Ror classes- bits

Pharphar!

Pharphar!

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i'm hoping to start showing my exracer in the ror classes, only prob is i dont know what bit to use! he's very strong and i currently ride him in a universal gag for jumping and a cartwheel/wilkie bit for schooling but im conscious these arent allowed for showing and for eventual dressage. I do try to use the wilkie as a snaffle bit also as dont wnt to be hauling on his mouth. He leans on the bit which is another problem and he has quite a sensitive mouth so i dont want anything too severe. Anything with a lozenge would prob be ideal too. Ive looked at the hanging cheek snaffle but theres a big conflict between whether or not it encourages poll pressure or not, and he does have a tenadancy to throw his head when he starts to canter!

Please please help, i need a bit of control with some slight poll pressure and somthing dressage and ror class legal!

Also, does anyone know in the ror classes what they're looking for conformation wise? my lad is very heavy set, described as old type TB so wondered if there were seperate groupings for finer and heavier/hunter types.

Thanks
 
My sister does local ROR classes, they all do them in double bridles or pelhams, always double reins. Pelham is less severe so add it with a mullen happy mouthpeice if you want the least severe option for a ROR class, and of course its all in the hands of the rider as too how harsh any bit can be more of less.
For dressage, im not expert btw but at prelim and novice I think its only snaffle bridle allowed, so it would be a different bit to ROR anyway until you get above novice. Hanging cheek snaffle is dressage legal and a mouthpeice that is double jointed with a single roller in the centre is also allowed. These are the strongest dressage bits you could ride in.
http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/uploads/File/Rules 2008/BD_Rulebook 2008 2.pdf page 6 of this are the permitted bits.
 
thanks for the advice, i'm just worried about using a double bridle or pelham due to the tqo reins issue, i'm not sure how to hold them tbh! sounds daft i know but i'm easily confused! :rolleyes:
 
Just read your reply on my thread, i believe a snaffle is accepted in some cases but it seems pelham/double bridle is ideal. Honestly double reins is SO simple, as daunting as it looks it's not hard at all, and i'm really easily confused!

I'll be taking my boy in some form of snaffle, but he's only 5 and is in very early stages of schooling so i don't want to over bit him :)
 
http://www.classicaldressage.net/members/lesson_pages/spurs_doublebridle.html

This page is very helpfull, at the bottom it has photo guides as to how to hold the double reins.
It can take a while to get used to but the thing to remember is that the bottom rein that has the curb action is the one with the severity, dont let it hang loose but only give a little tweak if your horse it not responding as asked.
Your horse will need lots of time to get used to a double bridle if you chose to use one.

A couple of other pointers!
for ROR classes are your horse should be plaited up. Have an individual show prepared. Also have a helper to hand, in some classes you may be asked to remove your saddle and trot up in hand so its good to practise that too.
If you arnt used to showing I would say they are actually one of the nicest to try as someone new to it all, at local level. Frequently you can regognise in other the usual racehorse hastles ! They arnt the push button type and people involved in ROR appreciate that and are totally sympathetic if they just trow a tizzy !

Ooh and re your conformation Q, It is partially covered by conformation, I would say they like them to look not fat but not the skinny type either, well muscled and bulked up, we feed ours a conditioning feed.

Charl :)
 
you can show in a snaffle in ror classes - I tend to use a french link pelham as he takes more of a hold when we are out and about but ll our schooling at home is done in a wilkie. In the last class that I did there were at least 5 horses in normal snaffles.
 
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