Bitting suggestions for a fizzy connie

aran

aran

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Hello
I have a 5 yr old connie who is a lovely lad but out hacking is very forward and I'm looking into different bitting ideas.
He schools in a hanging french link but I hack in a double jointed 3 ring gag. I'm not keen on this bit and would like to change it.
He wants to get everywhere at his speed (not mine!). He will put his head up or bear down to speed up. I'd like a stronger bit so that my half halts are respected and I don't get into a pulling match when we see a jogger in the distance that needs further investigation
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!
(just to say his back, teeth etc are all fine and we are focusing on half-halts and respecting my hand and seat aids in our schooling).

So what bits do you think may be worth trying?

Thank you!
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Look at his mouth conformation and go from there. Until you know this you could make some bad choices, which wont get you anywhere
 
connemara usually low palettes so something without nutcracker - you might want to try pelham with 2 reins or a kimblewick - BUT really its all about getting him to listen to your seat, esp as a 5 yr old .....
when i half halt i 'think' slow, then use my seat, then last BOTH reins just ever so slightly and then ride on dont hang on.also use voice as well at same time... mine used to race everywhere now i can half halt from 'thinking' it. she will also half halt on the lunge from my voice.
with the pelham it does lower the neck and if use curb it brings nose in. gags tend to raise head and neck and bring nose in.
 
sorry to hijack - kezimac, would a gag possibly be good for a horse that hangs on a pelham and has a very low head carriage in one then?
 
royal lass........not a bitting expert but in my opinion yes - i have always been told - gags raise head carriage as its on a loose ring so as you use rein the mouthpiece moves around ring and raise head and if its on a low enough ring brings the nose in too. (i.e dutch gag) - different with cheltenham gags.(ones with rope that go thru ring)

if pelhams used with two reins - can be useful to lower head bring nose in (as long as not held in) and help (providing you activating hindlegs) to bring back up and promote topline - but its long slow process getting them to lower neck and lift back (not holding in and driving into rein)
 
He has the typical connie mouth: low palate, fleshy tongue, short bars. I wouldnt try a single jointed bit as it wouldn't be right in his mouth. He likes french link/lozenge type bits, I havent tried any straight bars though.

My dressage instructor and I are working on getting him to listen more to aids but he is always going to be a horse that needs something stronger when out and about. He lunges to voice aids and is very quick on my aids in the arena but really gets excited out hacking and will bear down or come right up in an attempt to speed up. Using seat and voice aids is all very well - but when they are excited and don't want to listen you need something else!
I want to use a stronger bit so that i don't need to strong with my hand. I'd rather use a stronger bit less than a softer bit a lot.

My TB has always been in a loose ring happy mouth even when hunting so other than the french link/pelham and the 3-ring gag I havent had to use many other bit types - and there do seem to be an awful lot more than there used to be!

If anyone has any ideas what might be worth looking in to I'd be grateful.

Thank you
 
Unless a dutch gag is used with 2 reins it has a very confusing action for the horse. It was designed to ridden with 2 reins, with a pressure-release mechanism. Using one rein is all pressure and no release.

If a horse has a low head carriage in a pelham, thats because of the poll pressure and the horse not going forward properly, using its back end. straight bars encourage leaning too.

Whilst a gag may raise the head due to the sliding mouthpiece, it also has poll pressure. And poll pressure will usually lower the head. So using just one rein with any gag doesnt give as clear communication as 2 reins.

The best way to choose a bit for any horse is firstly assess the mouth conformation. Then assess the riders ability and the horses way of going. Then select an appropriate bit and practice, it can be trial and error but you need to try a new bit for several weeks at least. Above all, no bit is a substitute for schooling, which given time can actually solve most issues!
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french link continental gag? as used to mouthpiece but extra leverage with cheeks
or waterford cheltenham gag with two reins - one to lower head but extra brakes and mouthpiece moulds to mouth so no leaning
 
[ QUOTE ]
Unless a dutch gag is used with 2 reins it has a very confusing action for the horse. It was designed to ridden with 2 reins, with a pressure-release mechanism. Using one rein is all pressure and no release.

If a horse has a low head carriage in a pelham, thats because of the poll pressure and the horse not going forward properly, using its back end. straight bars encourage leaning too.

Whilst a gag may raise the head due to the sliding mouthpiece, it also has poll pressure. And poll pressure will usually lower the head. So using just one rein with any gag doesnt give as clear communication as 2 reins.

The best way to choose a bit for any horse is firstly assess the mouth conformation. Then assess the riders ability and the horses way of going. Then select an appropriate bit and practice, it can be trial and error but you need to try a new bit for several weeks at least. Above all, no bit is a substitute for schooling, which given time can actually solve most issues!
smile.gif


[/ QUOTE ]
I'm not sure if this is in response to me or OP, but I would never use a dutch gag with anything other than TWO reins....my horse is using the pelham to evade (she is working from her back end) but is also leaning on the straight bar (however, she doesn't go well at all in any kind of jointed pelham wether it be one joint, french link, lozenge etc). Good point about the poll pressure, this is why I wondered if riding in a gag on the top rein and only using the bottom rein when necessary would help to stop her bearing down on me as there will be less poll pressure?

I agree, schooling can sort most problems and is on going with us, but I need to find something that works for us!
Thanks

ps sorry to hijack your thread aran - not my intention!! hope you find something suitable for your horse....
 
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