Solutions anyone??

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popsfred

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I have a 16.2hh warmblood which I took on a hound ride in the summer and two hunts, he became quite excited and proceeded to yank me forward and gallop with his head almost on the ground when the field cantered, I rode him in a snaffle twice (giving him the benefit of the doubt) and then a gag, which had no effect. He doesn't slow when the rest of the field or horses in front slow or stop and I think that he would happily plough through them and keep going. I would like to hunt him again this season where we can BOTH enjoy the hunt without me having my arms pulled out of their sockets for 3 hours. I have been riding for 24 years and am fairly experienced and able to stop him, but am running out of ideas,any suggestions would be appreciated :0
 
That's a tricky one! if he puts his head to the ground you need a bit to bring his head up, would a pelham help?

Have you tried anything other than a gag?

Is he ok when you hack and school him?
 
What type of gag did you use?

As there are 2 different types,
1 lowers the head (wouldn't help you much!) like the 3 ring gag or dutch gag.
2. A running gag lifts the head.

A cheltenham gag, which is where the cheek pieces are fed through the bit rings & the reins attach directly to them lift the head.
I have this with a waterford mouth piece for breaks. Only took me 3 seasons hunting to sort the breaking & steering issue out!
Now I ride him on the snaffle rein but I have the gag rein for back up should I need it. So you can effectively ride with just a snaffle but have the extra for when you need.
 
Rode him in the cheltenham gag with double reins, ended up riding with just the bottom rein only, which still had little effect. I have been advised that the Waterford may be an option, tried the pelham. I school and hack in a jointed snaffle and as long as I keep a short rein he is fine, however it is difficult to keep his head up using my strength for 3 hours. I have put him in grass reins, but am not sure if you can jump in them.
 
Would a market harbourgh help keep his head up? I don't know - sorry!

I feel sorry for you being tanked around for 3 hours, my horse gets excited and yanks at the bit but then I found he had a teeth/mouth problem, so I had the dentist down yesterday for major grinding work.

I start him again at the weekend - fingers crossed this has/will stop it but if not I am going to try a waterford as he pulls my arms out!
 
It wasn't much fun, I think that I will try the Waterford to begin with, have also heard that a kimblewick is quite good for horses that pull ;)
 
Hi don't know if this will help you but I ride my pony in a kimblewick she can be very strong out hunting i drag hunted her first and when i took her fox hunting for the first time when everyone stopped wile hounds drew the cover she took off head on the floor and over took everyone including the huntsman! but now i hunt her and lead a 5 year old child on a shetland keeping up with the hunt! The bit has helped a lot but what has realy settled her down is the fact that she has done 7 seasons now. sometimes it just takes time for them to lurn there job. Hope this is of some help and you find what works for you and your horse. Good luck. laura and lucy.
 
I second the waterford gag with two reins, it solved all my pulling/leaning issues where all else failed...
 
I have a very strong 16.2hh, used to be in a pelham but was recomended into a waterford dutch gag - last time i tried it out in the field just about held him back, still killed my arms all the way round. Iv just had to admit that really the bit is better than the snaffle and does stop him bombing off completley but no bit is going to work miracles, hence we are going back to a trainer and working more on our control and really getting him to listen to my comands, not whatever he fancys doing! I have been recomended to try a myler bit though - Maby you could look into those? i dont know much about them but have heard good things from people on them
 
I would second the waterford. I was getting fed up with Odds tanking off with me and someone I know that breeds cobs recommended the waterford. So I bought a basic loose ring waterford and have never looked back. He used to just put his head down and charge! The first time I tried him in it he went to put his head down and do the usual and you could almost see the !? above his head! He then cantered on nicely for a while, had a think, thought to try once more, again the!?, and then, never again, good as gold. I truly think that a bit is only as cruel as the hands on the reins (within reason of course) and would far rather use something like waterford than keep sawing away at his mouth with a snaffle!
 
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