Need to change bit for SJ any idea's please?

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Vicki1986

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Went SJ'ing at the weekend...normally i jump my mare in one of these...
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she is a bit too sharp in it and backs off a little. jumping the jumps isnt our problem its turning to them / brakes but we are getting better every time out and schooling, lateral work etc is helping loads. she can be very strong when she wants to be and just doesnt listen, i try to use linked, multi jointed or waterford bits as she has a tendency to lean or take the bit in her teeth.

i thought id try her in her happy mouth 2 ring gag as she is softer in it and doesnt back off it as much .... but she tanked off - over the wrong jump and i couldnt stop
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she is 14 and quite set in her ways, so breaking her fizzy behaviour is quite hard and TBH i'm not sure i want to as its her personality! she is going well at home in a snaffle most of the time, i just need a lot more brakes in competition as she just zones out and goes into jumping pony mode and most of the hard work at home goes out the window!! can anyone recommend a bit i can try so i can have some brakes but not quite as harsh as the tom thumb. oh and she is in a grackle as she does cross her jaw too when she's really excited and not listening!!
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hun is there a certain way she wont turn or is it both ways???? you get get bit rings with brushes on the inside - this is what im getting for gadget as he refuses to turn right so i think a brush on the left will help !!
 
I might get laughed at, but I had that problem when I had my old jumping pony, I used apelham when I was too small to pull, but then as her schooling got better, I reverted to a cheek snaffle (probs cos Milton had one!
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) I still found her strong, but then my grandad got an australian cheeker, we used that under a flash noseband, and it worked a treat. (BTW mine was 19 when I got her, and still mad at 30+)
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The rule is that bit rings must be smooth.
Always was the rule, unless its changed recently. But def for BSJA.

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cool im only going to use them for a clear round - fed up of suddenly spinning left and not turning right !!
 
Can you not use your fulmer, or the gag type one on equiport which looks fab and would have been ideal for the old Drum so may suite Wills?? If not just lots of 'steady' schooling will help lol!
 
that would be the absolute IDEAL solution but they don't make them small enough i looked on equiport a while ago and haven't seen anywhere else that does them unless you know of anywhere?? my fulmer we wouldnt stand a chance we'd be out the ring and half way home. i wouldnt even take the risk tbh!! lots of steady schooling i know i do school her 3 times a week any more than that and i will hang myself and so will she LOL

Stace i cant use the old fashioned bit rings on her i dont think! her mouth is so sensitive at the sides she would either go mad or it would rub sores?! i sometimes have to vaseline her before i even ride so not sure if that would irritate her skin too much??

thanks wheezy tried that neue schule bit before and it didnt agree with us at all, really odd not sure why.

I have got a waterford gag Dianchi but she doesnt usually go that great in it for the technical turns and stuff - XC's in it fine. if i can't find anything else to try that will be what i will be using so will see how we go

fatarse2 (good username!!) i don't know what an australian cheeker is? will have a look and see so i know what your tlaking about :-)
 
that looks weird how does it work ??

her skin is sensitive and her bars are sensitive to a degree but no not too bad

i wish i could just take her out in my happy mouth fulmer, i go round the XC at home in that and she goes beautifully but at shows she is just like woohoo lets go and unless you have the brakes there to stop her you, ahem jump the wrong jumps whether you want to or not !!
 
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that looks weird how does it work ??

her skin is sensitive and her bars are sensitive to a degree but no not too bad

i wish i could just take her out in my happy mouth fulmer, i go round the XC at home in that and she goes beautifully but at shows she is just like woohoo lets go and unless you have the brakes there to stop her you, ahem jump the wrong jumps whether you want to or not !!

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its a great bit for horses with sensitive mouths - works fantastically !!! Ive got one at home but im guessing it will be to big for wills !!! (5.5)
 
Perhaps use a waterford dutch gag?

I use one of these on my mare with a grackle - she tends to lean on the bit and get front heavy. The cheeks also help with steering!

For showjumping I use pelham roundings so it is a bit softer and then for xc just one rein on the middle ring.

Best of luck finding something suitable!
 
How about a Myler Combination, you can choose the mouthpiece, so I have the comfort snaffle with a small port. It's a hybrid between a bit & a hackamore, initially when you pick up the contact it works on the poll, nose & under their chin, then the rings slide round to the stoppers & it acts on the mouth too. My pony jumps beautifully in hers, beats sweating & heaving on her mouth. They are expensive so try & borrow one first.
 
have to agree with Kizzywiz, i have just got one to try on my two boys, one of which is a tank, will jump anything you put in front of him but at his speed hee hee

I haven’t yet found a bit yet that i can stop him in however I haven’t tried him in it yet but the fact that there is a lot if different actions i think it may work

The other horse i have it for is my stallion who has a VERY sensitive mouth and isn’t keen on any bits. he goes nicely in a hackamore but this became a bit much for him. i rode him in the combination yesterday and was like riding on a piece of cotton, no complaints at all!

the excellent but is that you can get them in so many different mouth pieces and different length shanks. not sure where you are based but my local saddlery (north walsham - Norfolk) hire these for £4 a day or £15 a week, if you decide to have it this is then deducted off the overall price (£96) I think they will post to you also.

Hope you find something soon
 
i always just presumed the myler combination was for really really strong unstoppable horses and as my pony isnt that bad and quite sensitive i thought that would be way too much for her, thank you both for your suggestion i will have research into it definately - i knew you could get different length shanks but didnt know different mouthpieces too !! will have a look into that might be a good route to try and hire one like you say
 
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