Very difficult horse to bit for hunting - suggestions?

[kit279]

Went draghunting today in a Neue Schule lozenge pelham with a curb chain. At first when walking him around, I thought it might be a bit much for him as he has a very sensitive mouth and likes to jump in a Nathe straight bar.

The problem is that he loves his hunting, he is big and strong and I cannot hold him (am small and weedy) when he starts to gallop. He is a full TB and that means that when he gets going, we overtake the field master - clearly not ideal. But the purpose of hunting him is to teach him to stand off a little from his fences as he likes to slow down, have a look and get deep to his fences which wastes time eventing - he is a careful horse. So although I am getting pissed off with, the bit is too sharp for him at the fences so he is not taking them on in quite the way I would like.

So any thoughts as to what sort of bit I can use for him? He is very much a head up kind of horse so a gag bit would not be what I would choose for him although I'm open to suggestion.


The only other option I can think of is to get a big strong man to hunt him in his snaffle!!

Any thoughts?

 

[chestnut cob]

What bit do you usually ride him in? I'm guessing from your OP that you don't usually ride/jump him in that Neue Schule bit.

 

[connie1288]

Perhaps a nathe pelham:
http://www.equiport.co.uk/product_detail.cfm?pId=362
or a happy mouth one would probably be cheaper!!!

 

[HoHum]

I found that an American gag ( in my case with a straight bar happy mouth) worked very well for hunting. It tucked his chin towards his chest so more difficult for him to get that initial charge off. I've not seen any one do it, but I'd think you could use with two reins, seeming more like his "normal" bit on approach to jumps

 

[spacefaer]

double bridle - you can keep the bridoon rein into the fence and use the weymouth with curb when you need brakes

 

[Starbucks]

Sounds a bit like Badger. He doesn't like anything strong but anything non strong and I don't have much control!

I had a go with a myler combination which seamed to work but I only used it once and gave it back to who I borrowed it from.

I tend to just go with a snaffle and pass the FM!

 

[MrWoof]

Went draghunting today in a Neue Schule lozenge pelham with a curb chain. At first when walking him around, I thought it might be a bit much for him as he has a very sensitive mouth and likes to jump in a Nathe straight bar.

The problem is that he loves his hunting, he is big and strong and I cannot hold him (am small and weedy) when he starts to gallop. He is a full TB and that means that when he gets going, we overtake the field master - clearly not ideal. But the purpose of hunting him is to teach him to stand off a little from his fences as he likes to slow down, have a look and get deep to his fences which wastes time eventing - he is a careful horse. So although I am getting pissed off with, the bit is too sharp for him at the fences so he is not taking them on in quite the way I would like.

So any thoughts as to what sort of bit I can use for him? He is very much a head up kind of horse so a gag bit would not be what I would choose for him although I'm open to suggestion.


The only other option I can think of is to get a big strong man to hunt him in his snaffle!!

Any thoughts?

A Double Bridle, a Cheltenham Gag with two reins, a Scurrier or a Sam Marsh Pelham.