Bits that bring head up and bits that lower help lower head

[jleegriffith]

My first post here..I am riding a bit 16.3 h 5 yr tb who has been off the track for about 7 months now and is getting ready to do is first event. At home we are doing well riding in a happy mouth mullen. He has a big thick tongue and not a lot of room in his mouth. He seems the most relaxed in the HM mullen.

Out x-country he's a big strong horse and likes to pull down at times and run and at other times he likes to throw his head up and run. I am an experienced rider but this guy seems hard to find a bit to suit. I tried a mullen pelham and he is great on the flat but hates it over fences and will start refusing. He hated the two ring elevator. I tried several versions of snaffle..slow twist and mylers with hooks but not enough. It seems like he doesn't want anything that creates too much pressure on the poll.

Suggestion? I bought a neue wilkie so I thought I would give that a try. What is the action of a gag? I would rather be able to ride him soft than have him pulling my arms out.

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

I find the Tom Thumb brilliasnt at lifting heads, mine is a rather large lad who has a habit of bucking whilst out, has helped me no end. You can also use 2 rein one on the snaffle setting will have a hanging cheek affect and the lower shank has a head lifting effect.

Have been amazed at the results with it. I use a lozenge mouth piece. it is also ver small in the mouth - shires do a copper and sweet iron one, for the lozenge try cotswold sports

xx

 

[Frankstown]

If he has a thick tongue, have you thought about a ported mouthpiece to allow some room for his tongue?

 

[alicep]

Lol we were discussing the tom thumb yesterday -Gentle warrior you gave some fab advice.

 

[flyingfeet]

Only 2 bits really lift and thats running gags and the tom thumb / jumper

Pelhams & continental gags (not true gags) all encourage a lower head position.

As said above a tom thumb is an oddity as you seem to be able to control head position with it, I can bring the head up, but also not encourage the giraffe position which running gags can do.

 

[jleegriffith]

Cotsworld- what do you mean by the tom thumb/jumper?

I just assumed he wouldn't like a tom thumb since the regular pelham I tried on him seemed to be too much. I love the control it gives me and he was very soft and responsive but it backed him off way to much to the fences and he was jumping straight up and down rather then over and out. I tried it with and without the curb chain. I believe the difference is the tom thumb has shorter shanks than the pelham?

We don't have a lot of ported bits over here in the U.S. I have been shopping ebay to try to find some things cheaper in case he hates them. I would love to find some sort of ported snaffle for dressage but not many are legal.

 

[flyingfeet]

Sorry a tom thumb (UK version not the USA type) and jumper bit - slightly different, but work exactly the same (Neue Schule copied the Dewsbury jumper bit - link and all!)

Tom thumb is nothing like a pelham, I use one on my horse, but to get him going in a pelham for working hunter I'm using a flexible rubber pelham and taken the curb chain off it, otherwise he puts his head down and backs off too much!

 

[jleegriffith]

I will look around and try to see what the differences are. I think it's just a process of trial and error right now but your version of the tom thumb sounds more appropriate for what i am looking for. I love the NS bits so I will browse around on their website too.