Bits for a strong pony xcountry please? kimblewick? lite handed

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PONYPC

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Our daughter has a 13 hands pony whom was in a single jointed dutch gag with the previous owners. We have initially changed this to a french link dutch gag, where she does flat work on the snaffle ring and cross country on the bottom ring. Her pony has taken off at speed a few times in cross country training and loses all brakes, unless she takes him into a circle to gain control. Our daughter is exceptionally lite handed and a few suggestions for cross country have included a slotted Kimblewick bit, we would opt for a lozenge as we feel it may be kinder than a port mouth?. We would be interested in reading other people's experiences of this particular bit in terms of giving better brakes? We appreciate that training the pony is a much better way of dealing with this, our daughter being only 11 herself needs some more help in training him, hence regular instruction and lessons, but whilst this is slowly happening, to keep her and the pony safe would a slotted Kimblewick be the best option for a very lite handed rider? He is in a 5 inch mouth piece now with biscuits, but we understand a Kimblewick needs to be smaller than then the bit the pony is normally in, so would we go for a 4 3/4 inch one? H\e is a fab pony and great in show jumping, but very excitable in cross country, but a real star!
 
If you go for a Kimblewick I would use a slightly ported one rather than a lozenge as that will negate the influence, as the pony pulls the curb chain will not come into play properly and they may as well be in a snaffle or you have to keep the curb chain very tight, better a sharp bit he respects than a child getting run off with or having to keep pulling at the bit to slow him down, it may be that once he knows she is in full control he starts to listen.
The other option would be to try a waterford, not my favoured bit but they do struggle to take a real hold on them, a dutch gag version may be suitable.
 
Thank you, so the ported one would be better than a straight bar as; it would give slight relief on the tongue or would additionally put pressure on the roof of the mouth please?
 
It should be more effective in that the curb chain action is only there when required, a slight port will give tongue relief and should not go into the roof of the mouth at all, that said you may need to try several bits before you find the right one, what works for one pony will have no effect on another.
 
I found a kimblewick no better than a gag. My mare still took off in one. I've opted for a gag but with sweet iron and most importantly copper scrubs. The scrubs back her off my hand. I would have gone for a Tom thumb but I want to try this option first as she goes exceptionally well in the same mouthpiece as a wilkie/bevel for show jumping.
 
I was going to suggest a Waterford Dutch gag too. Yes it's a strong bit but I find it very effective on my very strong horse and he's surprisingly happy in it - he really lets me know when he's not happy but he's seemed to be comfortable in it from day one. She has good hands so that's a help as it means you can try stronger bits without worrying about his mouth too much.
 
Had similar with a 13hh with my (then) daughter aged 13 & tiny with it.
Child was used to riding in double bridles etc from 9/10 onwards and had good hands.
We tried various bits but the one the pony went xc best in was an american gag. Would never usually suggest this for a child but it DID work & they even went to Weston in the junior team. I found if the ground was harder, we opted for the happy mouth, if softer then the straight forwards american gag.
This was a snaffle mouthed pony for dressage, SJ & BSPS whp classes on the whole.

When the pony tanks off, is this with head down, up - or chin on chest? This is most important to note first as will help you in getting rid of some bits to start with, as you wont want an elevator type if the head is up & running, for example.

If you are going stonger, obviously worth with a good instructor to do this, I have gone round Twesledown & Stilemans in the past with a bag of bits (all with reins & cheeks ready attached) to swap into part way round to try, when going for schooling.

Good luck, hope by trial & (not too much) error you do find something to suit :)
 
Just one other thought. Did you change the bit from a single joint to a french link because single joints are considered bad or because your daughter was having braking issues? If the former, have you tried changing back. Not all horses prefer double jointed bits, I have two who really don't like them.
 
jemima*askin said:
Just one other thought. Did you change the bit from a single joint to a french link because single joints are considered bad or because your daughter was having braking issues? If the former, have you tried changing back. Not all horses prefer double jointed bits, I have two who really don't like them.
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The later as we thought it was kinder and he seems to really like it! We may need to change back just for xcountry.
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Had similar with a 13hh with my (then) daughter aged 13 & tiny with it.
Child was used to riding in double bridles etc from 9/10 onwards and had good hands.
We tried various bits but the one the pony went xc best in was an american gag. Would never usually suggest this for a child but it DID work & they even went to Weston in the junior team. I found if the ground was harder, we opted for the happy mouth, if softer then the straight forwards american gag.
This was a snaffle mouthed pony for dressage, SJ & BSPS whp classes on the whole.

When the pony tanks off, is this with head down, up - or chin on chest? This is most important to note first as will help you in getting rid of some bits to start with, as you wont want an elevator type if the head is up & running, for example.

If you are going stonger, obviously worth with a good instructor to do this, I have gone round Twesledown & Stilemans in the past with a bag of bits (all with reins & cheeks ready attached) to swap into part way round to try, when going for schooling.

Good luck, hope by trial & (not too much) error you do find something to suit :)
Click to expand...

When he tanks off he has his head down, although our daughter goes with it, rather than circling as not to miss her jumps.
 
I second a Tom thumb. I've just bought a 13 hh pony who came wearing this bit cus he is strong. it has sweet iron mouth with copper rollers and has a rough side and smooth side depending on how strong you want it
 
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