Recommend me a strong bit please.

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sammylou93

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I posted on here last week about Kineton nosebands and tried one day with little success so was wondering what people use on their strong horses going XC?

Currently going in a running gag/grackle but it has no effect on her whatsoever and I want to find something that I can take a pull then leave her alone rather than nagging at her. Also she is rather difficult turning right. She is very bold and confident and the fences never back her off. Also she is never strong SJ, XC schooling or galloping so I only ever find out if something works when she hits the course. Previous bit was a high port myler with curb chain/grackle.

Any suggestions would be fab thanks!
 
I have mine in a 3 ring gag with a waterford mouthpiece. It seems to suits him and gives me enough control without him backing off. To be honest I have always had mine in a 3 ring gag even though I have experimented with various different bits I have come back to this one as this is where i feel we get the right balance. i only use it on the 2nd ring although back in the day I did have it on the bottom but, in hindsight he maybe didn't need that. Some people seem to hate them but i don't really know why - what works for your horse should be your priority not whether people ara against a certain bit.
 
cuppatea said:
dexter?
If the gag action doesnt work on her i wouldnt bother with other types of gag, try something with a completely different action.
Pellham?
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Mine goes perfectly in a waterford gag but put him in any other gag and I have no control whatsoever. He can't get hold of it which is why it works in mine! Maybe not for everyone but I would certainly reccomend it if all other options have been tried...!
 
I have neveretried mine in a running gag but i think it is the poll action of the 3 ring that works with mine coupled with the mouthpiece. I am not convinced the running gag would work with mine as i think the action is different. I isort of work on the basic theory of, if the horse puts its head down and pulls then the gag/poll action type bits tends to work better whereas if they stikc their head up then this will not work type bit and maybe a curb type bit would be better. However, that is the basics - you the have to play with different mouthpieces!
 
Thanks for your comments. She doesn't put her head on the floor and try and tow you nor does she stick her head in the air and run off. My problem is that everything is in your right hand (doesn't hang right) and nothing in the left. She would go in a straight line with 2 hands pulling on the right rein and then she can drift to the left.

So frustrating as we are clocking up time penalties which are keeping us out the placings!
 
sammylou93 said:
Thanks for your comments. She doesn't put her head on the floor and try and tow you nor does she stick her head in the air and run off. My problem is that everything is in your right hand (doesn't hang right) and nothing in the left. She would go in a straight line with 2 hands pulling on the right rein and then she can drift to the left.

So frustrating as we are clocking up time penalties which are keeping us out the placings!
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Doesn't sound like a bitting problem to me. She sounds as though she is getting hold of the bit or has a problem with her teeth somewhere. I am presuming she has the dentist regularly? There could also be pain issues in the poll, neck or wither that your mare is trying to guard.

Have you tried a hackamore? She won't be able to get hold of that. I really would not be looking for a stronger bit until you have discovered the cause of the problem.
 
If you have particular problems on one side it's worth getting vet to look at teeth etc to make sure no pain / physical reason behind the problem.

I have been through this with mine, he was in a 3 ring gag with reins on bottom ring, nutcracker mouthpiece, but he would just take hold of it and tank.

I am currently trying an american gag with a happymouth, which gives me more control - I can keep a light contact and just do a light check to come back to me before a fence etc. However I think this is too strong for my boy as he reacts a lot to a strong contact in this bit.

Do you have a regular instructor you can ask?

Mine was fab, she turned up with a bag full of bits, put a fence up in the school and we tried them all out before I tested the favourite out hacking and at comps.

Some others that we tried were pelhams, kimblewicks, and a loose ring cherry roller - quite mild but hard for them to take hold of.

Hope that helps
x
 
Lots of strong bits:

Long shank myler combination
Twisted bits
Barry gag
Long shanked american gag

Suspect there are some far more nasty ones than these lurking!
 
No problems with back, teeth, etc. She has physio every couple months or so and there has never been much of a problem.

A Hackamore with long shanks and I might as well be using a headcollar! I am thinking Kimblewick but my trainer (who produced her and I bought from) is a laid back pro who doesn't think it's much of an issue and I have asked several other pro's and they haven't been much help. Again I will only know what works when I leave the start box as she never gives you any clues as to what she thinks of a bit, not even warming up for XC!

I think she is being evasive as by nature this is what she can be like and what bit might stop her for a couple of XC rounds won't have any effect on her by the third time so ideally I need a couple of bits to swap and keep her guessing. The running gag was a dream first time round.
 
Having good results with neue schule universal gag with lozenge.... At least i can take a pull and get some response!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Myler correctional ported??

Waterford baucher has no effect, didnt like Dr Bristol, twisted snaffle seems bit mean..... but there again safety is paramount i guess.......
 
Have you actually handled a twisted snaffle? I've ridden in one a couple of times and was horrified at the suggestion but actually the twist isn't sharpe and doesn't dig in on the ones I've seen, it simply helps to stop the horse leaning or taking hold. It was the shires one I used and one of the horses had rubbed himself badly leaning on a myler and was as happy as larry in a twisted snaffle.

I've felt sharper edges on happy mouth bits tbh.
 
What about a nelson waterford gag?

WaterNelsongag1.jpg
 
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