Thoughts please, need more brakes recommended NS Elevator

meesha

meesha

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6 year old ISH currently in French link full cheek snaffle, perfect for schooling, low key hacking but for faster work e.g. galloping or cantering in groups and hunting I need more brakes. Horse never puts head up but tends to tuck in and can be heavy in hand when doing faster work (v light in hand otherwise) has also started to snatch head down on faster rides in anticipation I think! Tried waterford on snaffle rein and he hated it, ran on when asked to slow which hadn't ever done before when on quieter hack. Tried French link gag 3 ring, tucked behind vertical out hunting.

Rang bit bank and they suggested NS elevator, in my limited knowledge this looks too much like the 3 ring gag I tried! Anyone got any suggestions or experience of the elevator?

Thanks all!
 
My horse tucked behind the vertical in any kind of gag, head on his chest and got very uptight. Doormouse on here suggested a pelham and I've been through a few to find the right one. We are currently using an NS slimma show pelham and it is working brilliantly. Horse is relaxed and happy in it as the poll pressure is far less. Just an idea.
 
I tried an elevator on my strong mare. May as well have had a snaffle in! She would just bury her head and go.
I then went for a long shank myler combination bit and my mare loves it. Loads of breaks in that one!
 
Thanks guys have a Cheltenham gag with cord not leather sides and also a pelham so may try those first. Cheltenham gag first as can ride off snaffle rein with other as backup although 2 reins a bit of pain but may knot gag rein so sits on neck unless required. Might save me splashing out £100!!
 
We have an NS elevator on a strong ISH. Bought for Junior BS; now eventing. That bit was the making of him and every effort to switch out for something "milder" has not yet been successful.

He came to us with a bubble gag for jumping and a single joint full cheek for flat work. He would run along like a giraffe with his head tipped to one side. All the usual checks, experienced instructor etc... We tried a 3 ring gag - he just went above the bit even more. Tried a pelham - he grabbed it, tucked in and leaned. Tried a mylar pelham - he hated it. Went through all the usual family of snaffles, joints etc. Tried a waterford snaffle - not bad. Hunted about 1/2 a season in it before he got bored and it was no longer effective - being a waterford the last thing I wanted anyone to be doing is pulling! The bit bank suggested an NS elevator and he never looked back. Its made all the difference for him.

He does dressage in an NS Baucher and we have been working with a Mylar Combi as I wonder if in fact he would be happier bitless (not for hunting!). But nothing has suited him as well as that elevator.

They are expensive - but you can hire them for 30 days and see if it works for you.
 
It depends on how you use it - there are a number of different rein positions which makes it a very versatile bit.

Reins on the middle ring and the action is similar to an extended baucher - a small amount of poll pressure; but not much. The mouthpeice rotating and lifting slightly. Reins on the bottom ring and the action becomes more similar to a classic gag with a more pronounced poll pressure, more rotation etc. You can use two reins, or roundings, to give a mix of the two actions. And you can add a curb strap to the top rings to give pressure under the jaw. The long side pieces give better communication of the turning aids - like a full cheek. You can choose a tranz angled lozenge or a waterford as the mouthpeice. The action of the lozenge (if you choose it) is more pronounced with reins on the lower ring.
 
I have my Welsh in a John Whittaker universal (copper bullet mouthpiece) with connections on the two triangle bits for jumping and hacking. I combined it with a grackle and we now have steering along with the brakes. It's a handy bit as you can change how it attaches and thus the strength. He too would break half way up the neck and go deep and become unrideable and plough on. This bit needs a half half and it lifts his head up and checks him. He came in a waterford but he just tucked his head in and didn't go into the contact.

A Cheltenham might be good if only intermittently have a brakes problem as it has two reins, but that's the right idea to get the head lifted up. Tucked in is the worst! There's nothing you can do.
 
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Not tried an elevator but my strong pony goes best in a straight bar happy mouth loose ring for schooling and a straight bar rubber pelham for fast and jumping its on roundings as the young rider finds a handful of rein a bit much but would likely be better with two reins
 
Have a very strong welshie who was terrifying on XC course. After much research I brought a NS tactio turtle balding. It was life changing. Expensive but worth every penny.
Only use it occasionally in high octane moments or as a little reminder. She knows when it goes in as she pulls the most hilarious faces but as you only need to touch the reins gently to get a reaction I don't believe it is hurting her.
In fact most of the time my reins look like washing lines.
 
Have put a pelham on with roundings to try in lesson if no good will try the Cheltenham gag then if all else fails get elevator, thank Shay for feedback, only thing I find odd is that they recommended it to you as you had a giraffe but also recommended it to me when mine never does a giraffe but if anything will tuck behind bit!! Bit confused (excuse the pun!)
 
It is said to raise the head - but I must admit I've never quite understood that as it isn't the action I had seen. It certainly caused ours to lower his head from giraffe, but not tuck behind which is what he had done in the pelham family. Perhaps the contact is just that much more comfortable for him so he doesn't evade.

Bitting is so complex these days (or so I tell myself to justify the ever increased bag of bits...)
 
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