Help - what bit for my show horse?

tallyho!

tallyho!

Following a strict mediterranean diet...
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8 July 2010
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I need some advice. I recently bought a pure-bred Luche Warmblood for Ride-With-Your-Hind Dressage who was a rescue case from Island. It has taken years to finally get him into the shape I want. Since then, it has been most difficult to get him going in my current ensemble. He finds it very difficult to go forward.

He is absolutely show perfect, every judge I have ever asked to come around for private judging sessions has placed him first. He's a real superstar. Could really go far at Two-Counties and probably HOYS. I'm so proud of his perfectly sculptured Peachy bottom! Thanks Nuka-Feeds - highly recommend. I've been eating it myself it's so tasty! We both look so well!

However, since tripling in size, he no longer accepts a plain ol' snaffle. I have since tried a loose ring snaffle, a notsoloose ring snaffle, an eggbutt-banana-ported pelham, a new-school lozenge-verbena-bend trans-metallic lozenge gag and a Gloster Balloon Combination Bit. Absolutely joyless. One minute he jumps out of the school, next he won't move at all - so confusing.

I've been thinking about the lungee-lungee - are they any good? Any suggestions?

Toffee & Bananacakes all around, with a sherry on top xxx
 
Have you tried cambridge or something with a port mouth rather than a single joint ? A single joint pushes the joint downwards onto the tongue which means that your horse will find it difficult to swallow also it can restrict the airway . You dont say what noseband you use , if you have a jointed bit which pushes onto the tongue then strap the mouth shut then your horse tries to tell you that they are struggling to do the basics ... like breathe and swallow!! ( just try resting your finger on your tongue then try to swallow , leave it there and see how long before all you can think about is how to swallow whilst this thing is stopping you , and how to avoid it ! ) . A horse produces 38 liters of saliva a day , most whilst working , it has to go somewhere ! Speak to some bit banks and try before you buy , and try in as many situations as poss , you'll find the right one ... it may just take sometime but well worth it . Good Luck !
 
If you want him to be a show horse then it is more correct to ride them in a double set of reins. Whether that is a full on double bridle, a pelham or a show pelham. Find the bit that suits him. Pelhams and doubles also give you more brakes than your bog standard snaffles do and you can get them in varying mouth pieces (I won't tell you some of hte 'made up' mouth pieces I have seen over the years!)
 
bj666 - I always though snaffles hurt the horses palatey bit and pinch it's tongue which is why I tried a lozengey one.

EKW - DOUBLE reins?????? What're the made up ones... I heard that lots of bits were made up ones... it's hard to tell these days... when I go to my tack shop there is a wall FULL of metal and jangly bits.
 
Yup, 2 reins, your snaffle rein and your curb rein.

As for the made up bits, you would never find them on a tack shop wall. They look like lovely normal bits from the outside but the mouthpieces are different - motor bike chains, bike chains, curb chains, 2 curb chains on a loose ring snaffle, instead of a waterford mouthpiece the little sections were cubes - you get the idea, not your bog standard joined, french link, mullen or port mouth :D
 
I just tried googlifying wearithowyoulike pelham...

They are SOOOO expensive!! Are Albion only for rich people?
 
It is one of a kind I'm afraid whisp&willow... there were rumours of a special edition model made with real bananas. Sadly there are none left...
 
No need for links Evelyn - it's too expensive. You won't be able to afford it. It's A-L-B-I-O-N...
 
whisp&willow said:
cry cry cry! :( well if you hear of any looking for a new home pm me! ;)
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What about my New-School Ribena-blend Lozenge Trans-vision snaffle?

It was useless on my horse. Made him go sideways. I won't be using it again and New-School will be hearing from me.
 
tallyho! said:
What about this one? It looks highly unusual but I think the shape will have a psychological effect on him and he may be scared and work nicely....

http://www.sportingcollection.com/bits/bit259/bit259.html
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This is a genius idea, looks great, I want one.



I don't understand why everyone wastes money on bits? I plait 3 strands of bailer twine and use that, cheap and very effective.
It's so easy to do you can use a new one each time so top marks for turnout.
 
tallyho! said:
What about my New-School Ribena-blend Lozenge Trans-vision snaffle?

It was useless on my horse. Made him go sideways. I won't be using it again and New-School will be hearing from me.
Click to expand...

sounds perfect! i had heard whispers of this bit, but thought it to be an urban legend. you have made my morning! can you send it by carrier pigeon?! :p

also enamoured by the pistol bit... if the ribena-blend lozenge doesnt do the trick then i may need to go for one of those bad boys! :D

x
 
monkeybum13 said:
This is a genius idea, looks great, I want one.



I don't understand why everyone wastes money on bits? I plait 3 strands of bailer twine and use that, cheap and very effective.
It's so easy to do you can use a new one each time so top marks for turnout.
Click to expand...

Hmmmm... bailer twine?

Thing is the twine on our bales are pink and orange (goodness knows what possesses farmers :rolleyes:) and our "colours" are blue with green braided piping with silver thread. It JUST wouldn't GO! You know what I mean?
 
whisp&willow said:
sounds perfect! i had heard whispers of this bit, but thought it to be an urban legend. you have made my morning! can you send it by carrier pigeon?! :p

also enamoured by the pistol bit... if the ribena-blend lozenge doesnt do the trick then i may need to go for one of those bad boys! :D

x
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You thought that was a bad boy.... what do you think of this??? I'm convinced that my best friends the NHS Judges would allow me in the ring with this! It's just so um.. sophisticated!

http://www.sportingcollection.com/bits/bit194/bit194.html
 
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tallyho! said:
Hmmmm... bailer twine?

Thing is the twine on our bales are pink and orange (goodness knows what possesses farmers :rolleyes:) and our "colours" are blue with green braided piping with silver thread. It JUST wouldn't GO! You know what I mean?
Click to expand...

Those bl00dy farmers, they just have no respect. You would think they would personalise the twine to the owners colours :rolleyes:

Hmm blue and green, how about rope? Then if your 'ose decides to be strong you can sock it in the teeth with tow rope. Colour coordinated and saves on schooling.
 
monkeybum13 said:
Those bl00dy farmers, they just have no respect. You would think they would personalise the twine to the owners colours :rolleyes:

Hmm blue and green, how about rope? Then if your 'ose decides to be strong you can sock it in the teeth with tow rope. Colour coordinated and saves on schooling.
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I know - I have had a private word... he misunderstood me. He's gone and wrapped them all in black plastic. Black??? That is soooooooo last year.

Rope.... do I need to plait that too? I saw some green rope in John Lewis the other day. In Haberdashery. It would definitely match. I could use them as reins too couldn't I?
 
Matching reins would be perfect, you'll be HOYS bound before soon.

Does your local John Lewis have a Waitrose? Make sure you get loads of fattening confectionery and stuff into your best, they like them waddling around the ring.
 
I'm sorry - I don't agree with Waitrose Confectionery... full of sugar - lami risk you know. I like to give him... ehem.. HER... the best Pies from PieMinister from Bristol. He makes the best leek & potato cream pie and they even put beer in for me.

Thanks monkeybum!!! I love the matchy reins idea!
 
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