For Heaven's Sake - Bit Advice (Reassurance) for Child Please!

J

JAK

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Turns out that one of the reasons MD does not want to take the Baggage showjumping is she thinks that........wait for it, this is a good one.......people will look down on her because her pony is in a kimblewick! Eh, what???

Every other beastly child will be in a Dutch gag on the bottom ring, with the pony's mouth clamped shut via a flash but we can't be seen in public with a kimblewick!
I give up, I really do!

This is all the fault of a wretched fellow livery glaring at her as she came out of the school one day & we realised it was because of the bit, which she obviously deemed 'cruel' or something!
(Pony has been out today, cantering & galloping etc. & was, according to MD......a perfect 'angel'!)
 
A kimblewick is a good bit for a child to use, far better than a gag. The extra brakes are essential for a child - their safety is paramount.
Ignore the other liveries - they are clearly rather stupid!!
 
Nothing wrong with a kimblewick! My last instructor often recommended them for people with pony/cob types, and she was the one who recommended I use one for Rhyn for hunting/fun rides. I'm not a pelham fan but do like my kimblewick.

They suit that sort of horse well.
 
grrr how pathetic of the livery!

Far better to have pony in something stronger but a much nicer & safer ride than your MD having to hawl her back teeth out to stop in something not as strong

World's gone mad
 
I use a Kimblewick on my 16hh cob mare as she prefers the ported, straightbar mouthpiece. I tried her in a jointed snaffle (single joint, fench link, lozenge) as I wanted to use as mild a bit as possible and she goes very light and threatens to rear - in the Kimblewick she goes beautifully - I therefore decided if it ain't broke, don't fix it!

Don't know if that helps or not!
 
good god, tell her most stylish kids with cool strong ponies use pelhams and kimblewicks! far kinder to use stronger bit on strong pony rather than hauling away in a snaffle and damaging the mouth!
 
thats what i rode my 2nd pony in as he was a strong so and so use to like getting his tonge over the bit i found this helped alot with that as well
i use to show him in it most ponys there where snaffle and i never got looked at.
tell her not to worry it shows that you are sensible and have a horse you can control instead of having a useless bit that does nothing but looks good !!!
 
I'm going to print these replies off & shove them under MD's nose! lol

We all know the pony loves the bit & goes really well in it but MD still has this ridiculous idea that she will be thrown out of the ring for abject cruelty to ponies or something!
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I used to showjump one of my jumping ponies in a kimblewick years ago - it was perfect for her and worked a treat. I also think they are great bits for competent children as they are a relatively fixed bit - wonderful for sj in my opinion.
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im sure the judge would rather see an under control pony than somthing terrorising the show with the child hanging on for life and the mum running behind shouting "stop the bloomin thing,thats it im selling it" lol
reminds me of the fellwell or is it thelwell oh i cant remember cartoon pics they where great !!!!
 
Thank you all, I hope she will be reassured by all your most sensible & helpful replies! Kids never believe their parents (as those of you with kids will know! lol) but she'll probably believe you lot!

Tia - not sure if she'd come under the heading of your idea of 'competent' or not but pony no longer broncs, tanks, is angelic out hacking, never chucks her head about, opens her mouth or anything else & is extremely calm & sensible, so I guess they're OK with it?
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I used to use a kimblewick in my pony from about the ages of 8 to 10 and it worked a treat! Tell her I won loads of rosettes when I used it and my pony was far better behaved than many of the others, its true! Its definately alot better than a gag..
 
Kimblewicks are great bits and traditional for ponies!
'snaffle lovers' obviously didn't get past page 1 of the lorinery book....

However I have a cure:
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Immediately go out and purchase diamante and a pink lined bridle - that way no one will be looking at the bit....
 
Thanks Flic - I know they're considered rather 'old-fashioned' now but it was the bit of choice for strong ponies when I was a child & I thought it might suit her!

We use it with a well-fitting leather curb & I was a little hurt by the other livery's glares etc., as anyone who knows me knows that the ponies' comfort takes priority over everything - I am quite paranoid about it actually!

Marnie - unusual to see one on a larger horse too! Glad you've found something that works so well & that you also, dared to be different!
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[ QUOTE ]
However I have a cure:
grin.gif


Immediately go out and purchase diamante and a pink lined bridle - that way no one will be looking at the bit....

[/ QUOTE ]
*whispers* MD already has the 'bling stirrups', so the rest may indeed follow!
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I know it is a bit unusual - its quite difficult to get them in 6"! I did have her in a pelham with 2 reins, but as I only really hack, I wanted something that I could use with a single rein and the Kimblewick fitted the bill perfectly
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the other livery is obviously a numpty
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i rode my part bred arab in a kimblewick for years, and use one on my cob for fast rides, perfect bits IMO, anyhow the strength of any bit is the hands that use it, i see ponies at local shows being hauled around in a snaffle as it is supposedly "kinder" - work that one out!?!!
 
