How many of you know ...

[[69117]]

Roy boy:
Tom Thumb bit for everything, as he tends to stick his head between his knees and scuttle around a 100mph, and I like the fact that I only need to close my fingers on the reins for him to listen to me. When we're competing, he is in the Tom Thumb for most things, but for dressage he wears a sweet iron french link loose ring snaffle, as the action of a single jointed bit makes him back off the bridle.
Breastplate for hunting and competing, as I like to have something to hold on to, and I can tie my gate string to it!
Padded cavesson noseband - padded because it makes him look sexy, cavesson because he doesn't need anything else, noseband because I HATE the way horses look without them!
Swivel foot plate stirrups because since my accident I can't ride with normal stirrups for more than ten minutes before I'm in agony!
Prestige Jumping saddle for competing, and an Albion K2 for everything else!

Couloir:
Sweet Iron french link loose ring snaffle at all times, 'cause she's a diamond...and looooveesss sweet iron...
Cavesson noseband
Swivelly stirrups as above
INCREDIBLY old, INCREDIBLY uncomfortable Stubben GP saddle, which annoyingly fits her beautifully. It makes my bottom ache like billio...

Youngsters:
ALWAYS have neck straps on them until I know them inside out, all wear sweet iron french link full cheek snaffles when they are first backed to help with steering. Albion saddles are my weakness...

This list could go on forever, but basically, they get what they need, and I get the odd bit like the special stirrups to help me feel more comfortable. I spent two years riding without stirrups unless I aboslutely had to before I found those swivelly stirrups! GODSEND. Although I do now have a bum made of glue..

 

[MagicMelon]

Mine's in a dressage-legal Myler snaffle for everything (competes BE & BSJA in it too). Purely because he seems to go nicely in it. Occassionally I'll swop to a french link (again, IMO still a very gentle bit) just for a change. I never like over-bitting a horse. Otherwise he's in a plain cavesson, I dont like drops/flash's/grakles etc. and I also hate martingales so he never wears one of those either

 

[dibbin]

French link hanging cheek - I've tried him in a few bits, he's happiest and softest in this one.

Flash - he opens his mouth (as I remembered when I rode him without it this morning lol).

Running martingale - only for fast hacking and jumping, because he flings his head in the air and my reins go with it!

 

[skychick]

Mine is in a hanging cheek french link, because he goes well in it. Changed it to an eggbut snaffle....wasnt keen, tried him in a loose ring, he hated it so i settled for the hanging cheek with the french link.
Plain cavason noseband, althogh prob should pop a flash on him as he does have a tendancy to open his mouth and cross his jaw.
Rubber grip reins as he does have a delightfull habit of rein snatching....so they help.

He is in a martingale (running) *cowers* because he came with it so wanted to get to know him with it first. He actually doesnt need it as we have the problem of sticking our head between our legs and broncing! So that will come off.
Also 100% agree with martlin.........if you fall off...you can get pulled underneath....this happened to me a few weekends back on a fun ride i came of on a track, tried to hang on to ponio, got pulled underneath him, ponio trampled me, i had to let go and ponio p*ssed off down the track....so should have probably just let him go in the first place to avoid the hoofprint bruises lol!!!

I ride in a cottage girth standard webbing girth.....because it doesnt rub, it doesnt make him sweat like the throwgood and the wintec. He seems to be comfortable in it.

I wear boots all round, brushing boots front and back and over reach boots, all woof wear ones, because, even though as a rule he doesnt brush or over reach, when he is pratting around he can catch himself so i always think its best to prevent any cuts and injuries if at all possible!

I ride in a kent and masters cob gp saddle.....because it fits him, it fits me, it can be adjusted, the knee blocks can be adjusted and it serves its purpose whether hacking or jumping.
Standard numnah with a cottage craft sheepskin half pad underneath.....just to keep him a bit more comfy!

 

[Rowreach]

We had quite a long chat via pm's about how old my saddle is? Turns out it was a one off, remember?

Oops I do now, sorry! It is my age I think

 

[Rowreach]

I would hope most people would know.. or if not .. find out!
.

Well so would I, but ime many people don't. Even people who say their horses go well in a particular bit may not have wondered why this is the case (conformation, temperament etc)