I need some brakes

Flibble

Flibble

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Ok my boy is a lovely chap we are now into our 8th week together. We are currently riding in an eggbutt snaffle single joint and have had a NS Trans Lozenge loose ring.

He has a smallish mouth and a chunky tongue. He is having an EDT out Wednesday as he seems to evade the bit a lot however....

Out Hacking if he is frightened he whips round and goes. Yesterday in some woods we had two braking issues. I popped a log , a tiddler, he landed and shot off downhill he was on my hands and there were no brakes all I could do wa pull and sorry but cantering down a 45 degree slope doesnt make you think half halt nicely give and retake you just think Cripes I am going to die.

Later on the hack his mate was in front trying to negotiate a fallen tree he spooked at a Mountain Bike on the track above and my lad went "Crikey Waaaah run!" spun round and set off again no brakes. I did manage to pull him up but not nicely.

So could nice people suggest some kind braking solutions as I think a stronger bit he respects would be far better for us both than hauling and pulling.

Thankee kindly.:o
 
I'd give a pelham a go IIWY. Really glad its still going pretty well though and you're enjoying some misadventures. :D
 
Flibble said:
Ok my boy is a lovely chap we are now into our 8th week together. We are currently riding in an eggbutt snaffle single joint and have had a NS Trans Lozenge loose ring.

He has a smallish mouth and a chunky tongue. He is having an EDT out Wednesday as he seems to evade the bit a lot however....

Out Hacking if he is frightened he whips round and goes. Yesterday in some woods we had two braking issues. I popped a log , a tiddler, he landed and shot off downhill he was on my hands and there were no brakes all I could do wa pull and sorry but cantering down a 45 degree slope doesnt make you think half halt nicely give and retake you just think Cripes I am going to die.

Later on the hack his mate was in front trying to negotiate a fallen tree he spooked at a Mountain Bike on the track above and my lad went "Crikey Waaaah run!" spun round and set off again no brakes. I did manage to pull him up but not nicely.

So could nice people suggest some kind braking solutions as I think a stronger bit he respects would be far better for us both than hauling and pulling.

Thankee kindly.:o
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Do more formal schooling with an experienced instructor, there is no bit that will stop a nutter, but don't put yourselves in a difficult situation. Don't think because you are "only hacking" that he does not need to keep a light contact and also you need to keep alert to "things"
Learn to bridge the reins so that you can ask him to slow down using his own momentum, use you bodyweight to pull him up rather than your arms.
Do canter uphill in a safe non exciting environment, on his own, relax and let him relax, [singing is good], he is having a difficult time at the moment, and I think it will all work out in the end. I use a hanging cheek baucher, the cheekpieces give you control sideways [stops him whipping round]
 
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Being frightfully old fashioned :cool: I would suggest a kimblewick or Market Harborough if you need the 'Big Guns' for a while!

This sort of behaviour needs to be nipped in the bud, it is one thing to bowl on, get a bit unbalanced and out of control but if the horse has decided to cut and run from anything he doesn't like then you have a problem. Horsey will pull this card out now when he feels he needs it so stay alert and act quickly. You have a max of 3 strides to get control back don't waste them. Stride 1 - starting to go, sit deep, leg on, sit up and stop. Stride 2 - keep your seat, reinforce Stride 3 - last chance - gloves are off, horse stops with a 'wtf' look on face. Job done!

Obviously this is emergency riding to sort out a problem and to be used carefully. You will have to judge your horse and the situation. I would avoid situations (like jumping downhill) where you might get into a pickle until you have sorted this rudeness out! :)
 
I've used a Neue Schule Universal on a forward going horse with a braking problem, lol. The universal worked well, but I'm not sure how it would compare to a kimblewick as I've never used one of those.
 
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