*boring post alert* bitting question?

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Ziggy_

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Just a quick question, I'm currently hacking my mare in a dutch gag on the bottom hole with grackle noseband, and I'm having a few braking issues.

She isn't the easiest to ride when it comes to fast work; I have various ways of managing her to keep her under control but at the moment I'm just finding her plain strong, she pulls hard and I'm not kidding, it takes about half a mile to stop her after a canter.
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Any ideas for a slightly stronger bit I could try?
 
dont have the nose band done up tight,are her teeth due ? she will pull if she cant move her lower jaw due to the grackle possibly done up to tight,they fight against you as she will feel locked up in her mouth does she also throw her head when pulling ?
 
Her head goes up ATM - but it can go down, or into her chest depending on the bit
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Her teeth are due (being done on thurs
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) but I don't have the noseband done up tight - enough to stop her seriously crossing her jaw but she can open her mouth a little, eat a polo etc.
 
Hm , have you tried a waterford?
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And do you have her in a martingale? That with the gag could be sending conflicting messages causing her to fight them both
 
see how she gets on after her teeth and get the dentist to advise you on bits also linked bits are better if she has a low pallet or a straight bar ie pelham ect but without the roundings
 
A Myler
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My little cob back at home was a maniac no steering no brakes always trying to get her tongue over the bit a real pickle so we went to a bit bank and got her several Myler pelhams to try and found one that worked a dream. No need for a noseband as she is so happy and light as a feather my 6 year old could ride her easy as pie. It was just amazing and I cannot believe the difference. She has a fat tounge and that was the sorce of her discomfort with her previous bit.
 
I like the mylers and beatrice is making a very good point

The taking hold and charging off, not listening to the rider is a real behavioural problem and bits won;t fix it because the horse is always stronger than you are. Been riding for 40 years and it has taken me all that time to work this out :-)

I generally work on that problem in the field on the ground first - in a circle, at walk. As soon as the horse breaks out of the pace that I set then it's stop (turn to stop if necessary) and back to walk. It;s about you being in control and controlling your energy so that you dont send the horse up a gear wihtout being aware of it.

Only once you can work on the circle at all three paces - then you can get on - and then only for walk. Any breaking out of walk without your asking and it's one rein to halt abd back to walk.

This is about listening and respect, not about bits. You also need to get good at disengaging one side of the horse - if you can stop the left side the right side can't go anywhere withotu it - so make sure you are in a bit that can't be pulled through if you are using a bit.

It's important to be able to stop. Stopping is good. Stoping is fun, you get a cuddle and sometimes a flake of carrot when you stop....get the idea? Lots of stopping!
 
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