Need brakes

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MGG

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My daughter has had her pony for about 6 months. He came being ridden in a pelham, but with a french link snaffle in his kit. We kept him in the pelham to start with, but couldn't really see a need for it, so switched him to the snaffle. He has been fine in that, but now she has had him a while and is doing more with him we have discovered why he has the pelham. He LOVES jumping and just get faster and faster and she can't stop him in the snaffle. He's not really naughty just enjoying himself!

Question is, should we just put him back in the pelham for jumping or look for something else? Thing is, it seems a huge jump from the snaffle to a pelham, would he perhaps be better in a waterford or a dutch gag? She is only 10 and doing 2' at the mo, so I am a bit worried that with the pelham she will perhaps hurt him as while she is a nice little rider, she is inexperienced and has slightly lost her confidence jumping him at shows as she hasn't been able to stop. What do you reckon?
 
if her hands are kind then you could use the bubble bit (more commonly known as 3 ring gag!)
or you could try a waterford snaffle/ dr bristol?
 
It may be that whoever owned him before you has done all the hard work for you and figured out that he jumps best in a pelham.

I would invest in some lessons and tell the instructor of your problem and ask them to evaluate the situation.

What does he do into the fence? That is the key to which bit to use - if he has his head very high a dutch gag will only raise the head more and may make the problem worse, whereas the pelham will encourage him to lower his head and tuck his nose in, which will help.

I have been banging on about it recently, but I can highly recommend Heather's bitting advice line - the number is on the neue schule website and there is no pressure to buy. She was spot on when I had serious brake failure on my horse XC.

Good luck, it is such a minefield isn't it? Especially when you add children into the equation!
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As a former 'child with strong pony club' member I would tell you to use the pelham ( I assume that it would be with split reins or roundings). I am very small and both of my ponies were strong in different ways and both went beautifully in the pelham.
It is not necessarily 'stronger'than the french link snaffle it just has a different action and pressure points.
I would try the pelham first and if you are not happy, then jump on the 'new bit merry-go-round' that the rest of us are on!
crazy.gif

P.S I have spent £70 on a KK snaffle for one and about £160 on various NS bits for the other, and after brake failure today am just digging out my double bridle!!!!!!! Sometimes new doesnt mean better!
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[ QUOTE ]
It may be that whoever owned him before you has done all the hard work for you and figured out that he jumps best in a pelham.

I would invest in some lessons and tell the instructor of your problem and ask them to evaluate the situation.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good advice there Spottedcat.

I'd also suggest (depending on the type of pelham) if your daughter struggles with two reins to try a kimblewick.
 
She is kind with her hands. She hates to pull him in the snaffle, but he just doesn't stop. He's not randomly tanking off, just looking for the next fun fun jump! He does put his head up going into te jump. She now won't really kick him on enough because of the excess speed issue and he stops on her.

She has a lesson every week and we will ask the instructor, but she doesn't see him in the open grassy show jumping arena although obviously we can discuss it with her and perhaps get her a lesson in a show jumping field.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I think as we have one we will try him in the pelham and see how he goes and if no luck think again.
 
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