Looking for constructive bitting help...

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Nic74

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I have a very strong 5 year old gelding, he's been broken for 3 months now and was done at a professional yard where I still go now for weekly lessons.

I ride him in a dutch gag on the second ring and with a flash. This is on the advice of my instructor. I'm not entirely happy with this but at the moment I am happier using a stronger bit than a mild one and having to haul at his mouth all the time, however I do try and school in an ordinary snaffle without the flash, but as I have to schoool in a field as I have no menage I still struggle at times with his strength. I just don't want to end up relying on strong bits and end up with a horse with a rock hard mouth.

Today as an experiment I hacked him out round our farm for a while in a hanging cheek snaffle with no flash, and in canter I had no brakes, I didn't lose alll control and he wasn't bolting, but it was a fight and it took me a while to stop him. It must be better to have the stronger bit in than be fighting him all the time? In trot he was ok, and more responsive to me slowing him with my seat but I still had to use my reins quite strongly.

Of course I know that with schooling we can work through this, but it won't be overnight and it may be that he always needs a strong bit if we plan to go out on exciting rides with other horses, but I'd like to think for just a casual and quiet walk, trot and canter ride that I could ride in something less severe.

Is there a bit that is less severe in action than the dutch gag, but stronger than a jointed hanging cheek snaffle..? How does a waterford snaffle comapre to these? I want to experiment with bits until I find the least severe one that will still enable me to have full control...
 
I would be worried about having a just backed horse in increasing stronger bits too, although I appreciate it's not always easy if they are naturally strong!

If it were me I would probably see if the horse was happy in a pelham (experiment with mouthpiece/port) and ride of 2 reins, only use the curb when requred!
 
It depends really how he uses his strength against you, for instance whether he is strong by fixing through the neck, fixing his mouth, getting behind the bit, raising his head, dropping his head, opening his mouth etc? I guess with a gag/flash combo he must raise his head and open his mouth? -which is fairly typical baby behaviour!

I'm sure you don't want to read it, but I'm afraid the best way of solving it is to invest time educating him- putting stronger bits in his mouth in the hope he will grow out of the habit is rarely succesful
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However, if you really need to produce him quickly and be doing faster work (with brakes!!) already have you considered using a different noseband rather than a stronger bit? Something like a kineton noseband might really help him (assuming he is good on the headcollar?) and the transfer of pressure from the mouth to the nose may help keep his mouth softer.
 
Unfortunately he is only 95% good in hand, although he is better now than about a year ago. We have had him from 5 months old and even then he knew how to use his strength to get away from me. I spent hours doing in hand work with him and teaching him to lead properly, and to be fair, he has nearly always behaved, but there are just times he decides to not bother and he bolts off. I once took him and one of my other horses to a big show, one class was early and one was late. A 10 year old child (daughter of a friend of mine that was there with us) spent the day leading Mowgli around like a big dog, they went to the ice cream van, they watched the other classes, and he behaved impeccably, he can do it, there are just times he decides he won't.

Some of the problem is that I go to my instructors yard and she has a menage, and he goes nicely in there, not too strong, and everything is good. But at home I have to school in a field and he just doesn't concentrate, he gets strong and then we have a fight. I have been doing loads of transitions, change of directions, half halts etc but in trot he just charges about and I end up packing up sooner than planned as I am scared of damaging his mouth - I feel I am constantly pulling at him.

Maybe I could do with a few lessons at home in the field I use for schooling.
 
I am and always will be a fan of waterfords for strong horses. They aren't severe unless you (like with any bit) use them wrongly. They just stop them taking hold. I use either D ring one or hanging cheek one dependant on the horse. PS they can be a bit fussy the first couple of times you use it as the mouthpeice is so different. Try mouthing them in the stable first (supervised of course) Hope this helps x
 
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