showjumpers OVER-bit there horses?

ShowJumperBeckii

ShowJumperBeckii

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ok so theres me trying to find a nice soft bit with brakes and turning up to competions at bsja with a simple 3 ring gag or snaffle and theses people have about 4 reins about 7 loops going this way and that way
metal things going around the back on the bit and god knows what?
were do people get all this stuff its amazing at what these horses have on them or in there mouths
i can see why people have a go at me for using a pelham but some of these bits are just......odd? strange? never seen them in my life!!!

whats the point?
 
short cuts to get results.

If they take time to school in snaffle and get horse balanced you dont have to have horse in a milliion gadgets. Yes some need a stronger bit but in the most at lower levels i imagine its a comnination of not wanting to put work in and raz horse round course and secondly copying some of the top riders who all seem to have dead sheep half pads and big gags/ hackamores etc.
 
i think this really falls into two categories:

1) the people who think they know what they are doing/ think a whopping great bit shanked gag or something will make their jumping better/ want to 'look' like they know what they are doing etc

2) genuine pros or very good amateurs who use stronger bits and gadgets where appropriate but they have the skill to use such equipment and certainly at the top levels precision is much more important

does that make sense? FWIW i try to jump in a snaffle at all times, less fiddly to clean ;)
 
BSJAShowjumper123 said:
but it looks stupid specaily when the poor ponys only doing bn :/
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yep, but kids are too impressionable - look at the pros and what they use and try to copy, OR just dont have expertise, time or cant be bothered to put work in - just want to compete and not do the groundwork
 
I do agree what you're saying, but I would prefer a stronger bit in a horse whereby the rider only needs to use small half halts, then say, a snaffle, and the rider having to haul on the horses mouth to try and stop the horse. Maybe it does look stupid, but if what they're doing is nicer for their horse, then I am happier with that, then someone in a snaffle, with no control, hurting their horse through having to yank them around to try and stop.
 
I brake my horses using the maxwell halter, i find bits that mimic this halter work wonders with babies. I cant remeber what it was called but the bit had a soft rope that went over the nose and also had minor poll action, the mouth section was a series of light links, so very flexible and ideal to "mouth" on. The bit first acted on the nose then poll then mouth. My mares especialy went very well, light soft and round in this bit, tried ordinary bits and they didnt particulay like them.

I also had Ryan a small festy gelding who took about 5 years to find the right bit for him, it turned out that a bitless was the right one for him, from then on he was a lot softer and calmer.

When a horse is well schooled and balanced, a bit really doesnt need to come into play very much. Although with Ryan he was a sod, with another horse Slinky, I barely touched him, he was so sensitive he almost read my mind and reacted.

A bit is only as harsh as the hands that hold the reins.
 
BSJAShowjumper123 said:
ok so theres me trying to find a nice soft bit with brakes and turning up to competions at bsja with a simple 3 ring gag or snaffle and theses people have about 4 reins about 7 loops going this way and that way
metal things going around the back on the bit and god knows what?
were do people get all this stuff its amazing at what these horses have on them or in there mouths
i can see why people have a go at me for using a pelham but some of these bits are just......odd? strange? never seen them in my life!!!

whats the point?
Click to expand...

4 reins?? I highly doubt you'll ever see more than 2 reins at once and with many bits or combination bits it's correct to use 2 reins. In fact a pelham should technically be used with 2 reins (though many use one with roundings successfully). As for 7 loops? I've never seen any more than 1 loop and that would be to make something that's meant to be used with 2 reins useable with a single rein. By metal things going round the back I assume you mean a curb? Yes you can buy these in many variations but metal (other than a chain which is the most common) isn't seen that often. Mikmar make them.

I wouldn't call a 3 ring gag simple. If you use it with a single rein on the bottom ring that's pretty severe. They should be used with 2 reins and a curb strap - but hardly anyone does.

Bitting has advanced massively over the years. A lot of what people use is about fashion. Same goes for flash nosebands. However, I also think some of the more modern bits are a lot more comfortable for Horses. Many take into account the shape of their mouth etc.

I have no issue in seeing what would be classed as a strong bit in an experienced hand. However, many people resort to them for the wrong reason. That said a single jointed snaffle is not the mild bit many people think it is. Your Horse will tell you what he or she is happy with should you choose to listen. Mine for example can get very strong but I use a ported mullen mouth on a dalehead cheek. Because he's comfortable in his mouth with this I've never felt the need to use the rein on one of the leverage rings so it's basically a mullen snaffle with tongue room which is really mild. The only thing I do for jumping is to put him in a grackle. He's happy with this. If people paid more attention to comfort they might find their Horses listened more. After all, they lean into pain instinctively.

Good quote 'You are better with a bucketfull of hands than a bucketfull of bits'!!

If you want to see them all (bits not hands!), look at Risley Saddlery website.
 
Hmm i get the point but not all strong bits are worn just as show!

I school all of mine in a snaffle at home - and hack too.

BUT i couldnt hold one side of a couple of mine in the ring in a snaffle - im not a big person and iw ould rather have a bit that i can have a gentle pull on and it being effective rather than having to haul and saw at a horses mouth in say a snaffle.

ALL bits have the ability to me 'harsh' if the hands on the other end are ****...
 
BSJAShowjumper123 said:
i can see why people have a go at me for using a pelham but some of these bits are just......odd? QUOTE]

The problem is - your hands were not the best in your video and your pony needs more schooling - not just bitting up so u can half ride it.

As stated above - stronger bits can, and do, have there place - but only with the right hands to start with and never as a quick fix.

Sorry if thats blunt.
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