Kineton or worcester nosebands, advice PLEASE!!!!

[birdof1977]

Which one would you recommend for this if any?

I've just taken a heavyweight cob on loan who is extremely strong. She's 17 yrs old and used to do ride and drive.

She's been turned away for the summer as the owner is pregnant and cannot ride at the moment, so as you can imagine she is now really unfit and very round.
The problem I have is I've just started doing some road work with her, walking, to build up her fitness levels, but she's so excited at the prospect of work again that I am having trouble containing her and keeping her at a walking pace. She is constantly like a coiled spring and feels like if I give her even a mm of rein she'll be off. She's currently ridden with a standard cavesson nose band, a jointed pelham with double reins and a standing martingale. The problem is she's really leaning on the bit, and after years of wearing a pelham, I think that she's become dead to it. Neither of us are enjoying ourselves at the moment, she's always so tense and consequently so am I.
I was wondering if a change of nose band would be a good idea. I don't know if a worcester would be strong enough for this mare, but the kineton sounds like it may have better effect. I used to ride my anglo-arab in a hackamore and believe that the kineton has a similar effect but with a bit too.
The only reason I thought of these was because I had a go at lunging her yesterday in the owners 'Natural Halter', which also has effect on the poll like the two nosebands, and she went beautifully for me, much more responsive. She did great transitions and I felt like for the first time she was listening to me, and enjoying herself (despite the downpours).

So if anyone has had any experiences with either of these nosebands, please help as I've never used either.

 

[vennessa]

I used to ride a pony in a kineton with a snaffle bit. The pony was an angel in it. It was in a rideing school. I have not known another with one and was a bit too young to take in the why's and wherfores.
On certain horses i would consider one. Is it the dually halter you use? Horses can be ridden in these. It may be worth a try. If the nose pressure works i would say a kinerton would help.

 

[birdof1977]

No, it is a rope tied natural halter, has the same effect as a dually though, I think?

That why I thought the kineton would be good, I think they can only be used with snaffle bits, def not pelhams. I am under the opinion that strong bits, make strong hores. I don't want to put her in a gag, so thought that the noseband change would be a better option. I think personally that she needs a complete re-school. The more you pull on her mouth, naturally the harder she pulls back, and of course she is stronger, resulting in a tug of war competition, and a completely knackered mare and rider, and all that for a 25min walk up the lane.

Thanks for your opinion though, I think I will try one and see how she goes in the school with it first before taking her out.

 

[vennessa]

I like your way of thinking.
Sounds like the horse has got used to the tug of war.
When we get horses like that we ride them in a contained area and give them the rains. We are not going to be tanked off with too far - actually haven't been tanked off with yet. The horse will still try to snatch and pull but nothing is there to pull at. This makes them feel uncomfortable and start to listen to you. As a child we rode a lot without reins and used our bodies. I still use that way now. It realy does work.
With yours it does sound like you would need the noseband when out and about.
None of ours pull or snatch now. Rocky used to shake his head forwards and backwards trying to relieve bit pressure. Being given the reins and nothing to pull against shocked him and he became incredibly responsive.
Sisco was much the same but i also took away the flash strap and martingale. I think they sudenly feel alone and need reasurance from the rider which makes them listen more.
Good luck.

 

[dwi]

if she's leaning have you thought of trying a waterford mouthpiece?

 

[birdof1977]

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if she's leaning have you thought of trying a waterford mouthpiece?

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I hadn't heard of that one, just looked it up quickly, sounds good, also because its a snaffle i could use it in conjunction with a kineton too. Might just work.