Suggestions for extra brakes out hunting?

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sloulou

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So - I took my 6 yr old TB x Irish Cob hunting for the first time on Sat and didn't change his tack at all.

Normally he has just a plain cavesson noseband and a NS demi anky full cheek bit. He is never even vaguely strong - in fact he is a little on the lazy side
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So - he was actually fine - but whilst he didn't pull - he didn't really listen to the stopping aids in a hurry - so I had a bit of a job to pull up without starting to ages before we caught up with people. Resulting in perhaps too much pull on his mouth
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This got worse when he got tired and he started to feel very heavy in my hands - which was the point that I decided to take him home.

Any ideas for what to use on Saturday when I go again? Have had following thoughts:

Drop noseband?
Something like a dutch gag - with two reins - so I don't have to use extra pressure unless i really need it
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Would expect pelham to make him more 'leany' I guess?

Don't want to over bit - but equally - would like something as a back up? Ideas?
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I like to use something with 2 reins if i am not sure how the horse will react. That way i have a snaffle rein if horsey stops
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and emergency brakes if it doesnt
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For your horse i would personally try the Dutch gag first.
Good luck and hope you have a great day
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An anchor? Sorry, serious head back on, if you don't ususally use a Gag would it not be too much of a shock to his system? I suppose the same would go for a Pelham with two reins, either that or, and this is where opinion can get divided, a Waterford. I've used one quite happily with different horses and whilst Tiggy managed to lean on it, she's the only one I've heard of. I know I have good hands (rubbish everything else, but hey), so could be why I've got on with the Waterford. Out of interest, why change his noseband? Does he open his mouth/cross his jaw? I think if you are going to make such major changes, you need to have a couple of days at least of him getting used to the new stuff, especially if this is going to be only his second time hunting.

Hope you have loads of fun
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L_I_M - that was my thinking - have a snaffle rein - plus another in case I need it...

MrsMozart - I've used a waterford before (not on him) - but I was hesitant to just go for a complete mouthpiece change and was worrying that something like a waterford doesn't give me the option of a snaffle rein...

Noseband was just another thought - to be honest I've not noticed him open his mouth - but someone else out hunting last week suggested it, so I thought he might be and I am wary of making too drastic a change to quickly - so that seemed like a way of potentially helping the brakes - of course would be useless if he doesn't open his mouth
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I can just take him in the snaffle again - but I just don't like hauling... seems wrong... Although I agree that in an ideal world I would try new stuff in advance - it's not possible before tomorrow
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Is second time hunting with me... He must have been before - I bought him in Ireland
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Should add that he was excellent last Sat
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You welcome
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Have fun!

Warning: when friend first used Pelham on her pone, although she was gentle as she wanted him to feel it before she needed it, he practically sat on his bottom! He goes luvverly in in now
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Depends on the horse. For a strong but mannerly horse or for a horse that goes with its head up a lot, I'd use a pelham with roundings (two reins can be a lot to handle out hunting). Gags will stop a horse but I don't know many horses that like them very much and if he's used to a snaffle, then it's a big step up in terms of brakes! For a leaning horse, I'd use a waterford (I always use full cheek ones so the bit doesn't pull through the mouth as much) and consider using a flash.

NB. Ho ho ho - yes, they're good the first time out but you wait until the 2nd/3rd time when they know what's coming! My horse will do everything in a snaffle bar hunting and then we need a pelham/martingale/the works...
 
LOL - you are right - I expect he might be a little more excited tomorrow!

I've had 2 reins before out hunting other beasts - but do take the point that one is easier out hunting
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Am so looking forward to going again - it's been 5 years since I last had a horse I can take - had this one a year now and have been desperate to take him - last sat was such great day!
 
If he puts his head up when he resists, a dutch gag or pelham will help bring it down.

If he sticks it down, then they will make it worse (as they are all poll pressure). In that scenario a waterford or running (cheltenham) - true- gag would be more effective.

Well done on the 2 reins, much preferable and fairer to the horse, and I just knot the second rein and ride on the snaffle unless/until I need the backup, actually he knows its there so he behaves!!
 
Cheltenham gags can actually have a lowering action depending how sensitive your horse is in the poll. Universals work well as a stepping stone, and you can put curb on the top ring to give a mild pelham action
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I had a TB mare that was very fussy in the mouth but very strong hunting, I found the best combination with her was a KK Ultra (normal bit) coupled with a kineton noseband. There was nothing extra in her mouth, but added pressure on her nose when she started to take a pull.
 
Another vote for the waterford dutch gag. I struggled for years hunting with my very strong 16hh Irish cob, got by with a vulcanite pelham but it bruised her tongue. The waterford gag with two reins works a treat!
 
My Mazzie was a snaffle mouth in the school, but out hacking I had to use a dutch gag on her, which she absolutely adored! (Weird mare) I had two sets of reins, one on top ring, one on bottom ring, and only used the bottom rein when she was going flat out and ignoring me. For polo on the other hand she was in a pelham and went very nicely indeed in it. Guess it really depends on you and the individual horse.
 
Actually - have an update on this!

I tried a pelham with 2 reins... which he went nicely in actually - BUT.... I only used the top rein most of the time as he wasn't pulling... and when I needed the braking power he openind his mouth, stuck his head up and stuck him tongue out
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So.... I wondered if something like a kimblewick with a flash, drop or grackle?
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Bit stuck actually... he didn't lean on the Pelham (oddly) even though he did on the Demi Anky...
 
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