Snaffle Suggestions

[MyLuckyStar]

Hi everyone

Sox used to be in a full cheek snaffle, but was then put in french link eggbutt and then a gag as he became fitter and stronger. However after his accident last May he now doesn't like poll pressure, I currently ride him in a sweet iron thin mouth loose ring snaffle but he is getting fitter again and although I've got breaks in walk and trot, I'm not 100% convinced I will at all times in canter.

I will be working on his schooling and transitions as much as possible to help with him leaning on me, but as we don't have a menage at our yard I'm limited as to when I can do this, we also hack mainly on bridlepaths so I struggle to turn him when he takes hold.

Like I say 99% of the time he is ok but sometimes does take hold and b*ggers off with me, if I hold him back he plunges himself on the spot.

Is there a stronger snaffle/bit that I can put him in but keep him comfortable?

 

[chestnut cob]

You can do loads of schooling out hacking! I have a young horse who gets stale in the school very quickly so I school all the time when we're hacking, which is what I mostly do with him. You can work on transitions - half halts (mine didn't understand these at all when I got him so taught them out hacking), use every crossroads at a road/junction as a reason to fully halt and stand still for a few seconds (that will help with his manners - the plunging on the spot is plain bad manners!). Transitions within the pace so walk on then slow the walk right down, walk on again, same in trot. Work on doing all of this from your seat and you'll have more chance of holding him when he tries to ****** off. I introduced lateral work out hacking too. If the roads are quiet or the bridlepaths are wide enough you can leg yield, shoulder fore/in, all sorts. There's no reason why you can't school out on a hack.

What noseband are you using? If he behaves most of the time then I'd be hesitant to change the bit (if he isn't usually strong) and might look at changing the noseband. Add a flash if you don't use one.

When you say he "takes hold", what do you mean? When cantering along bridleways? If he's really taking off with you and won't stop then he needs to learn that bridlepaths don't always = cantering. Walk out hacking, walk everywhere (a good marching walk), school and so on. Don't let him get fast enough to get into canter and take off.

 

[MyLuckyStar]

You can do loads of schooling out hacking! I have a young horse who gets stale in the school very quickly so I school all the time when we're hacking, which is what I mostly do with him. You can work on transitions - half halts (mine didn't understand these at all when I got him so taught them out hacking), use every crossroads at a road/junction as a reason to fully halt and stand still for a few seconds (that will help with his manners - the plunging on the spot is plain bad manners!). Transitions within the pace so walk on then slow the walk right down, walk on again, same in trot. Work on doing all of this from your seat and you'll have more chance of holding him when he tries to ****** off. I introduced lateral work out hacking too. If the roads are quiet or the bridlepaths are wide enough you can leg yield, shoulder fore/in, all sorts. There's no reason why you can't school out on a hack.

What noseband are you using? If he behaves most of the time then I'd be hesitant to change the bit (if he isn't usually strong) and might look at changing the noseband. Add a flash if you don't use one.

When you say he "takes hold", what do you mean? When cantering along bridleways? If he's really taking off with you and won't stop then he needs to learn that bridlepaths don't always = cantering. Walk out hacking, walk everywhere (a good marching walk), school and so on. Don't let him get fast enough to get into canter and take off.

He is in a flash at the moment - I was thinking of trying a grackle on him before changing the bit (although do need to get him a new bit as he's using my mares at the moment).

We never canter on the same spot all the time - sometimes we walk, sometimes we trot, sometimes we canter and sometimes we stand there for a bit first. Its when everyone goes into canter he gets a bit giddy and leans/takes hold.

 

[chestnut cob]

. Its when everyone goes into canter he gets a bit giddy and leans/takes hold.

That puts a different slant on things. Most horses are stronger in company. When you are with others, do they tell you when they are going to canter or just canter off? Can you keep him at the back of the group so he realises he can't bog off? What about the people you are hacking with - do they have control or do they just go hell for leather once they start cantering?

Do you only ever hack in company? If you hack alone then I'd maybe stick with your normal bit then (assuming he's well behaved then) and put in something stronger for when you're in company. A waterford snaffle might be worth thinking about? Useful bits.

 

[MyLuckyStar]

That puts a different slant on things. Most horses are stronger in company. When you are with others, do they tell you when they are going to canter or just canter off? Can you keep him at the back of the group so he realises he can't bog off? What about the people you are hacking with - do they have control or do they just go hell for leather once they start cantering?

Do you only ever hack in company? If you hack alone then I'd maybe stick with your normal bit then (assuming he's well behaved then) and put in something stronger for when you're in company. A waterford snaffle might be worth thinking about? Useful bits.

I don't hack out alone, mainly because I prefer company in case something goes wrong and I also dont have the confidence to take him out alone as he's quite spooky on his own.


My boyfriend is usually always in lead and we hack out with two young girls - one on my boyfriends giddy Anglo Arab and the other on her saint of a pony, they always have control and we never ever go off without telling each other due to the AA been loopy at times.

He is usually kept 2nd so that the AA can be blocked in if needs be and he's better in front of her as if hes behind then he goes faster as is in love with her lol