which is supposed to be an elevator bit which I thought may keep her head up. I like to ride with a soft a hand as possible but on these fun rides its just not possible and I am worried about the effect on her mouth when pulling against her. What I really could do with is an elevator bit with a curb as she does seem to have respect for curbs or might a myler combination be a good one to try. All suggestions gratefully received as she is costing me a fortune in bits though I do use bit hire some of the time. The other option would be to stop going on fun rides which would be a real shame as I enjoy them and she also seems to which I think is the problem she is just too keen !
 
I'd be interested on peoples opinions on this as mine is just the same. In the school and hacking with one other person he's great; ridden in a hanging cheek french link. But go out with three or more its a race, and we end up having to walk a lot of the time ( which he will do quite happily, all be it a quick walk
smile.gif
)
Unlike miss molly I haven't tried another bit yet; I've only had him a couple of months and I would hate to put him in a stronger one.
 
Yes and me!

Axey is schooled in a KK ultra, but I have to hack him in a pelham, grakle noseband and martingale and sometimes I still can't stop!

When I used to hack in a snaffle he put his head up to p**s off, now he puts his head down and in and uses his neck and back against me. I'm tempted to go back to a snaffle but keep the martingale and grakle.
 
Myler Combination. I really like Myler bits, very useful.

If she's taking off when you're out then I wouldn't worry about trying to keep soft hands TBH, she needs to learn that it's just not acceptable. If she takes off then try and turn her in a tight circle, and don't ask nicely. I would also be inclined to try going places with just one other person as she might calm down then.

What does she actually do? Does she stop when the other horses stop, or does she carry on past them and off into the distance?
 
I school and hack out my old horse in a straight bar happy mouth - but to event, pleasure ride, showjump I would put him in a vulcanite pelham. THe excitement would get to him and my brakes would fail without the pelham. With it he was still strong and keen - but I could steer and stop.
 
As a recent convert to a Waterford - I would suggest that. Thumper tanks head down - and I've found it really helps. That coupled with a flash noseband done up good and tight means that our braking system has been fine tuned.
 
She carries on for a while past the horse I am with. I will circle her if there is room as I would hate to be bad mannered and pass another group at speed. The problem is that on these fun rides theres usually a group ahead of you all the time as if you She doesn't do anything nasty such as bucking or plunging just sticks her head down and goes. There were a few jumps I had to miss out as I will not put her into a jump with her head down low.
 
My Welshy used to be a bit like this and TBH the thing that sorted him out was hunting! He soon realised he had to stop with everyone else, and then when he realised he was expected to work pretty hard while they were going, he soon lost interest in trying to take off! It was the making of him, really sorted his manners out and now he's a gem on fun rides.

I do like waterfords. He was pretty good in a waterford snaffle, but puts his head between his knees and takes off in a waterford gag. I also got on well with a kimblewick (high port, slotted cheek), so may be worth trying a different type of kimblewick to that you tried.
 
i have finally managed to stop my boy pulling out hunting with a Pee Wee. He's fine on hacks, so I use it on the mild setting), but for hunting I put the reins on the lower curb ring and it makes him flex and stop pulling. His mouth used to always get ripped to shreds with stronger bits (like Gags etc) and I have found the sweet iron lovely and gentle for him and he has not been sore or cut at all.

Frustrating isn't it!
 
The NS jumper bit is a waterford. I don't ride with a flash noseband as she doesn't cross her jaw but do you think that it would help ?
 
Very frustrating and a bit embarasing too ! but shes so good in other ways I suppose she has to have something to play me up on.
 
[ QUOTE ]
The NS jumper bit is a waterford. I don't ride with a flash noseband as she doesn't cross her jaw but do you think that it would help ?

[/ QUOTE ]

Mmm - I wonder what others think? Thumper crosses his jaw, hence the flash.

Worth a try - how about experimenting on a fast hack with some friends?
 
Sounds similar to my dilemma, and I fixed mine with a NS Universal gag, which has a curb on it. The mouth piece is exactly the same as his snaddle, and I actually leave it on his hacking/jumping bridle the whole time now. I hack alone/SJ on the snaffle ring, and move the rein down for group hacks/individual XC, and add the curb strap for pairs XC or sponsored rides!! Mine would stick his head between his knees and charge..... He didn't care about leaving his friends, would just gallop and gallop and gallop! This bit has worked really well for him so might be worth a try? I also had sucess with OH's horse in a waterford but that was not enought XC for her so was about to try a cheltenham gag but then she went lame so never had a chance!!
 
Excuse my ignorance but can I check what sort of curb strap ? Would it be the thin piece of leather that you thread through a curb chain or is it different as when I was reading about the NS waterford jumper bit (which I have) I see you can add a curb strap which would probably work the same way.
 
The other thing you could think about is what I call a twisted snaffle. (I'll try and find a photo).

My friend uses it on her big heavyweight out hunting with great affect.
 
Thank you further on down that page they sell leather curb straps (not the small ones that I was thinking of that holds a curb chain in place. I think I will order one to try on my NS jumper bit
 
Being a shire x does she have a tendency to be heavier on the forehand? My Conn x TB has always been a bit heavy on te forehand and tends to lean and put his head down. The bit I find worked best for him (and spared my arms) is a dutch gag. I used to wear it on the bottom ring but now (as he's older and his manners have improved - plus we 'understand' each other more) i just wear it on the second ring from the bottom.

This gag style of bit and action helps lift the head up - I findhe goes lower in a curb stylebit and can get very heavy. I used to have a pony who just ran off with me in a kimblewick but was brill in the dutch gag and you don't feel your fighting all the time and thus the horses mouth has less abuse!

Another option is a Tom Thumb, I gave mine to a pony club girl who had similar probs with a strong pony and as far as I know it's worked a treat. It is like a hanging snaffle but also with copper rollers. I just found it pinched my horse's mouth so went back to my gag.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top