Serious brakes needed!

J

jsr

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Soooo after a disasterous days out Drag Hunting (or attempted but aborted I should say!) I need some major brakes needed for the little fella. He's a typical cob and unfortunately I made a error of judgement and got him extreamly fit and now he have absolutely no brakes when out with the hunt. He's in a NS universal gag with grackle and for XC and jumping it's absolutely perfect! For hacking out and beach gallops (I'm lucky to live near some sandy beaches so we have lots of fun) I ride him on the snaffle with no nose band so he's not a silly horse it's literally just for hunting we need some more communication!!

YO has suggested I try her Happy Mouth American Gag with the grackle but what do people think? I've tried a dutch gag last year but that ripped his mouth, he prefers a thinner mouth peice and I really don't want to damage him. One person even suggest a bitless bridle because when he goes he puts his head to his chest and I'm literally carrying his whole weight in my hands. Doesn't help my hands are fairly painful at the moment I think I'm starting with arthritis in them so after 30mins of his weight you can imagine the pain!!

Any suggestions would be appreciated of what to try?:confused:
 
The bit you are using will bring his head down which you don't want.

Cheltenham gag to bring his head up and two reins of course.
Maybe try one with a Waterford mouthpiece?



Why the grackle? Jaw crossing or opening mouth to evade?
 
s4sugar said:
The bit you are using will bring his head down which you don't want.

Cheltenham gag to bring his head up and two reins of course.
Maybe try one with a Waterford mouthpiece?



Why the grackle? Jaw crossing or opening mouth to evade?
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Jaw crossing. I kept saying that about any of the gag bits but was told otherwise. I've never ridden in 2 reins I'd be a bit nervous to try, I'm hoping to take him out next Sat do you think that's enough practice time if I work with 2 reins this week? He's such a good horse usually but gets brain freeze when hunting and becomes a monster!!
 
Another vote for Tom thumb, works wonders with my boy, thin mouth piece, and rollers to stop him grabbing a hold of the bit. It's really lightened him up in front :)
 
What action does the Tom Thumb have do you know? I like the idea of the thinner mouth piece, he's got big fat cobby mouth so thicker ones cut him. :( I'm assuming I can still use the grackle with the TT?
 
yes i agree with using a tom thumb he needs something to bring his head up the poll pressure will bring his head down but he wont be able to grab the bridle as of the rollers on the bit hopefully causing a nice inbetween :) if this doesnt work try a bit without poll pressure and just the rollers :)
 
My old horse was uncontrollable out hunting, but a mexican grakle and a cheltenham gag on 2 reins (promise it's easy to cope with, especially if you have different coloured/ covered reins so you can easily tell the difference!) meant I could vaguely stop him...
 
Try a Colne gag which has the action of the Cheltenham but has bit cheeks and a copper roller centre. This should suit a fleshy mouth and isn't so far from his current mouthpiece.
Remember you have to purchase the gag cheeks when you buy a Cheltenham bit.

I used to hunt in a rubber kimblewick & scrawbridge with two reins - not conventional but it worked.
 
I also have a cob and ride her in a universal gag for hacks and all competitions, but also lost control out hunting!

I now have her in a Cheltenham gag for hunting, with just one rein on attached to the gag cheeks, I know it's ideal to use this bit with 2 reins, but find it too much of a handful hunting, and can normally drop the contact while moving forward and use it gently to stop so she's still happy!! She also knows that I have more control in this one, so doesn't seem to pull too much, and is also in a mexican grackle as she opens her mouth and crosses her jaw - she can be a bit of a diva when she wants to be!!

Good luck and happy hunting!
 
My mare rides very heavy on the forehand so I use a Cheltenham gag for jumping to lift her head works very well.

I use it will just 1 rein... It's preferable to use 2 but with everything else I was getting used to at the time (& not having trained much for 3 years) double reins would have just complicated things. Most important thing is to make sure that you don't have an uneven hold on the reins.

I am however hoping to teach myself how to use double reins this winter.. I think its much more preferable when using it for prolonged periods of time & as I hope to eventually jump in a snaffle.

Good luck with the brakes!
 
Have you put a leather curb on the universal? It works a treat and is my preference to switching to a Tom Thumb, tried both on my cob out hunting with a grackle and universal plus leather curb was ace.
 
Old Bat said:
Have you put a leather curb on the universal? It works a treat and is my preference to switching to a Tom Thumb, tried both on my cob out hunting with a grackle and universal plus leather curb was ace.
Click to expand...

Oh hadn't thought of that!!! Thank you sounds like a ideal solution. Read up on Tom Thumb and after 7 years of riding my lad I'm not as light in the hands as I'd like to be so I'm not sure I want to go down that route. I'll give this a go with the curb if not I'll borrow a Cheltenham and try it with 1 rein, then get my instructor to give me some lessons with the 2, as I said though my hands are not as good as they were so I might find it a struggle to hold 2.

Thanks so much lots of really useful info.
 
I used a Cheltenham with one rein for my lad and was careful to ensure I only applied the brakes when really necessary...changed from a complete loon who hung his whole 17hh frame off my arms on a fun ride (rest of time in snaffle) into the normal, can ride on buckle chap I'm used to. The fact that he respected the bit made for a very enjoyable day with plenty of jumping and galloping and I'm sure I was far kinder to him than when I had a vicelike death grip on the snaffle!

Good luck and have fun!
 
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