Getting his kit off...

[Archer]

well changing bits.

I am just about to get a TB on trial and he is currently ridden in a dutch gag, single rein on the ring below the snaffle "because he is strong". Plus he has a running martingale, "because he puts his head up". I would prefer him not to have either especially the gag but I am a bit wary about changing too much especially during a trial/loan period.

Any thoughts on how to get this kit off him? Should I just move the reins up to the snaffle first? I am just a bit wary about disappearing across the countryside on a horse I don't really know!

thanks

 

[skychick]

My arab came to me in a dutch gag on the bottom ring. He was very strong....but was also quite dead in the mouth. So i did exactly that....worked my way up the rings, then went to an egbutt snaffle then went to a happy mouth egbutt.....i figured that if i pulled...he pulled just as hard...so i may as well fight him with a softer bit than a harsher one.
The martingale.....i never managed to eradicate that one.....a broken nose the first time i took it off and a black eye the second put pay to me trying a third time!!

Although i would get used to the new horse properly first :-D

 

[JenTaz]

just leave the bit on the second ring while you get used to him and then move it back up to the snaffle, i really dont see why people are like oh no i cant have them in a gag etc if the horse is strong/fizzy then its better for them to be in a stronger bit than pulling at them in a softer bit and hurting them more thats my opinion anyway

as for the martingale probs best just to leave it as its there for a reason if he has a past of putting his head up alot

 

[Archer]

Thanks. I was thinking of changing because I thought the gag put their head up while the martingale kept it down plus the gag should really be used with two reins I think. On the other hand he does seem to go well in what he has so I don't want to rush to change things.

 

[MissMincePie&Brandy]

Is he on loan to buy? If so, I can see you might want to see what he's like. I wouldn't change anything for a while until you've got used to him, then you could just swap the rein over to the snaffle ring to see what he's like.

Best leave the martingale on. I've seen a few horses, who would normally wear martingales for hacking or jumping, who, have gone for a quick cooling down walk round the track after a flatwork schooling session, and then they fling their heads skywards and bugger off. I don't really class a running martingale as a gadget.