hunting help !!!!

[482739]

im takinf the horse i ride out hunting for the first time and i have problems with her breaks. She is a pain to pull up and she doenst listen to me at all. We took her to the gallops the pther day and took me over ages to pull her up. So i was thinking of changin her bit me and my instructor have tried other things like galloping pull her up etc and chagin her bit is the last resort she is in a egg butt snaaffle any other suggestions of type of bit for extra control, thanks

 

[Fairynuff]

Try putting her in a pelham using a bridge so you only have one pair of reins to worry about. Keep the curb chain loose and then test your breaks. If theyre still not working well then start to shorten the curb chain till they come on when asked.When your cantering her bridge your reins, if you dont know how ask your instructor to show you-it works well if the horse doesnt take off with its head in the air.I rode one who did that and there was NOTHING you could do to stop the bugger, surprisingly enough I hated the sod.Good luck with the brakes and the hunting. Mairi.

 

[mrussell]

In my honest opinion if you cant pull up on the gallops then you shouldnt be hunting. You will be a danger to youself, your horse and to others.

I would work in getting her respect and her attention OFF of th gallops and away from a pack of galloping hunters BEFORE you try and to it out hunting.

The hunting field is NOT the place to discipline your horse. A stronger bit will only serve to punish her for something she hasnt yet learned to stop doing.

 

[Frazer]

I am going to have to say go for a stronger bit, sometimes you have to admit you cant just use your simple snaffle! And you need some extra brakes... Mine is exactly the same as yours, and out hacking takes a long time! Bitting is really trial and error, I would suggest going to a gag first (dutch gag, and a running gag) before going to a pelham! I also understand what mrussell is saying, and if she is really that bad she might need some schooling before! Having said that some of the horses ive seen out hunting are worse

 

[iwtownsley]

i would say go for a stronger bit but i agree go with a gag before a pelham! but if u cant stop at all then maybe give this hnt a miss coz there are lots mor to come. as he/she will get ruder if u cant pull up out hunting.

 

[helenandshadow]

I would try a hanging cheek snaffle first, if that doesn't help then a dutch gag or a kimblewick, as a pelham is a lot stronger than an eggbutt snaffle. You could also try a different mouthpiece like a waterford which they can't take hold of. You might find a different noseband or a martingale helps. Whatever you decide, try it at home first, then on the gallops before you go hunting, if you still can't stop on the gallops it's unlikely you'll be able to stop out hunting.

 

[rrose]

To be honest, i think that you should give it a miss until you can be in control and the horse is listening to you. then go out and if nessarsy change the bit to a stronger one.

 

[Weezy]

I prefer a kimblewick or if that doesnt work, a pelham to a gag any day personally and I would 100% echo Mairi - loose curb to begin with

Also echo mrussell - out of control horses are a danger to yourself AND others in the hunting field

 

[482739]

thanks everyone for your comments! we have deciced to put her in a dutch gag and take her cross country pairs not a proper compaptition just to have a play around and see what bits suit her etc.

I took her out on monday for a hack with my friend and i had her in a gag and see went so much better u had control we have decied not to take her hunting this year anyway and have a few schooling seesions and cross country pairs, as she seams to be enjoying this without being overly exicted and with extra brakes.

thanks again ive found that increasing the strnght of the bit actually helps because im not always pulling her in the mouth and i can sit still and wait for a stride.