Strong out hacking - bit/noseband advice?

A

AmyP28

Member
Joined
3 November 2023
Messages
16
Visit site
I’m sure this is done to death but looking for bit/noseband advice for my gelding who is strong out hacking please.

He’s currently in a full cheek snaffle with a running martingale. To school he can be a little heavy in the hand but we have regular lessons and this is improving all the time. He was a pretty backwards pony when I first got him but he’s certainly now learnt that forwards is good!!

To hack out he can be spooky (though much better in company) and if we go off-road he has a tendency to start trotting and piaffing like a Grand Prix horse!! Neck becomes tucked in (wish he’d do this nicely in the school😂) and he will not walk, especially if he is at the back. Today I hacked in company and I daren’t have a canter as I felt totally out of control with no breaks.

Hacking alone he’s even worse, trotting home and head tossing as he finds it quite scary - if anything spooks him he will bomb off and I can barely stop him which feels fairly dangerous. I rarely hack alone now but struggle to get enough exercise for him otherwise.

I really dont like the thought of “bitting up” and have had his teeth, saddle and back checked, plus we regularly school, have lessons and do groundwork. My issue is I don’t have an arena at home so I have to hack safely and feel I just need more breaks/control to enable this. I’m sure he will come good after more schooling & when hacking becomes less scary for him but in the meantime would anyone recommend a bit or noseband I could try for hacking only please? Would a flash help? I’ve considered trying a Wilkie too and will run by my riding instructor next week.

Thanks all!
 
Best to team up with a friend who may have some different bits for you to try, what helps with one horse may not with another.

And I am of the firm opinion in that it’s better to have something stronger and not have to use it than to be pulling on a snaffle constantly. I don’t think snaffles are kind if they are not effective.

Hopefully, someone with more experience of bitting may come on and advise you.
 
He sounds very similar to my Westphalian Kaltblut mare.

She responded very well to a NS Universal with 2 reins. I rode her mostly on the snaffle rein but could bring the curb rein into play if she got too strong. It meant that I could keep my hands light and we never got into a tug of war. She had run away with a previous owner, so I needed to be able to communicate effectively with her.
 
Amy May In A Manger said:
How old is the horse, how long have you had them, and what's their life experience?
Click to expand...
Hello - he is 7, I’ve had him 18 months. He hadn’t done much at all when I bought him but has always been a spooky hacker. He is much less silly when hacking out with one of his field mates but can still get strong if something ‘new’ happens and I think he’s getting worse as he’s becoming more confident!! He’s better on roads as he’s barefoot (don’t think it’s very pleasant to tank off on the tarmac) but off-road I feel totally out of control… thank you
 
It sounds like he has a bit too much energy. Have you thought of cutting hus feed back?
NS universal is a good call for added control.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top