Strong horse..hunter trial coming up fast!...PLEASE HELP!

[username223]

I have a 15.2 connemara x TB mare, and when I take her XC I just cannot slow her down! I can showjump her in a loose ring french link snaffle, and she is fine - not strong at all. She absolutely loves XC, it's her strength but recently its going downhill! When competing or schooling XC, she is so bloody strong round the course, and when I (try) to slow her down before the jump, she just doesn't listen, she pricks her ears forward, puts her head as high as she can and just charges at the jump with no control whatsoever! It is beginning to affect her jumping now - because she gets so forward and doesn't listen to me, she often gets her striding completely wrong and refuses because she is too close to the jump to possibly jump it, and the thing is that it's only when I try and string a few jumps together that she does it, she just gets too excited! She's fine in the school and SJ, and jumping single jumps XC like I said, and I have literally tried all schooling exercises, and as much as I don't want to bit her up, I feel it's the last resort! She is in a 3 ring dutch gag on the bottom hole with a flash noseband and running martingale at the moment and it has no effect at all...any suggestions? Thanks

 

[clairel]

Don't know if I can be much help, but I'll try!
My horse does exactly the same thing (see neurotic eventer posts in CR), except he is strong sj too. Thought I had brakes sorted with a 3 ring gag on bottom hole and flash, but had a nasty fall at an event a few weeks ago due to very strong over bold horse. After this decided enough was enough and put him in an american gag and grackle. It has taken him a couple of runs to get used to it but I can definately stop him and can let him gallop on in between fences as I now trust I can get him back! Sorry for rambling a bit and don't know if this is any help to you as it is quite a severe alternative!
Perhaps a pelham with roundings or split reins?

Oh and also get someone on the ground to watch and see if she is opening her mouth or crossing her jaw as another noseband may help in this case?

 

[Sprout]

My daughter used to ride her pony in a French Link, but when he started getting a bit strong XC and a bit heavy on the forehand, she tried ( on her instructress's advice ) a Tom Thumb, and it is brilliant.

 

[SouthWestWhippet]

My old horse was very strong XC. Like yours she would then get her striding wrong and end up jumping akwardly.

I tried a few things but ended up in a kimberwick with a grackle noseband which did the trick and meant I had control without having to haul on her mouth all the way round.

 

[Wilbur_Force]

I have found the Dr Bristol to be really good and worth a try.