bitting advice

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Thirza

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i have an 14yo irish sports horse she has a soft mouth but no breaks!?
when i brought her she was in a eggbutt snaffle no breaks put her in a long cheek snaffle still no breaks put her in a kimblewick breaks improved i can now let others gallop off and we will jog but if i canter with others she bolts she also bolts when she is jumped she starts off ok then gets more excited untill you are jumping at 90mph then all control goes i have had her back checked and thats ok, the only trouble with the kimblewick is if she bolts and you keep pulling she ends up with a sore mouth wich i dont want any sugestions of a bit that might work ??
 
Did you have the kimblewick on the slots or just the ring? Have you tried something like a three ring gag - a bit of poll pressure can often work wonders. Would also recommend that her teeth are checked and maybe get someone to help you with her.
 
I would go back to basic schooling with her and work in hand as well as check teeth and saddle.

My horse used to do this and I found keeping him soft made a big difference.

When she goes, is her head up in the air or down?

If it is down leaning on you consider a NS Universal trans-lozenge link, if it is up in the air, consider a curb such as Kimblewick or Pelham which will encourage her to lower her head.

Hope this helps.

If you go for a jointed bit, go for a french link or one with a lozenge as single jointed bits can really jag into the roof of the mouth and have a severe nutcracker action on the tongue pinching the edges of it.
 
Does she just grab hold of the bit and bugger off?
You can try a loose ring type bit so its harder for them to get hold of, maybe the snaffle ring or middle ring of a happymouth (if she is really soft in the mouth) loosering gag?
Or a waterford mouthpiece, its not a solid mouthpiece so again they can't grab hold of it and bomb off.
Maybe try something with copper rollers in it? My friend has one for SJ and it works a treat as her horse is an ex eventer and gets rather excited at shows
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Hope this helps!
Izzi xx
 
her teeth have been checked,yes i use the kimblewick on the slots,not tried a 3 ring gag yet will have to try one, have not been able to find anyone to help as so many riding schools are closing around us and no one advertises for lessons anymore, i have found places where i can send her where they will work with her which costs more money than i can earn and i want some one who can advise me how to help my horse as when they are gone it is down to me to keep the work up. but i will keep looking and i will try the 3 ring gag thank you
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Hi I have had teeth checked all ok, she is at the moment in a kimblewick with a curb she niether puts her head down or up just brings it in and sets her neck solid i have no breaks or steering, i am at presnet lunging her and trying to school from the ground what i have notices on the lunge is that she will not walk in fact she will only do fast trot or canter if you try to get her to do a steady slower trot she will stop if you try to slow the canter she will do a fast trot so i have got a lot of work to do. i have had her back checked all ok and got new saddle last year and that is checked regularly by my saddler. i am trying to find a yard that has a menage at the moment all yards have a long waiting list as so many have closed around me. thank you for you help
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she sets her neck solid and goes she does not raise her head or drop it, i have been looking into the waterford and bits with copper rollers its just choosing the right one. thank you for your advice
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Thirza, could you get a freelance instructor?

If she is setting her jaw and neck a waterford or one with cooper rollers is a good option.

If she is not keen on lunging, have you tried longreining?

I have a full check waterford not doing anything, its about 5 1/2 inches.
 
You need to get an instructor to help you. The bit is only half of the solution, you need to do lots of schooling to get her listening to you.
If she sets her neck then your best bet is either something with copper rollers, or a waterford, with the full cheeks. Try and get a loosering if you can.
Hope this helps
Izzi x
 
my mare sounds very similar to yours.she is 15
i have tried a dutch gag, waterford and tom thumb, aswell as french link, eggbutt and kimblewick, and d-ring with copper rollers.
now considering a bitless bridle.
my girl tosses her head when poll pressure is applied, and gets wound up with the gag, so be careful the first time you try it ( i'm sure you would anyway)
the watreford apparently is a marmite bit--they either love it or hate it. unfortunately my girl hated it.
i did have some success with the copper rollers-- stopped her taking off with me , and no jogging either. but it wasn't quite strong enough for her to stop. so i'm back to the draawing board too!!!
you could also try different nosebands.......does she open her mouth at all or cross her jaw??
good luck.........let me know how you go.
 
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