Do you bit up?

Shoei

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Do you automatically bit up for hunting? The reason I ask is I took my youngster on his 1st outing recently and I am hoping to hunt him this season. For his 1st time out in company on a ride with 50 others he was very good. But he did lean a bit on me resulting in slightly sore finger. It has taken an age to find him a bit he is happy with and we have decided we like the baucher tongue saver.

What would people recommend? And glove recommendations would be great too please. I used my mark Todd thermals which I use day to day
 

redfoxhunter

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Last season I started off a big 17.2 5 year old, who was barely schooled. We started in a copper roller snaffle (which he schools and hacks in now), he was terrible for leaning then putting his head down and cantering off when the field went. I upgraded to a waterford gag, then change to a full cheek waterford. This stopped the leaning and gave me the ability to control - was like heaven after struggling for a while!

Towards the end of the season I felt like I could have changed back, but then had a fall and ankle injury meaning I couldn't finish the season. He is schooled at least twice a week (since January), and I have a lesson once a week. He no longer leans, and is generally more mannerly.

Autumn hunting this year I will start in his roller snaffle and see how we go. Think I might revert to waterford for the opening meet and perhaps a few after but seriously hoping to keep him in his roller.

Gloves I use Ariat, and they are brilliant and last - had my current pair for 3 seasons.
 

Dizzle

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When I first took my little mare, I wasn't going to bit up as she is so totally dependable. The more experienced lady that I went with suggested I do. I bitted up and I have to say it was worth it, the little bit of extra control was perfect and I think I'd have had a bit of a battle in her normal bit (not that she's actually fast enough to overtake people but it's good to be able to stop her parking her nose on the horse in front).

I now always bit up for hunting and even fun rides, although fantastic we had an incident at a fun ride where we came up behind slower horses, they either didn't hear us ask if we could pass or ignored us so we had to pull up to pass them, even with brakes we had a little discussion!
 

HufflyPuffly

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I would absolutely bit up for all future 'first time' hunts, I learnt my lesson with Topaz! We did all the homework we could, hacked out in large groups, had them canter off past us, asked Topaz to wait etc and she was foot perfect, so I left her in her snaffle. Big mistake as the atmosphere on the day turned her into a raving loony! Next time popped her into a dutch gag and she was much more civilised.

Of course your horse might be fine, but it's a bit late to find out once you're at the hunt with an over-exited horse that you're struggling with...

I would also recommend going out with the hunt on hound exercise if you can, as this gets the horse use to it all without it being a full on hunt.

x x
 

Ditchjumper2

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I would certainly bit up, there is nothing worse for you or others, than having no brakes. We have excercise tack and hunt tack. They hack out in snaffles but all hunt in something stronger, although 2 are just in stronger snaffles.

I use Ariat gloves too...although I also have a cheap pair of Shires gloves that were very good too.
 

Goldenstar

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It's a mistake to risk being under bitted at the hounds when they are learning the job often mine go back to snaffles once they are fully settled and I know what's what .
Always try the stronger bit at home before you go to the hounds so the horse understands what's what.
Have fun.
 

chestnut cob

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I used to with my last horse, yes. He was 17hh ID x TB, big and strong. He adored hunting and was super keen but very strong, especially for me at 5ft4 and 9st! He did everything at home in a snaffle but hunted in either a pelham with 2 reins or a waterford gag, with either a cavesson and flash or a grackle noseband. I wouldn't have been safe in anything less.

Current one no, I haven't bitted up. He is well mannered and hasn't pulled when I've taken him out. That said, I want to do a few meets this coming season and he's started getting strong XC so I might think about putting something else in. He does everything in a snaffle (NS Verbindend) but now he's fit and much stronger I may change it.
 

RunToEarth

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I'll put something in with two reins if I'm not sure what they're like out hunting - gives you the option of brakes if you need them.
 

Hoof_Prints

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Yes! wouldn't dream of taking my horses out in their schooling snaffles :p went out in Pelham last season- same bit he is jumped in, he learned to lean on that so now we are trying a Cheltenham gag. I'm debating whether to try a Waterford gag to see if that is better, out hunting he is controllable (just) but would much rather have the breaks there when charging towards a jump on a strong horse with the gas pedal jammed down :p If in doubt, a 4 ring gag gives you plenty of options to change and experiment with different strengths, or two reins if you can be bothered with them out hunting.
 

Sherston

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To "bit up" is a sensible start point, as long as you have the long term goal to "bit down" once hunting. The goal as ever should be to ride in the softest bit possible, especially hunting when the jumping may not be so predicable and you want to be going the last thing you want to be doing is risking jabbing the mouth with a too harsh a bit. My hunters have generally get a softer bit over the first two seasons and then ideally settle to something not to far off a snaffle.
 

CrazyMare

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I have one that does everything in a Pelham with two reins, so she just staus in that. My other does everything in a snaffle and never pulls, she stays in that!!!!

I always have a breastplate too!!
 
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