dutch gag.....advice please

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Hemirjtm

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So had first lesson at new yard yesterday, she said that Hemir leans on my hands too much and that the Pelham is too strong for him and he's not happy......I have been using it for the past year and he has never leaned on my hands but recently after being brought back into proper work (schooling 2/3 times a week) and not just hacking out he has started leaning on my hands and overbending. Riding instructor said that we should try a dutch gag and then go on from there and find out what suits him best.....He is currently ridden in a Vulcanite Pelham.

What do you think? Any other bit suggestions?
 
I dont like gags - and I dont really see how it would stop a horse leaning! Is it a broken pelham, as hes more likely to lean on a straight bar than a broken one!

Couldnt you be brave and go for a snaffle, Ive seen your pictures, he goes beautifully, I think he'd go nicely in a snafffle. If you wanted something that would definitly stop leaning, a waterford would do it. Or just a french link would help!
 
I agree with Jemayni! I dont like schooling in a pelham or gag- can understand using it for hunting or crosscountry but not for schooling. Id be tempted to try a french link myself.
 
My mare can lean like a house at times (she is a 16.3hh heavy hunter). I have her in a loose ring snaffle and work to school her out of it. She has become much better and only does it now if she starts to get tired or is having an 'off day'! Its about using lots of leg to get the back end really moving and lift the front end. I am not brilliant at this, but I'm working on it
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Also I use Pippa Funnel's tip of me looking up slightly so that I'm riding 'up' and it really does seem to have the effect of lifting her. Another thing is to have your quiet, steady contact and then drop one or both reins to give the message that you can't be relied up to carry her/him! They can stumple a bit with that though, so be prepared. I understand why you would think of using a gag, but its not going to retrain your horse so the problem will always be there and if you want to do a dressage test, you won't be able to use it!
 
ok thanks....really interesting to here other peoples views

The only reason I do everything in a Pelham as that is what he came with and I wasn't sure about what bit to put in and as i was on my own and had no horsey help around me i didn't want to get it wrong!!!

I suppose it's just trial and error to find out what suits us both!
 
He would probably lean less on a dutch gag than a pelham because it has loose ring cheeks whereas a pelham has eggbutt cheeks, if your pelham is straight bar this gives him more to lean on too. However if he is overbent in a pelham I think a dutch gag would make him worse.

I would probably try a loose ring french link snaffle or a waterford, if he is still a bit strong you can get a waterford with gag or hanging cheeks.

You are right though it is just trial and error!
 
my lad hangs like nothing, until I got him in a wasterford loose ring. Worked wonders for us, can now even pick his head up if he tries to buck, so far is the only one that as worked

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