Brakes for fun ride

cphillipsball

cphillipsball

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I usually ride my thoroughbred in a KK ultra, but took her on a fun ride and we had no brakes, anyone got any suggestions on bit to have some brakes?
 
Why would you want brakes, surely thats half the fun? :p

I usually school mine in a loose ring snaffle, but I have a 2/3 ring gag for xc and fast rides, very useful when you're galloping out of control downhill! Also find I have excellent brakes in my rugby pelham that I show in, but I prefer the feel of the gag for xc, and much easier having one set of reins!
Perhaps try and borrow a few stronger bits off of friends to try before you buy? Thats what I did. Different horses will always respond differently to things.
 
was it head up, head down, grabbing the bit or just not really listening to you?

My mare puts her head down and absolutley tanks! So far I have tried a french link dutch gag (all my friend had to lend me, that did not work at all!) a pelham which she just grabs in her mouth if she wants to go, a tom thumb which i have only recently tried but she seems to respect and I have also been recomended a waterford bit for horses that grab onto the bit so am going to give that a go aswell! :)
 
Head down and tanks, it is fun just need some respect when trying to jump, just bought my other horse a waterford but too big to try in thoroughbreds mouth.
 
shysmum said:
we use a good old kimblewick, and it works a treat. Pelham two reins is my main suggestion tho :)
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Pelham not ideal for a head downer tho, as it is all poll pressure.

Ideally for a head downer you would be looking at something like a true gag like a Cheltenham gag, one with the cheekpieces that continue - with 2 reins.

3 ring gags arent gags at all in the strict sense and again not ideal for a head downer, better for the stick the nose in the air contingent :-DD

Two reins better than one as fairer on the horse. they will know the ABS brakes reins are there, but they wont come into effect until/unless they are naughty. Trouble with roundings or gag on a lower ring is that effectively they are being punished all the way round, tho if brakes very very lacking that might be needed....

dont know about Kimblewick very much tho...maybe acts like a pelham and with a single rein....good brakes but not subtle?
 
I would second chelt. Gag its the only thing that's worked with my tank. You can ride off snaffle rein most of time and just pick up gag rein when approaching jump or doing fast work, I knot gag rein over neck sometimes so don't have to keep hold of it all the time.
 
If you want one rein you could try a kimblewick (without the slots to minimise the poll pressure), or a Dr Bristol, or a Waterford, or a twisted snaffle.

You could also try a NS Universal, a Wilkie or a bevel, but try in advance because like the dutch gag some horses respond by dropping their head and coming behind the bit.

You could also try something like a myler combination......
 
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