Need some advice on bitting a strong pony

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Hello, I am new to the board. I was from the New Forest area before moving to the States. I am currently in Texas, living amongst cutting horse/Quarter horse country.

Anyway long story short, I bought my 9 yo daughter a sweet little Section B Welsh mare for Pony Club. We have been schooling in a French link full cheek snaffle, which works fine for flat work in an arena but she is strong out in the open and for jumping. I can manage her with the snaffle but my daughter can't stop her very well in it. This is the desert of bits for horses especially pony sized ones, so I have to order over the internet. I have been looking at a bubble gag with mullen happy mouth and also a mullen mouth pelham (which I know I used as a child riding ponies with great success years ago). I have asked our instructor, but as ponies are so scarce, she really only deals with horses and couldn't really help other than to just try different bits. Oh and the pony hates the nutcracker action of a snaffle hence using the French link snaffle.

Many thanks.
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What about a kimblewick? That's a common bit used for strong ponies. Or some sort of waterford if the pony hates the nutcracker action.

Ebay is good place to pick up bits quite cheaply to try or try a bit bank.
 
I was thinking about an Uxeter kimblewick but was wondering whether the pony would like a straight bit with a port, as I they don't come in a mullen mouth. I forgot to say it was also on my list of possibilities. I also had considered a waterford but it would mean buying one in the UK, the smallest they are available here is a 5" and she is 4" (would need a 4 1/2" waterford).

I can get all the bits (here in the States) above just not the waterford. I thought I would ask on here to see if anybody had the same sort of problems to save buying a whole collection!
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I hate seeing kids ponies in a curb chain - it's far too severe for most of them to handle properly.
We have had great sucess with the 3 or 4 ring dutch gag - it has no curb but provides the leverage required to bring the little blighters up!
In my experience it's as strong as a kid needs - eBay will provide!!!
 
I must say I was leaning towards the dutch gag (bubble), as I don't want her to be snatched (as kids do) or held onto with a curb chain. Do you think a happy mouth mullen would fit the bill?

Thank you.
 
I have a stong 14hh new forest and had him in a loose ring french link snaffle until be buggered off with me at a cross country sponsored ride. I tried him in a pelham mullen mouth but he just lent on that when jumping. I how have got him in a pelham with a french link centre, I use one rein on leather roundings. Also have him in a elastic curb chain as they are much kinder due to teh give especially for jumping. My curb is on the longest possible setting so that the action only comes in in extreme circumstances. I got mine off ebay and there were small ones on there then and since
 
Dutch gags are very popular in the pony club over here and seem to be the XC bit of choice for many ponies. It has the flexibility of the extra rings too.
Curb chains can be fiddly and difficult to fit correctly for little fingers, so I have always avoided the pelhams.
 
Does she have a high or low head carriage? ie. does she pin her head in and tank off for example? If she has a high one, personally I would try a kimblewick. If low, then something more gaggy (although I hate 3 ring gags personally). One of my last horses hated the nutcracker action and went best in a waterford or a Myler Short Shank Combination bit.
 
sounds just like my first pony a little welsh we tried EVERYTHING he was so strong and the only thing that worked was a replica (upside down wilkie) have tried to find a pic with no luck will try again later! but it was very thin and worked so well!
 
She is about average in head carriage, not too high not to low but if the rider panics puts their hands up to stop, her head goes straight up in star gazing fashion, I think a result of bad habits of a former rider. Otherwise if you keep your hands low and try and have soft elbows and hands she goes really well, she hates her rider hanging on to her mouth - so I have worked with my daughter to be soft but positive (if you know what I mean). She doesn't pin her head to her chest to use her neck - thankfully. We just seem to need more of a positive brake out in the open.

I am going to try both the happy mouth gag and the kimblewick, and as a last resort the waterford - as I have to buy one from the UK. And if I can find a Wilkie that sounds like a good alternative if all else fails. So I shall soon be opening my own bit bank this side of the pond!!!
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haven't read all the posts- but if u were looking at a pelham i'd possibly go for a kimblewick- wont have the nutcracker action (unless u go for joined) and are kinda made for kids as they only need one rein. if u get slotted u can adjust it for when ur child gets stronger or the pony stops a bit lol

a pelham i spose is meant to have 2 reins and to be used like that and only bringing the curb when u need it i no u can just have one rein but u mite aswell get a gag but that mite be too much poll pressure and the pony could just take the bit and run i no kimblewicks are basically just brute force but noone wants to see their kids get bombed off with lol

xxx
 
Ditto with the kimblewick - When I was younger I had a very strong pony who was fantastic at jumping but I couldnt stop him! I tried a gag, pelham etc and in the end I went to my local tack shop and he gave me a kimblewick - I could finally stop! TBH after a while I went back to a less harsh bit and he was loads better - I think he'd learnt I could stop him so then he stopped trying.

On the other hand my sister has recently had to sell a 12.2 pony that was built like a tank that none of us could stop regardless of bit! We found the secret was to leg him on - the first time my niece did it his face was like "OMG they want me to run?!" - so he stopped!
 
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