Bitting advice needed for horse that's strong out hacking

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emma001

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i have a 16.2 mare who is very good at working in the school and jumping. Works well and 'properly' in an outline and doesn't get overly strong whilst jumping; both in a snaffle. This applies to field work as well (jumping fields/grass arenas. However recently I've been wondering if it would be appropriate to have her in a different bit whilst out hacking as she gets very strong in trot and canter, however, trot in particular. I've tried keeping her in a steady pace but almost always end up virtually pulling back on the reins as she will then just rush on resulting in her either losing her balance or running into a canter. I realise this can't be comfortable for her as there is a strong contact between my hands and in her mouth which brings me to ask if it would be a good idea to change her bit for hacking out, so that there is more control without having to constantly 'hold her'?
 
Please specify what bit she is currently in - We can never really give option without knowing otherwise! :)

And does she grab the bit / open her mouth or just ignore it and run.

Have you tried slowing your rising down?
 
have you tried the obvious ie not trotting/cantering in the same places each time and doing lots of transitions rather than just setting off on a section of track and staying at that pace? If you have and it hasn't helped then yes I'd change the bit for hacking for 2 reasons. Firstly if you keep having to hang on her mouth out hacking and you hack regularly you could find she starts to become a little hard mouthed and secondly because it's better to have proper control if possible, for safetys sake. Most horses seem to concentrate better in the arena so I usually find a slightly stronger bit for hacking helps, unless I'm just going for a walk round the roads. I've ridden others well mannered angels that never pull, lean or get strong out hacking but I seem to end up buying horses who find hacking exciting and who want to run on all the time, even though they're foot perfect in the arena. I have 2 bridles per horse because it's easier than constantly changing the bit over.
 
Yes.

I am an advocate of having a stronger/different bit that a horse respects rather than having a frustrating, uncomfortable and ultimately un-enjoyable ride.

I ride a 13h in a spoon bit with a 6" shank, we have a wonderful time, she doesn't pull and neither do I.
 
It is very hard to say what is wrong or right without seeing her hacking 1st hand but it could be a simple change in noseband, for example. Who knows?!

I feel it sounds like she works well in the school position/environment but out hacking, tends to get on her forehand, loses balance a bit and gets a bit insecure about dealing with the difference in the type of motion/riding style/expectation/environment?

Maybe if she was 'schooled' on a hack for the meantime rather than 'hacked' on a hack, it may possibly ease the issue. Just start out as if you were in the school when going hacking, if she doesn't listen, do what you would do to correct and get focus back?
 
Myler comfort eggbutt snaffle
No, doesn't actually 'grab' the bit I would say it's more like her neck goes very wooden if that makes sense so it's difficult to bend and she always refused to work properly in an outline while out hacking constantly has her head up, again very strong in the neck and softening hands doesn't work either; however she does rush.
And tried slowing rise doesn't work.
 
I also change wherever I trot and canter each time if possible but this makes no difference as to how she goes. Lots of transitions as well however has no effect on the horse and she still persist with head up and I'm not one of the riders who saw on the horses mouth! :) schooling on a hack: what would that be specifically for this case?
 
I agree with enfys, I would find a stronger actioned bit in a mouthpiece you know she likes. My mare gets schooled in a loose ring french link snaffle, hacked by me in a 3 ring gag on the snaffle rein with a grackle, ridden by the loaner in the 3 ring gag with rounding between snaffle ring and 3rd ring and is jumped in a hackamore/the gag depending on how well she's feeling! Swapping about works for her, and each bit works very well for each activity. She never has her mouth hauled on, but if I tried to do everything in a snaffle it would be horrible for both of us!
 
I will have a look. That could be a good idea. With the three ring gag is that on the last small ring or the first one? Or tryt her on the first one first and see how she goes?
 
Myler do a snaffle with hooks and loops so you get a mild lever action and a curb action with the familiar mouthpiece, I think I would try that in your shoes, I know a few horses that go well in this.
 
I have put one of ours in a myler combination and both horse and rider are very pleased with it.

For horses strong out hacking lots of transitions and only short bursts of trot/canter, making turns and circles when possible, if not then leg yield/shoulder in etc, if they speed up going home, kick on (if safe) and ride right past home (or into the arena if not possible), don't finish work until they walk home nicely, ensure they are immediately rewarded when they behave correctly such as relax reins, scratch on the neck, etc.
 
My horse works in the school well in a snaffle but was always awful hacking in a snaffle, I persevered for years but eventually admitted defeat & tried different bits. I experimented with quite a lot but eventually settled on a Pelham,2 reins as he doesn't go well in roundings, horse mostly in a light contact in it, which was something that he would never do in a snaffle out hacking. It gives me more control in faster work as he gets strong & stops his occasional attempts at 180 spins when he sees something 'scary'!
 
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