Desperate plea for bit recommendations to stop a tank of a horse!

[immoralorchid]

Im agreeing with double bridle its the only bridle i dare take my ISH out in and even then i get sore fingers and pulled sholders but we just about have control also i never fully let her go last time i did ended up flying past the field shouting ***** i cant stop no breaks a very kind gent on a cob with a massive behind saved me from overtaking the masters by by blocking my way needless to say i shared my hipflask with him for the rest of the day lol

 

[meesha]

you have just given me a real giggle whilst sat here meant to be working - the images of you charging along with no brakes yelling oooohhh ****** and some kindly man planting his horse in the way is brilliant !!! goes to show how helpful people can be out hunting ! was it only your hip flask you offered him in thanks haha

ps I could have done with someone like that a couple of weeks ago - may have helped me avoid the hedge !! teehheee

 

[Holloa]

I had the same problem with my boy. Took me 2 full seasons to even get still enough to have a nibble and a drink at the meet. Perseverance is the key!
For the next 2/3 seasons I used a cheltenham gag with rope ends and single rein. brilliant brakes. tried everything else nothing worked. I didn't have any luck with the kineton noseband ended up head first into a hedge!

I would also try (if the cheltenham gag (used as above )doesn't work... waterford gag with flash noseband. or as a last resort...a liverpool driving bit.... but this is very strong.

Also maybe try lunging her for 1/2 hr before meet?

Good luck! I hope you get there with her!

 

[Grey_Eventer]

Mine is like this, so I alternate between a "polo bridle"- ie. a gag, drop noseband, loose normal noseband, double reins- works well and a NS universal gag, drop noseband, single rein.

Drop noseband because he crosses his jaw but he fights a grackle.
I think the key is alternating them as he gets too used to them otherwise. I work him in a rubber happy mouth snaffle during the week.

You say you team chase- is this recently? Mine is also a team chaser and it takes a few outings for him to settle and realise he is no longer racing!

 

[cptrayes]

I am currently alternating between a fixed sided Liverpool cherry roller driving bit on the bottom hole and a Mikmar. The Mikmar is best, I am finding. It's a very odd bit, and I do not use the nose rope on it as mine does not respond to nose pressure. I also use it witha curb chain, not a leather strap it is supplied with. I can control him best in the Liverpool but he saws on it like yours and damages his mouth bars more easily than he does with the big wide mikmar mouthpiece. VERY expensive, but you can hire them and send it back if it does not work.

Just would like to point out that a cherry roller is not a severe mouthpiece as someone has said. It actually makes the mouthpiece thicker and kinder and all the rollers do is roll away if they set on it.

Also the Liverpool IS strong (though no more so than the curb rein on long shank pelham or weymouth) but it is better to use a strong bit less than a weaker bit too much. A bit is only as strong as the hands on the end of the reins.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

for sponsored rides

I find I have the best brakes in my 2 were in
a. Kimberwick mare
b. pelham gelding

 

[pollypock1211]

Ive tried the waterford dutch gag which just set his head and did nothing - mine is much better in the NS waterford jumper/elevator combined with the curb strap and believe me you i have tried eveything - I have one for sale if interested, complete with curb strap as my horse is now only a light hack - pm me if interested.

 

[becca1305]

Omgosh so many recommendations thankyou all i think considering how many there are and my dwindling bank balance im going to write a list of all suggested and then ask around friends/ instructors etc if they have any of the list which i can try and then if no luck go for the hire before buy option with the bits i can find before hitting my bank balance harder by moving on to purchases! I totally forgot to mention shes a pain in the arse as she has a wider than average mouth and is bang in between a 5 3/4 and 6 inch so i have to do the best i can although it will probably limit my options a lot! Its weird as shes not a huge horse and her mouth doesnt look particularly big! Thanks again

 

[wench]

Strong bits - long shank myler combination. Twisted snaffle. Barry gag. Eggerton Snaffle (http://horsebitbank.com/full-cheek-twist-eggerton-468.phtml) I

Its also possible to get waterfords with copper rollers in them.

Have you tried ringing bitworld up? http://www.bitworld.co.uk/ they are in Leics, knowledgable staff when I have spoken to them.