bits

[sj_xc_hannah_]

my pony has just come back into work, and i am thinking of changing his bit. he has always been very stong and cheeky when he wants to be but also can be ploddy. he is in a dutch gag at the moment but its not strong enough and i don't really want his head in his chest and i dont like the action. what i need is something that i can have a soft hand and let him go abit (for when hes jumping again) but when he does get strong i have him in control, he does bolt sometimes or run and if he doesnt like a fence he can run off from it so if anyone has any ideas...? please give your suggestions.

 

[Hanz]

My gelding has been off for 2 months and before this he was in a rubber pelham with no curb-chain, a grackle and a martingale. Now that I am bringing him back into it I am using a french link loose ring snaffle which is sweet iron. May have to put the martingale on when we start schoolong and jumping but I have learnt its not what is in his mouth but in his head.

Using a curb bit with 2 reins maybe? You can use the top rein when he is behaving then when he feels like a gallop you can use the curb for a bt more pressure. Correct me if im wrong as im no expert.

 

[Toby_Zaphod]

Sometimes the answer is not in the bit , it's in the schooling. My lad was strong, charged fences etc but with loads of flatwork schooling he is now well balanced, has good paces & now he's ridden with a light hand in a snaffle for dressage & a waterford when jumping. However we are considering dropping back to a snaffle soon for the jumping.

Sometimes less is more, you may find that the strength that the pony is showing is him fighting agaiunst a bit that he doesn't like. Just a thought?

 

[sj_xc_hannah_]

thats fine for schooling, but hacking, i cant hold him, he will bomb, and once he even ran out in front of a tractor so it has nocked my trust with him. thats why i want something thats going to let me be light with him but have enough to hold him back if needed.

 

[WelshRareBit]

Perhaps a kimblewick - if you have a looks at my post further down the page I think some people have suggested that its mild when your hands are up and more effective when you lower your hands and the curb comes into play. That said it would depend how your horse tanks off - is he head down or up?

 

[AmyMay]

My vote would be for a Dr Bristol. Any bit with a curb is going to make your horse tuck his head in (which you said that you'd like to avoid).

I'm riding a very forwad, busy little horse in one at the moment, and she goes beautifully in it.

 

[sj_xc_hannah_]

when he bombs its either he curls up with all his power under him in his chest (not good as he is a chunky NF) or i'm not really sure but its never up in the air.

 

[sj_xc_hannah_]

I think that the slotted kimblewick is Exactly what i am looking for thanx!

 

[charlie76]

Why don't you try a copper roller- the rollers prevent him grabbing hold.

Worked on mine!