How strong should an event horse be across country?

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kit279

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I ask because I've been hunting my chestnut horse to encourage him to go forward and attack his fences a bit more. He's a lovely hunter although understandably quite strong and hunts in a pelham. I took him cross country schooling today in his usual snaffle and by the end I was basically being p*ssed off with as he got more and more excited...

Since my other horse is very strong at all times and I struggle to hold him, my frame of reference is limited! What's ideal for an event horse? Obviously you don't want them pulling like a tank but you need them going forward.

Do I keep the chestnut in his snaffle and accept that sometimes he's just going to be strong and go with him or do I stick a pelham in his mouth and risk holding him back too much?
 
have a play with different bits? Not necessarily use a pelham?

What kind of way is he strong - does he lean and stick his head down and take the bit or what??

I would suggest having a play, as you don't want to be out of control!

Having said that, I prefer to be under bitted than over bitted and risk socking the horse in the mouth and scaring it.
 
No, he doesn't lean down at all, he's more of a head-up type of horse. He just gets faster and faster and despite bridging the reins and asking for a definite slow down accompanied by soothing rider noises, he just kept pulling like a tank. I like this new side of him, just maybe a fraction less? His snaffle is currently a fat hollow eggbutt.
 
IMO event horses need to be bold and taking you into a fence however there is a point where you must be in control enough to stop, I event my horse in a dutch gag as although at times he backs off it a little it is the only bit he will listen to and stop when I ask so I just ride carefully and ensure I stay off his mouth and let him move forward, backed up with my leg if needed. I wouldn't risk taking yours in a snaffle if it is not strong enough to stop him within a few metres when asked, you may be safer with the pelham?
 
i also prefer to be under bitted - but my boy is in a french link snaffle with no martingale
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i think the ideal is you having to hold a horse into a fence, and it taking you to the fence.

you could try a medium bit between a pelham and snaffle? a waterford if he leans possibly?
 
My horse used to throw her head and run at a fence, putting her in a stronger bit just made the problem worse and stopped her going forwards.
There is a difference between the horse being in front of your leg and running off with you, the difference is hard work. You need to school your horse to lower his head when you take a pull and to keep to the rhythm you've asked for so you don't have to fight.
Having said all that in the short term I've found a waterford very useful as it seems to encourage them to round and soften unlike many other strong bits.
 
there is no limit on strength one of mine never pulls occasionally he will lean on the bit but you always know that he is there with you whereas my other is s strong all i can do is steer
it just depends on whether you can control them or not
 
i would wait and see what he is like at an event- it may be that he is strong schoolingxc but that at a competition he backs himself off a little and you have more control.

my eventer is too strong in a normal snaffle but 99% of other bits are too strong and you end up with no contact- he is now in a dr.bristol which allows him to pull (keeps him confident!) but also allows me to steer.
 
Have you tried a hanging cheek? There's various different mouth pieces (French link, single jointed, Waterford, happy mouth), but it gives a bit more leverage without being a s strong as a gag. I've used it several horses who usually work in a snaffle, but need a little bit extra control but a strong bit would be too much.

Another one I've used on my current horse is the magic bit (also called a Cambridge snaffle). It's a straight mouth piece with a small port and small rings for the reins. Works a treat if they start running off with you. You might want to put rubber rings on it to prevent it sliding through the mouth.
 
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