Racing/bit boffins

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Dizzydancer

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Hi guys i have been lucky enough to get fab pictures of my ex racer racing, he is wearing a bit which i have seen before i have now looked at it on internet it is a dexter bit with bars off snaffle. What do you think is a similar bit for normal riding purposes (well i mean speed work not schooling). He is currently being reschooled in a neu schuele lozenge snaffle.

Thanks in advance
 
I'm no expert on bitting, but I would've thought it would be better to be consistent and ride him in whatever bit works for him? If he's happy in his neue schule then why change it?
 
I agree with that but from what i have researched that bit is for strong horses which he is when he chooses. He is only being schooled and gentle hacking at mo but he will hopefully be getting out and about a bit over winter fun rides etc and i want to try and canter/gallop in open spaces before this we have acres of fields to ride in and a gallops. However i just thought he was a bit pig headed now i no he raced in a bit for strong horses i am concerned if i ask him to stop he wont and i may be in trouble!!
 
dizzydancer said:
chrisritch- it will be his first time going faster in open spaces with other horses so he may well think he is racing??
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I wouldn't have thought so, Aslong as you dont go from a stand still to a flat out gallop you will be fine.

Bear in mind in racing they are hyped up from being in the pre ring and being in the stalls etc. In a quiet field on his own, He will probably be a different horse to what he was on the track.
 
I shall have to see how he goes at home i think. I am going to bring him into it slowly, going alone in field then with others from yard beofre loading and going to fun rides. If he is terrible to stop then i shall have to get a different bit or double bridle for when need the extra brakes. He is very race orientated tho in the field he races to get to front if they gallop off and he gets wound up quickly when with others even at yard! I think practice is going to be key. Thanks though
 
The dexter is used to stop a horse from grabbing hold of the bit and taking a swing. Not as severe as they look and I quite like them. Have ridden my SJ mare in one the odd time and she likes it. If you are reschooling him then realistically you shouldn't need it. Don't forgot in racing the rein signals are quite different and using a dexter bit will not necessarily give you them same reaction it gives a jockey/person riding out on gallop!
 
I wouldn't have thought you would need one for cantering if you are re-schooling systematically. They aren't any more 'strong' a bit than a bubble bit, they are mainly useful for stopping a horse 'grab hold' of the bit, and don't actually have much in the way of poll pressure/leverage.

I have used them to good effect on some horses, and absolutely no effect on others! 2 strong horses that I ride regularly used to be ridden in dexter ring bits, but are actually easier to hold in a myler comfort snaffle (which equally, they can't grab hold of due to rotating mouthpiece) but are more comfortable because of the low port reducing pressure on the tongue.
 
Honestly i would say stick to the snaffle you are currently in. I have had a few ex-racers that have gone on to hunt and all have gone in snaffles. It takes time to retrain them to a new way of going and for me i hate the idea of over bitting a horse before you have given it a chance. Racing is very different.
 
Ignore the bits that they race in. Racing is totally different from anything else they will do in life. Most racehorses are trained in bog standard loose ring or eggbut snaffles. Reschooling them properly will be far more worth while that sticking another bit in their gob for control.

We only race 2 in Dexters because both are too keen in their races and one of them has a few steering issues at high speeds. Both are trained at home in eggbut snaffles and caveson nosebands. They go round fields, up the gallops, round the sand ring, jump etc. not a bother in snaffles.
 
thanks for that guys i am not so worried now that he is just going to turn into a tank if i let him go.
He is being reschooled sympathetically i think and he is much better now than ever before. So fingers crossed now his nose doesnt point straight out infront he will be easier to control. I may see if i can get his bit with cheeks as he does have a habit of pulling away if he wants to and the bit then slides.
ETS he wont actually venture out until my instructor allows me and feels he is relaxed enough even with a few other horses in school doing different things!
 
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