BITTING HELP - Gag or Pelham

[FemelleReynard]

Hi everyone, I have a 9yr old 16.3 ISH, more on the draught side so he's big and strong, probably more of a man's horse really as he's a big lad. I have him to hunt and I've previously hunted him in a full cheek waterford which was fine. Curiously, he tends to be stronger at home (so hacking out, schooling etc) which is where I need a stronger bit.

I haven't had him long and he was ridden by his previous owner in a full cheek waterford. I kept him in this initially but I'm now having trouble with getting him to stop. He has a habit of putting his head in the air and just going, and having no regard for me on his back or tugging at his mouth. I understand this could be remedied also by schooling, but I really do feel that I need something stronger in his mouth to go hand in hand with this. As I've said he's a big horse, and as a lady (all be it a tall one) I don't have the strength that his previous male owner did. I believe waterford mouthpieces are used to prevent a horse leaning or grabbing hold of the bit, which I haven't found him to do thus far, so I believe the waterford may not be needed?

Someone suggested that I try a dutch gag on him with the waterford mouthpiece on one of the lower rings. I've done a little bit of reading online and I've found that these encourage the head to rise (if this is wrong, I am willing to be told otherwise!), whereas I need him to bring his head down. After further reading, I think a pelham might be the answer. Am I right in thinking these encourage the head to come lower, which will hopefully give me the control I need? I know a lot of controversy surrounds pelhams, but I'm willing to give it a go. I have soft hands and would use 2 reins and not those ghastly roundings.

So, on that note, would I be best to try a straight bar pelham (as I've read a jointed one means the curb action doesn't work correctly), a ported one, or one with the waterford mouthpiece (see previous note about having no experiences of leaning/taking hold)? Or would anyone recommend the use of a dutch gag? Or maybe a Cheltenham gag?

I'm very willing to hear people's opinions and experiences on this, so any help and advice would be much appreciated by this bitting-novice!

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I have a Westphalian Draft horse who can get very strong and is quite capable of both leaning and putting her head up as evasions. She was in a Dutch gag with a French link mouthpiece and one rein when I got her, although I wasn't keen on it. After talking to Heather Hyde, I changed her bit to a NS Universal, with a Tranz mouthpiece, with 2 reins. This has meant that I am now in control at a times. Most of the time, I ride on the snaffle rein but can bring the curb rein into play if I need to do so. For schooling at home she is absolutely fine in a NS Tranz, which is very similar to a French link snaffle, so whilst schooling obviously helps to make her responsive, I can't replicate the situations where she evades.

The size available was another factor in my choice, as it is one of the very few bits that I could get in 6 1/2", she has a very wide head. She also has a fat tongue and wears the thinner version.

 

[Goldenstar]

Schooling and training is really the answer .
You need to try lots of bits .
I always try a myler Pelham a vulcanite Pelham and a straight bar Pelham with a little port .
Waterfords can be great on some horses it's worth trying a gag version with checks and two reins .
Some horse go very well in the dr Bristol .
My most used choice for a little more control is the sprenger universal with is very similar to the NS bit that pearlasinger likes .
Remember noseband can have a roll in setting the horse up the right way so it's worth fiddling with those too .

 

[Casey76]

A cheltenham (or running) gag will raise the head, a Dutch gag/pessoa will lower the head as they are essentially a pelham without a curb chain.

If using a pelham, an unbroken mouthpiece woul be my preference, as even if used with a lip strap, with a broken mouthpiece, the curb chain can creep out of the curb groove and end up acting on the jaw bone.

 

[huskydamage]

I tried a dutch gag on my pony for hunting I had it on the last ring and it was completely useless. Might as well not even have been there! She has 2 tricks sticking her nose on the floor and ploughing along or throwing her head in air and jumping around (usually headbutting me in face!). I now hunt with kimblewick which is good , but if that didn't work I might have tried pelham.

 

[ponydi]

I'd go down the pelham route, and if you need a mouthpiece other than the mullen mouth use a rubber guard on the curb chain. See if you can try before you buy as well, or better still borrow!

 

[benz]

I would also say Pelham, the mouthpiece will depend on your horse but definitely not a jointed Pelham, no use to anyone! You can hire from the bit bank for a small fee. I would also recommend trying the myler combination although it's quite expensive.