please help me with brakes for my horse!

[charliehands]

I am thinking about taking my mare, Lady hunting this season. We have sort of been once before and it was horrible! I had no control, whatsoever. This is from the horse that I have taken up gallops, showjumping,fast hacking in groups, open fields everything and the worst that shes done is get a bit strong but still managable! Hunting and fun rides are something else, something totally out of the ordinary, she was like a possessed maniac!

I thought after the first time I went on a fun ride I had her sussed and got a cheltenham gag which worked fine for cantering in open fields and out with groups and galloping but she doesnt put her head down and go off when doing those things so didn't know for sure how it would be for hunting. Well I might as well have not been there. I couldn't get her to stand still, she was rearing, though not proper rears, she was just so excited. She just puts her head down and pulls off with me, and at 17hh she knows she can win against me, she is also so so fast

She is usually ridden in a lr snaffle for schooling, jumping and quiet hacks or a cheltenham for more fast work. The problem is I cant test anything either as she just doesnt do it at any other time, so I won't really know until the day whether it works or not!!! which is a bit worrying to say the least! I have a pelham for her and have been told to get a kineton noseband and just take her with the pelham on the bottom rein. I have also been looking at the NS universal bits as I have been told they have worked wonders for other people with strong horses

So, after that ramble my question is, shall I just not bother as the feeling of being out of control is not really a nice one, or try and get some sort of control?? Maybe get a nice strong man to take her out for me lol! I LOVED the bits where we were jumping logs and hedges (we had to miss most jumps as we were just going that fast) and I do really want to go again, I must be insane, but Lady absolutely loved it too, but I just cannot have that feeling of no control!

about to go food shopping so if anyone can help they get a pesent from tescos! lol

 

[Boxers]

Looking forward to the replies to this. Daughter has a horse on loan for the season, he is 18 and has hunted all his ridden life. His owner gave us a double bridle to use for hunting but daughter is finding him very strong, but not uncontrollable, and also he comes home with the corners of his mouth sore. She tries to ride on the snaffle rein as much as she can.

When not hunting he is in an eggbutt snaffle and is absolutely fine.

So recommendations for an alternative bit would also be appreciated by us.

 

[simplyhunting]

I'd be tempted to try a waterford cheltenham if she leans down? Or a double bridle, perfect to ride off the snaffle with the curb when required. I think if she leans down a kineton might not work in her case, have heard of good results with a ns universal with curb strap added, didn't work for my lad but each horse is different so might be worth a go?

 

[bjarnold]

NS Waterford Nelson Gag. I tried everything but this bit worked on my eventer that I couldn't hold one side of worth every penny!! xx

 

[JenHunt]

I'd second the double bridle - it gives you the option of being nice (i.e. riding on the top rein alone) when she's being nice, and of having the bottom rein there when she's not... the double bridle helps to lift a head, putting the horse back on their hocks, making them easier to control.

Also, try to stay out as long as you can (within the bounds of the horse's fitness, and your safety), so that she goes home tired, and begins to think of hunting as work, not total fun. Try to have a good long trot to the meet (a couple of miles if you can!) to help take some of the freshness out. And make sure she's well worked the day before if you can.

And one last thing... do not be tempted to "give her a bit more" in terms of feed... the extra energy only counts against you!!

Boxers - Ron comes home with a slightly sore mouth if he's been pulling especially hard, and it's possible for that to happen even in a snaffle. Think of it like our hands going red (under our gloves) when the horse has been pulling hard! The question is, does it stay looking sore for more than say 24 hours or so? (Ron's is usually fine the next morning) - if so then it sounds like the double isn't quite right. That could be the way it's fitted, the exact choice of bits, or that it's too much for the horse's mouth, and without seeing it's hard to know. Tbh, if the old owner gave you the bridle then I'd hazard a guess that it's just that he's pulling against your daughter and his lips are just demonstrating that, and if that's the case and your daughter feels like she's got best control in that then she should hunt in the double bridle....

does that little essay even make sense?