What bit for xc?

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Swirlymurphy

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New 14.2 for my 11 yo daughter can go like a bat out of hell xc - safe but fast apparently. He doesn't lean or take a pull, but covers a lot of ground quicker than necessary and I would like her have some brakes so she can get him into a nice rhythm and then let him bowl on.

At the moment she show jumps him in a three ring gag, reins on the first ring (ie not the bottom one) and the brakes are fine.

XC schooling in the three ring is fine, no problem.

I was think of a jointed prob french link pelham with roundings - just to give her the extra brakes if needs be. Someone suggested putting a flash strap under his jaw from top ring to top ring instead of trying the pelham. Does anyone have any experience of trying this, or any suggestions?

(After all this, we'll probably find out he's an absolute angel xc and additional brakes weren't necessary at all!)

Thanks for your help.
 
Maybe I'm being thick, but if he xc schools well in the 3 ring then why change it? Overbitting can cause as many problems as underbitting, so upping it "just in case" could be a mistake.

From a nitpicky pov I can't see the point in jointed pelhams, the joint negates the curb action - all you're left with is poll pressure in which case you may as well stick with the 3 ring!
 
i have a neue schule universal with a little leather curb strap. it's fab, not too severe, but assertive when need be and effective with just one rein. Quite a few people I know swear by them.
 
You're not being thick! XC schooling is fine - it's all stop and start and he never gets into his stride.

I don't even know for certain that there is a problem, it's just that previous owner has told me that he goes into his fences very fast when in competition. I am keen to prevent my daughter feeling that she is being run away with as she has recovered so well from a hideous accident three years ago but it takes very little to undermine her confidence.

So I am being an overprotective mum!

Re the jointed pelhams, I understand your point however I have always found horses to be more accepting of the lozenge in a french link or similar and that the action of the pelham isn't totally wiped out by this, ie it's a sort of halfway house between the three ring and the straight bar pelham. Not sure any of that makes sense but I have just had two very large glasses of red wine - sorry!

Thanks Baileyhoss with the neue schule suggestion. I will try that. We used to have one of their butterfly pelhams in a pony years ago and that was fantastic so I am a great fan of theirs.
 
Not sure to be honest, if in doubt I always use something with two reins..... found out the hard way with pelham & roundings on a farm ride on my lad (people kept telling me 2 reins were a pain even though I'm used to them, I went with it) and he went every single direction except forwards, and when I eventually had to just let him go, went like a bat out of hell....... Not fun.
Two reins however, we're fine, and this is what I'd prefer on anything if I was worried I might need a bit more, as you can control how much 'extra' you use. But, if your daughter isn't used to using two pairs of reins, they're going to be a handful, especially XC :/

However - random thought. Could you not get someone who isn't likely to be phased to either compete or just jump a larger number of fences at a schooling course in a row, see how he is? Or even your daughter, as there is always the option to pull up schooling if he starts to feel too much?

Sorry if that's just nonsense, just seeing if I could think of anything to help :)
 
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