Help...Stronger bit for my 17.2 eventer

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thea243

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Im having trouble controlling my novice eventer in the cross country phase. When out on course, he tend to put his head down and gallop off and i cant pull him up. Hes a 17.2 full warmblood and although isnt quick he is very strong. Hes currently ridden in a waterford NS jumper bit which he show jumps in fine in but doesnt seem to respect it cross country.
He was in a sam marsh pelham with his previous owner but I found this too strong and he became very backward in it. I have also tried him in an waterford nelson gag with one rein and two reins and a normal pelham and he just completely ignores these bits too.

Does anyone have an suggestions for other types of bits to try? I heard a tom thumb bit might be suitable but I don't know anything about them?

Thanks :)
 
Some sort of gag if he puts his head down? I had a previous horse in an American gag and another in one that looks like a fulmer but is on a gag. It's a bit of trial and error. My old mare went XC in a continental gag (which I detest) but she liked. She would tuck in behind a Pelham. I did also teach her to stop when I dropped the reins and sat up as emergency back up!
 
I have found horses like this go really well and respect a Tom Thumb copper bit, and you can also attach a leather strap under the jaw which helps keep the bit steady in the mouth and it gives a bit more leverage.
 
LJR said:
I have found horses like this go really well and respect a Tom Thumb copper bit, and you can also attach a leather strap under the jaw which helps keep the bit steady in the mouth and it gives a bit more leverage.
Click to expand...

Thanks, Ive looked up a tom thumb as a possible try, there seem to be a few variations on the market. Theres one made of sweet iron and three rings in the middle with bumps along the mouth piece and another made of sweet iron with just a joint in the middle, which one do you use and does anyone know the difference?
 
Have you considered a myler combination bit. Alfie was so strong Xc his rider was afraid to let him go in case couldn't stop! A myler combination sorted him out and rider got brakes. I hired one from bit bank to be sure it worked .
 
Here is a myler.
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Myler s look barbaric, but they are British eventing legal. Not dressage tho. Once the horse learns they are strong, we went down to a gag , alf was only 5 when he went Xc first time, he is now 8 and very controllable in a gag.
 
Have you tried a kineton noseband? We have a 17.2 tbxid who likes to run like a tb with his head down. After a series of (not much fun!) experiments, we found he was good in a cherry roller Cheltenham gag, flash noseband and kineton.

He has never had much of a mouth - we did try nice bits first! He used to event quite politely but has got stronger the older he's got)
 
I tried a myler on a strong horse who usd to bear down on the bitand was very responsive to a rope over the nose when he was opinionated in hand. It did b-all - he ran straight through it and I might as well have had a snaffle in :-(

They suit others though :-)
 
ROMANY 1959 said:
Myler s look barbaric, but they are British eventing legal. Not dressage tho. Once the horse learns they are strong, we went down to a gag , alf was only 5 when he went Xc first time, he is now 8 and very controllable in a gag.
Click to expand...

There are some dressage legal Mylers...
 
Hi, i had sort of the same problem. Im only 14 and i own a 15.2hh ID/TB that is extremely strong when jumping and hacking. I have him in a dutch gag and this seems to work wonders, he now respects the fact i want him to stop or slow down whereas before there was no chance of stopping unless there was a stone track or a scary mother at the end or stood in a gateway.
Good Luck!
 
I dont think you will find the Tom Thumb will be enough tbh. I was using a Tom Thumb with a lozenge, then one with the scrob board (the bumps and little rings that you described) and from there went onto an NS waterford jumper (with curb strap). My horse is still strong in that so have just started trialling him in an american gag which he is very light in at the moment so we will see. So my advice would be to do the same? Good luck - I find bitting a total minefield!!!
 
Tom thumb is very similar to the elevator in action, so you won't find much difference. Try a curb strap with your current bit

He might respect flat shaped bits, so could be worth trying the mikmar if he was in a Sam marsh
 
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