Jumping bit advice for a strong horse

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Chloeap

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I have a 16.2 wb x tb 7 year old who I have had in a snaffle since I bought him last year. He goes lovely in this (neue schule loose ring with lozenge) but I have found he is quite strong when jumping, especially at shows and doing xc. So I am now looking for something a little stronger so I can actually have some control into the jumps! As at the moment he completely ignores me and I feel I might be kinder with something a little stronger?

So I tried him in a NS universal bit which is almost identical to his snaffle but quite thin and light but he didn't like this and I didn't seem to have much more control.. So back to the drawing board.

Does anyone have any suggestions of bits to try? I think he prefers something with a lozenge.
He is a big, fit horse and has a huge neck so can be very strong when he wants to be! Although on the whole he is very sweet but just loves to jump!

Thank you in advance :)
 
This is not aimed at you in particular but what is it with all these "what bit should I use?" threads? Unless you're a total novice you surely know which bits are a little stronger than others, so it's a case of experimentation to find something your horse likes and that you have control with. I suggest going to a shop or looking online at what bits are available with a lozenge, as that's what your horse likes, and try it and see. You could also ask people on your yard what bits they have and if you could borrow it for a trial session, to give you a better idea of what bits your horse does and doesn't like, which might give you ideas of what to buy. Just in case you don't know this already, pelhams and gags are stronger than snaffles.
 
Hi yes I have been doing the other things you mentioned - trying other peoples, looking in shops and online - but I guess I was just hoping for someone to offer advice/recommendations of things that worked for them before I part with anymore cash!
 
I have the exact same issue withas my 5 year old section D mare. I hack her out in a happy mouth snaffle and she goes like a dream.
Jumping is a different story however. She gets very strong when jumping. I started attaching a flash noseband to her bridle but I was still finding her a bit strong.
So I've borrowed my boyfriends horses French link gag but only attaching as a hanging cheek snaffle at the moment as I don't really want to go putting something too harsh in my 5yo's mouth. If need be I could drop it down a hole but hopefully a hanging cheek should do the trick ☺
You could always try something similar with your boy?
 
That is interesting, thank you.

I think I will see if I can get a gag to try him in. He's just so fussy with bits! I've finally found something he works nicely in and doesn't fight but it doesn't give us enough control for jumping!
I am starting to build a great collection of bits for sale :D
 
Update!
Got a Stubben golden wings universal bit today and he was fab in it! Jumped really well - still very keen but listened to my half halts for once! Also found turning a lot easier in this bit than his ordinary snaffle and he didn't lean on the bit when turning. So success!
 
Well done - another time you could try something like the bit bank. Not only do they give good advice you can hire bits for 30 days to try. Sometimes the horse goes wonderfully the first few times and then sours back off the bit again so having 30 days is great. (Although my daughter's sensitive lad decided he didn't like the Myler Combi after 32 days drat him.... he's been going beautifully in it up until then!)
 
Yeah I was about to do that but I could do with it for this weekend as we're going on a little jump outing and that is when he gets strong! So just picked one up at my local tack shop.
If I need a different one in the future I will probably use them :)

That is very frustrating about just going over the 30 days! It doesn't surprise me with horses though, they seem to enjoy getting us to spend money!
 
My 7yr old WB/x started getting strong whilst jumping. He was just in a jointed fulmer. I have him now in a Tom Thumb, with a curb strap. He had started towing me into the fences at his speed and then banging a stop in at the last minute. The tom thumb helps in keeping his head slighly higher, and also just gives me some control of pace. I think i am getting his teenage tantrums this year and not when he was 5!!
 
Shay said:
Well done - another time you could try something like the bit bank. Not only do they give good advice you can hire bits for 30 days to try. Sometimes the horse goes wonderfully the first few times and then sours back off the bit again so having 30 days is great. (Although my daughter's sensitive lad decided he didn't like the Myler Combi after 32 days drat him.... he's been going beautifully in it up until then!)
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I second this! I bought my Neue Schule tranz angled lozenge Pelham from them after trying it and finding a huge difference. This was down to my horses personal preference to a thinner mouthpiece.
 
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