Help with bitting pls!

E

ecrozier

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 October 2006
Messages
6,173
Visit site
I thought I would post on here as struggling to decide what to trry on my horse...
Background is, he is a 15hh arab, VERY forward going, but has a very soft mouth. By that, I mean when schooling on the flat and even SJ now, he is ridden in a KK Ultra jointed loose ring, and even backs off that a bit sometimes. So for anything in a contained space, we are now absolutley fine, and even hacking/sponsored rides, I have adequate brakes.
The problem comes when we go XC. He goes absolutley nuts! Flat out gallop is all he is interested in doing, and how ever much I try to slow him down the way we have when in the school, he completely ignores me!
It is even worse because he still isn't 100% reliable XC, he has a wicked stop in him, and will slam the brakes on right in front of the jump, usually sending me sailing over the front!
He tends to put his head down and drop behind the vertical - he is very talented at gallopig flat out with his chin against his chest.
SO, what do I try? Snaffles don't seem to have enough brakes...but anything with any kind of gag action is going to encourage him to drop his head even further isn't it? But equally, don't want to encourage a high head carriage (he is an arab, that comes naturally!) and don't want to hurt his mouth/make it less soft for flatwork/SJ, as I like having good brakes in a mild snaffle!! SOOOOO CONFUSED!
crazy.gif
crazy.gif


Going on an eventing weekend in a couple of weeks at MKEC, so hoping to get something from the bit bank to try that weekend with an instructor to see what they think, so any suggestions gratefully recieved!
 
I think gags are meant to raise the head but someone in the know will be along to confirm that no doubt! What about a nylon or softer metal mouth but in a gag?
 
Hi
I wasn't sure about that, cos I guess they put on poll pressure don't they? Which presumably would encourage him to drop his head?
I did wonder about the KK Universal as you can use the different rings, but again, don't know if that would make the head lowering worse....would a waterford be any good? He wouldn't be able to lean on it afterall?
 
Hey, as a rule gags will lower the head, as is the case with dutch gags etc due to poll pressure. The only gag that doesnt is the English (Cheltnam {sp?}) gag, this applys pressure to the corners of the mouth encourageing the horse to raise his head, it is quiet strong though
confused.gif
Go could try a different head piece. I have an elavator bridle where the headpiece is very padded and the nose band strap goes over the headpiece rather than under it, it gives less poll pressure and might help your chap. They can be quiet expensive, but if you wanted to just try it then robinsons do quiet a cheap one. (They look nice too
grin.gif
)
 
So try a gag but with an elevator headpiece? Hmm, thats a good idea. Will go have a look at Robinsons webiste. Thanks
grin.gif
 
Thats ok
smile.gif
You might find that you dont even need the gag, if his head is less tucked down you will likely have more control anyway, but have a play you never know till you try
grin.gif
 
In your position I would ring Heather at Neue Schule bits - she runs a bitting helpline and is very, very good.

Contrary to popular belief, a dutch gag will raise the head (her exact words to me were 'so if his head is up coming into a fence what on earth have you got him in a bit which raises the head for?).

She asks the right questions and then recommends something with an action which will help.

Oh, and there is no pressure to buy from her either, she recommended a company who run a hire service, although the bit I ordered has still not turned up, and I ended up with a variation on what heather suggested (jointed rather than waterford pelham), which worked just as well (local shop had jointed but did not have waterford, so I went with jointed!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top