Opinions on Kimblewicks?

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Hecken92

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Just curious to see peoples opinions on them as a friend who works abroad says they're very popular in mainland Europe but seem to be frowned upon in the UK.
Better or worse than a gag?
 
I've never seen anyone frown over them?
Useful bit of kit - nice inbetween bit. Different in action to a gag to impossible to say if better or worse in your situation!
 
I like my kimblewick. It's a good halfway house between a snaffle and a pelham. The pelham was too sharp for H but he's always been really settled in his kimblewick.
 
EstherYoung said:
I like my kimblewick. It's a good halfway house between a snaffle and a pelham. The pelham was too sharp for H but he's always been really settled in his kimblewick.
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That's exactly what my friend said when I asked her advice. My boy is fine most of the time but when cantering in company there are literally no brakes in his snaffle so she recommended the Kimblewick to give a bit more control. :)
 
you cant compare them with a gag - totally different action.

Ive never heard of them being frowned upon either.

Kimblewicks were originally very popular for strong ponies and little riders who couldnt cope with a pelham and 2 reins. Over the years they have gone out of fashion. Ive found a slotted kimblewick worked fantastically on the 2 strong horses I have had (both native types). There are different types of mouthpeice these days but I used the good old fashioned and most common ported type. The slotted cheeks allow different rein settings and couple that with curb choice(chain/leather etc) you have a very versatile and adjustable bit.
 
They ARE less popular, though I have no idea why. I would prefer to use a kimblewick with one rein than a pelham with two.
 
I ride all my Stallions in curb bits as they where broken to these. They all have light mouths and all come from South America, hence they train them different over there.
 
criso said:
True but the ponies who would have been in Kimblewicks when I was a kid you now see in Dutch Gags with one rein on the bottom ring so Gags have sort of taken that role over.

it's all about trends and gags are 'in'
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Agree with this. probably just gone out of fashion, Mostly see Gags around with reins on bottom ring even on ponies out hacking. You see the girls with feet out of stirrups and reins loose yet they feel the need to ride in gags. Sorry, they bug me unless needed.
 
criso said:
True but the ponies who would have been in Kimblewicks when I was a kid you now see in Dutch Gags with one rein on the bottom ring so Gags have sort of taken that role over.

it's all about trends and gags are 'in'
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It's also that nowadays for many people, any snaffle is better than any other type of bit; they refuse to believe that there is a kinder way than a snaffle so if that means sawing away they're quite happy to do that rather than admitting that a horse can go very kindly in a slighter stronger/different way of working bit other than a snaffle. A snaffle of any sort can be evil in the wrong hands.
BTW, I rate kimblewicks, very useful for many sorts. :)
 
Maesfen said:
It's also that nowadays for many people, any snaffle is better than any other type of bit;
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Agreed and it means you can put snaffle mouthed on adverts.

One of the mum's on the yard asked me for a second opinion on whether the gag bit fitted and when I asked if there was a particular reason she'd gone for that bit couldn't really give a reason beyond "he came with one and everyone else has one".

3 ring gag with a huge plastic mouth the poor pony could hardly close his mouth over but still had a flash on tight.

and don't start me on the thicker the better theory of snaffles. Several people have told me my Myler Comfort snaffle is cruel as it's thin. The fact that my poor little tb has a tiny mouth and huge tongue and couldn't cope with a thick mouthpiece is beside the point.
 
He's in a French link at the moment as he has the big tongue problem too so doesn't like snaffles. Most of the time, he respects it but when he gets excited/scared, all respect for the bit or for me just go and hes back to instinct.
He's very good at letting me know when he doesn't like a bit which is why the gag I got him (out of a lack of research on my behalf!) has sat in the tackroom for years as he hated it. Fingers crossed the kimblewick is more to his liking.
How do you tell if your curb is at the right tightness? Never had a curb chain before!
 
Very useful bits that seem to have fallen out of fashion. Would be something I'd try if I wanted something stronger without needing two reins. Often far more useful than gag family bits as they have a head lowering action.

Strangely I see a lot of people riding in slotted mylers with a curb which must have a very similar action to a kimblewick but at more than double the price......
 
You can get a lot of different types of kimblewicks, eg, jointed or straight or straight with a port. It gives curb action to horses that pull too much, or hold their heads too high.
When you pull the reins, pressure's on the mouth, chin and poll. With a port, there's pressure on the roof of the mouth, which can make them quite severe.

Pelhams depend on the reins applied.

Hth's:)

eta: Make sure you twist your curb around and around before doing up, so that it is a flat snake chain before doing it up - this is VITAL!

Althoughon a pelham see:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WdK5nrVNFk
 
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i use a kimblewick on my boy as he is strong as an ox. He used to be ridden with a 3 ring gag being ridden on the bottom ring and also with flash and martingale. I use the slotted one which is also ported. My boy goes well in it. As already said the curb should be straight if it is a metal one and it should be adjusted so it sits in the chin groove and when a contact is taken up on the reins it should then and only then come into play with your horses chin groove.
 
I use a kimblewick for things like fun rides and it's brilliant. He needs it at the start of the ride, but by the end, he's on a loose rein, lol x
 
The main difference is that it comes with slots for the reins The lower slot has more curb action, than the higher;).:)

The Utoxeter single jointed I believe has a single joint which puts pressure on the sides of the tongue, lips and bars - it has a nutcracker type of action, so tis quite severe.

Generally, single jointed kimblewicks are LESS effective/suitable if you have a horse with a high head carriage or one that goes above the bit. If your horse has a large tongue, there'll be less room in the mouth for a single jointed - as the tongue pushes the bit nearer the roof of the mouth.
 
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