I agree lilym, I can't stand seeing kids 'wrestling' with ponies, not fair on either of them!

Marnie - I don't blame you! MD has never (yes, awful I know!) ridden with two reins & I didn't think a naughty pony was the place to learn! lol

paintbox - there may yet be some Thelwell impressions, we haven't taken her to any shows or anything yet!
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Give MD a quick(gentle) slap and tell her not to be so daft!
Who wants to see children hauling their ponies all over the place with half a ton of iron in the poor things mouth?

If it aint broke.......
 
[ QUOTE ]
Give MD a quick(gentle) slap and tell her not to be so daft!

[/ QUOTE ]
Can't I slap her a bit hard?

Explain to me SD10, as a fellow parent, why kids never pick up on good things but latch onto something horribly negative somebody says (or thinks!) like a ruddy limpet?
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im sure you wont have any thelwell moments !!
sounds like youve got it sussed
tell md not to listen to or be paraniod about the other liverys i hate that on a yard,always somone making some comment its small mindedness and they dont know any different,she will be fine hold your head high gal x
 
Probable that livery woman didn't know what the Kimblewick was.

It's true that you don't see them around much these days, but that's fashion. Tell your daughter she can start a new fashion. Use of traditional bits that look small and neat and ponies that go beautifully in it.

Let livery woman put that in her pipe and smoke it!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Probable that livery woman didn't know what the Kimblewick was.

[/ QUOTE ]
You're probably right, most of them don't seem to even know what their own horses' bits do, never mind anybody else's!
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Though the most important part of that bit are the hands the childs safety I suppose may be paramount as one lady suggests but if that was the case why let her loose on a pony?

Still many advocate the use of the kindest bit if a bit at all it is strange as we all become more knowledgable that the horse sanctuaries fill up more than ever. Why is that?
 
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Though the most important part of that bit are the hands the childs safety I suppose may be paramount as one lady suggests but if that was the case why let her loose on a pony?

Still many advocate the use of the kindest bit if a bit at all it is strange as we all become more knowledgable that the horse sanctuaries fill up more than ever. Why is that?

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I know it's late but not really understanding your reply!
Are you saying that my daughter shouldn't be let loose on a pony if she needs a kimblewick to be able to ride her safely & with a good level of control?
I hope you're not imagining my daughter heaving on the reins with a curb strap cutting the pony's face in half, that's not the case at all, fingertip pressure is all that's needed most of the time but if she needs to say 'No, really, slow down, or stop!', an extra tweak is now usually enough!
We wouldn't have anything on our ponies that hurt or frightened them in any way & although I am not an NH advocate, we strive constantly for a 'happy partnership' & if I have the slightest clue that one of our ponies is even a teensy bit unhappy in any way, I do something about it instantly, hence why our ponies (I am proud to say!) are some of the calmest & best-behaved animals around!
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I think kimblewicks are brilliant. TOTALLY my fave bit (except Madam and Sir disagree!)
MUCH better to have a lighter contact in a more 'effective' bit ('strength' being rather relative, I find!) than to yank and haul in a snaffle!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
However I have a cure:
grin.gif


Immediately go out and purchase diamante and a pink lined bridle - that way no one will be looking at the bit....

[/ QUOTE ]

*cough cough cough... PF quickly averts eyes and tries not to look shifty *
 
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Still many advocate the use of the kindest bit if a bit at all it is strange as we all become more knowledgable that the horse sanctuaries fill up more than ever. Why is that?

[/ QUOTE ]
OK, I really don't understand this part BUT personally, I think that the sanctuaries are filling up with horses because people regard them as disposable commodities, along with clothes they throw out after a year, etc etc. AND I disagree that people are becoming more knowledgeable; with regards to horses, people are increasingly ignorant. They don't put the time or effort into finding out what horse ownership entails; they don't know about tack or feeding or how to keep a horse. I see it all the time, people buy a horse without realising that they have to be vaccinated, shod, wormed, fed regularly and that sometimes they get sick and it all has to be paid for.
These days it's also far too easy (and can be very cheap) to buy a horse.
 
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...I disagree that people are becoming more knowledgeable; with regards to horses, people are increasingly ignorant. These days it's far too easy (and can be very cheap) to buy a horse.

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I agree PF & I'm constantly mortified by peoples' utter ignorance when it comes to horses!
I spend ages studying ours, making little adjustments here & there & trying to give them the best life & living conditions possible!
I admit to being rather old-fashioned in my approach sometimes but our ponies are relaxed, healthy, friendly, keen to 'play' & in good condition, so I guess we must be doing something right!
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Jak, I think it's a fashion thing, at one time Kimblewicks were the in thing (I show my age here) before the big fashion statements of Dutch gags appeared. Tell her one day the Kimblewick will be in Vogue again, and guess what she lead the way!
 
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