Bit suggestions please

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Kelly1982

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My horse is still quite green but the more work he does the stronger he is starting to get, especially jumping!! Schooling and hacking he is usually fine.

Took him to a show at the weekend and they only allowed 6 horses in warm up at a time so didn't give me long to get him working nicely and we ended up having 3 down as he was just so strong. Next day I felt like I had been punched in the stomach and ribs.

He is currently in a copper roller but today I tried a Dutch gag and it was way to harsh. He kept backing off of it and then bucking when i tried pushing him on, he really wasn't happy.

I have got a Waterford snaffle so not sure whether to try this?? Or a straight bar myler?? None of my other horses have been as strong as him and always been in snaffles so not sure where to go. Plus where is he still green I didn't really want to put anything too harsh in. Help please!!
 
I wouldn't say a pelham is stronger than a gag, its a different action so depends what the horse likes :) Could well try either with double reins? Or a hanging cheek snaffle or wilkie for something a bit milder? Trial and error really to see what works for your horse
 
I would be tempted to say school more rather than go for a stronger bit!

I've had experience with moderately strong horses - I did consider putting something stronger in my thoroughbred at one point as he was pulling my arms out, even just in the arena, but we have finally cracked his schooling and he's so light in the hand now, I'm thankful I didn't go down that route. We also had a 5 year old pony that used to tank at jumps, it took a lot of hours of making him walk up to jumps - only doing a couple of strides of trot either side, and halting a few strides after a jump and so on (I don't jump much these days but others will have good advice!) and he did stop tanking completely and was actually a very easy ride over jumps by the time we sold him. He was only 13.2hh though, so obviously not as strong as a bigger horse. Lastly our current youngster is big (17hh) and unbalanced, he has the potential to be strong, you have to ride every stride and balance him every step or he falls onto the forehand at which point he is strong. Sometimes you just have to baby them a bit, really plan your strides and turns in advance and support him with your legs.

Make sure you're using pressure and release with the reins, if you just do pressure with no release they lean, they need to be rewarded the second they do steady themselves. Also as it's a youngster, could lack of balance be a factor?
 
Hi pigeon

I do do all what you have suggested and like I said I have time to work on him at home and get him goin nicely which he does do, he is actually very light in the hand. I also have weekly flat and jumping lessons so we are working on this issue but at a show you only have limited time to warm up so by the time I get in the ring he is a bull in a china shop. Just wanted something a bit stronger for shows to remind him of his manners but then nothing too strong as he is stil green
 
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