Very strong ponio, any experiences with the pee wee bit? or others???

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wizzi901

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I am sure this has been done many times before, but having done a search I cannot find much on this forum about the pee wee...(then again I am not the best with pc's!!).

I have a 14.2 VERY stocky and strong section D x. At the weekend I had to retire him from a XC class as he was running away from my leg and the bit and simply not right at all.

He has always been strong and fast but this was different. I called my equine dentist out who found the current 3 ring gag on the last ring (which to date has been the only thing i can hold him in) doesnt suit him and was pulling too high up in the mouth causing him issues on a previous bruising and sore bit that he had when i bought him (not sure what went on before!!).

I have tried a normal hackamore which is fine for walk and trot but no control whatsoever in other gears....waterford, pelham, normal snaffles, wilkie, you name it I have tried it. My only options left to try to keep him under some control and out of pain is possibly a pee wee or long shank hackamore....although not entirely convinced on that one!

Has anyone here had any experience good or bad with the pee wee (which I am tempted to trial first) or long shank hackamore (german) with this type of solid neck pony that is all up front on the forehand...

And yes we have tried going back to basics reschooling but at 15 he isnt going to change much!!

Any advice or ideas appreciated.....
 
I'll admit that I don't know what a pee-wee is !!

But a friend of mine used to have a 13.1hh that was the strongest puller ever.

She alternated between an eggbutt snaffle or a Dr Bristol with a Kineton noseband and running martingale kept quite short.

I rode him in both and found the Dr Bristol / Kineton gave me much more control but then I wasn't used to being run away with like my friend was!!
 
I got the pee wee bit on trial for different reasons to you, to try and help/correct a tongue habit, which it didnt. Its just like an expensive very thin mullen snaffle. The part thats supposed to act as a curb IMO has no effect at all as it is just an extra loop attached by an unfixed piece of metal. Sorry its hard to explain but the curb rein on say a pelham is fixed to a solid shank where as the pee wee's shank isnt solid????
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so god knows how it gives any poll or curb pressure
Back to the brakes, I lunged him first and he tried to bog off with me and it did stop him pretty sharpish, I actually felt cruel as he was shocked. Riding though was different, I felt like I had no control at all, even turning.
I know you cant find it on here but it has been discussed before and some people did find it helped them.
I would definately hire one first though.
 
have you tried a cheltenham gag? no experience of the pee wee I'm afraid.
ets with two reins so you only use the gag action when stopping isnt looking likely on the snaffle rein.
 
friend had her horse in a pee wee bit, and it seemed very mild, a lot milder than a snaffle it seemed on this horse and we had it on the strongest possible.
 
I'm sure you've tried this but gonna note it down neway- have you tried a flash with any of these bits?

Just mentioning it as my cob is VERY strong in competition and I was considering changing his bit but someone said to try him in a flash first.

Has worked WONDERS for us XD
 
hiya

Yep tried drop, grackle he was happier with, flash etc, sharp edges on his teeth wouldnt have helped much but problem I have with other bits is I have to pull so hard it is affecting some tissue just before his rear double teeth (if that makes sense).

Keep hearing differing views on pee wee, looking at it I just cannot imagine him being happy with it and SJ wise not sure I would be able to steer!!

He just pulls for england, occasionally if i ask for a half halt it works for one stride, any reward is short lived as I have to pull again!!! Some is excitement and some is just what i think he has found easier to work on the forehand than use his bum!!
 
I have one
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Although not stocky built when she wants to she can pull for england on a gag but i use double reins on a pelham and she needs a lot less holding back and a lot less contact (she holds her own contact with this ) and tightening of the reins means she changes pace with little strength worth a try. Also have you tryed a combination hackamore which invoolves both a snaffle and hackamore attached (mostly seen by robert whitaker) gives you strength and turning
 
Some random thoughts as the Dextercet missile used to pull my arms out so badly that i used to swap with Rog after an hours hunting
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Have you tried putting a back strap on the 3 ring? it gives some curb action which also helps stop it sliding up so high.
If he sticks his head up then how about a market harborough?
I did borrow a peewee but it made zero difference.
Waterford- dex found he couldnt "grab" and run through it.
Globe pelham is my secret weapon and i LOVE it!

I have to say the breakthrough was having dressage lessons to get him to self carriage rather than leaning on my hands all the time.

I have a vast selection of brakes if you want to borrow some?? Dex's stuff will fit C!
 
I've had very similar problems and tried everything. German hackamore gave me brakes but no steering, was going to try it with a rubber snaffle which is supposed to help steering, but before that I tried a waterford dutch gag. It was a revelation! It seems he doesn't like a solid jointed bit in his mouth but the flexibility of a waterford suits him, he's virtually stopped pulling (has the odd moment but is generally ok!) and is so much happier in his mouth. I'd say it's well worth a try.
 
you've tried a lot, I would also consider some sort of combination bit so that you aren't just pulling on his mouth but exerting nose pressure too.
 
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