Dressage Alternative to a Kimblewick

[Gorgeous George]

As above really, can anyone suggest a bit that might be suitable (believe me I have tried a fair few!).

Recently I have discovered that George (chunky shire x) is a real joy to ride in his Cambridge port kimblewick (no slots and loose elastic curb). He works well from behind, is responsive, bends more freely, he will have a reasonable stab at simple changes and counter canter and is just a pleasure to schoo l.

But of course this bit isn’t dressage legal and whatever snaffle I try he becomes heavy and leans, appears to lose the ability to flex his neck and is quite resistant and unbalanced! I know that schooling is important but my novice brain just cannot understand how the kimblewick can make so much difference?

I don’t expect to find a snaffle that works as well as his kimblewick, but something approaching it would be wonderful, so I wondered if anyone had any suggestions or experience they could share with me.

Many thanks.

 

[wench]

What have you tried?

Hanging cheek snaffle may give you something to work with.

I personally like sweet iron bits.

 

[ironhorse]

I always found that a hanging cheek snaffle with a french link mouthpiece was a good alternative to the pelham that my big horse went best in. You might need a flash noseband, not too tight.

The other alternative is a myler comfort snaffle (there's an eggbutt and I think a loose ring that are dressage legal) - horses with big tongues like the room that it gives them.

Just relieved that I can actually show my mare under American Quarter Horse rules in a myler kimblewick; she's a hooligan in a snaffle and two reins tend to confuse American judges

 

[Ashgrove]

How about a mullen mouth hanging cheek.

I would imagine that will be the closest to what you are using at the moment, but is dressage legal.

 

[Rowreach]

I imagine you are finding that he no longer leans in a Cambridge mouthpiece. I use Cambridge snaffles on a lot of horses for this reason, but they're not dressage legal either Many horses like these mouthpieces because they allow a bit of tongue-room but also because being unjointed they are very stable in the mouth.

I think if you went for a French link (which personally i loathe with a passion) or possibly any double-jointed snaffle you would find he leans terribly. I'm with Ashgrove in that a hanging cheek might give you the stability he likes, and a mullen or straight mouthpiece might be more comfortable for him than anything jointed

 

[KatB]

Would agree with ashgrove. Also, I believe a myler comfort snaffle with hanging cheeks will be dressage legal...

 

[Gorgeous George]

Thanks for ideas so far, I have tried a number of different snaffles:

• Loose ring mullen mouth, loose ring lozenge – I got the impression he didn’t like the movement in the bit.
• Mullen mouth eggbutt – Not too bad but quite heavy/leaning/resisting etc.
• Myler mullen mouth hanging cheek – Ditto the above
• Myler hanging cheek comfort snaffle – Not good
• Mullen mouth hanging cheek – not happy at all, really resistant and putting tongue over the bit, and drooling quite a lot as if he couldn’t swallow properly (it was quite a thick metal mouthpiece).
  

I usually use a cavesson noseband and he does have a large tongue, fleshy lips and a low palette. I really am at a loss

 

[Nicki85]

Have you tried any neue schule bits? I think the womans name is Heather- she has given me some really good advice on bits for the mare I used to ride. She had a low palette and fleshy lips/ tounge. Might be worth a try!

 

[wench]

How about just a plain old single jointed one?

 

[KatB]

Other one to look at then is the Informed bitting designs. They do a range of bits with curved mouthpieces which may suit? Alternatively, school in the kimblewick, and just change to a dr legal one JUST for tests

 

[Gorgeous George]

My plan is to still use the kimblewick for schooling as he is so happy with it, and just use something dressage legal for comps, but it is so frustrating knowing you could do a better test if only your horse was happier with what was in his mouth.

 

[OliveOyl]

I'd agree with Wench and just try him in a plain, single joint, loose ring snaffle. Find him one that suits his mouth conformation, ie get him a slimmer one if he hasn't got much room in his mouth and see how he goes.

 

[Kenzo]

Have you tried fixing a curb chain to one of the other bits (dressage legal) that you have tried in the past, for example the hanging cheek, this could work but choose one with a mouth peice that he prefers so same mouth peice as kimblewick you use at the moment that you say he schools well in, school using both bits at home so your getting the most out of your schooling time by combining the two, warm him up in the hanging cheek at a competition using the curb, slip it off before the test?

 

[wench]

, warm him up in the hanging cheek at a competition using the curb, slip it off before the test?

Isnt that against the rules?

 

[OneInAMillion]

hanging cheek snaffle

 

[Kenzo]

Isnt that against the rules?

BD yes, so unless it states in the rules that BD rules apply (usually the case but not always) and doesn't state otherwise, then your not breaking a rule as such

 

[tobysg]

I had to try and find a bit to convert a kimblewick to a dressage legal one.

I used a straight bar hanging cheek, with a roller in the middle. It is quite thin so better for a fleshy mouth.

I then added a small leather strap to the top hoops of the hanging cheek to imitate a curb chain although it didn't really give any poll pressure at all as was too loose,she could feel it there.

I also added a flash.

She worked exactly the same in it as she did the kimblewick, I have since removed the little strap I used and just use the bit and a flash with no problems.

 

[Rowreach]

Have you tried fixing a curb chain to one of the other bits (dressage legal) that you have tried in the past, for example the hanging cheek, this could work but choose one with a mouth peice that he prefers so same mouth peice as kimblewick you use at the moment that you say he schools well in, school using both bits at home so your getting the most out of your schooling time by combining the two, warm him up in the hanging cheek at a competition using the curb, slip it off before the test?

But the same mouthpiece (Cambridge) is sadly illegal as it is ported - such a pity as so many horses love this mouthpiece because they find it comfortable - yet it's not allowed

 

[kezimac]

why dont you look at a nathe bit or sprenger duo - they are mullen mouth BUT flexable and bend over the tongue, I used one successfully with a drop noseband (which if you think about it sits in the curb groove) and this was a horse who only went in a ported pelham. I like you tried every bit under the sun and thought i would have no control with the nathe as its basically a flexable bit of rubber! But it worked. I wouldnt have hacked in it though !!!!
my horse was also an IDx and had huge tongue, fat lips and low palette so very difficult to bit and also had the biggest neck that if she decided to set against you - you would have no chance and the sprenger duo really worked

 

[Paint it Lucky]

I have a similar problem GG, my horse is currently going beautifully in a Cambridge snaffle, so well that I've entered him for some dressage but I also need to find a legal alternative! I think it is the port he likes, combined with the straight mouthpiece though I don't think a plain straight bar would suit him as well. Before I discovered this bit the only thing he would go close to well in was a happy mouth hanging cheek snaffle with a roller in the middle, though he always felt a bit woode in this and never really mouthed it the way he does with the cambridge. Think I will probably put this on for the competition as it is legal but I agree it is very depressing knowing your horse can go so much better at home in a bit he's comfortable in!