What bit would be best for SJ n XC...

[Hollyhorse]

I event my horse and use a 3-ring gag for the jumping phases - on the 2nd ring for showjumping and the 3rd ring for cross-country. He seems to go really well with this, but when the osteo was here for a checkup last week he said my horse is really sore at his poll and so I should avoid poll pressure, which is the main action of the gag! So I'm looking at what alternatives I could use... My horse has a really soft mouth (wears a rubber straight bar eggbutt for dressage!!) and is really sensitive - I can't use rubber loose-rings as they rub his lips and move through his mouth and can't use rubber links as he chews the rubber in the centre making it really sharp. He's got quite a small mouth for a 16.2, normally 5 - 5.25 and has a big tongue so I can't use chunky mouthpieces. I'm not really sure what my options are as most combination bits use poll pressure... He's not a strong horse, I first jumped him in a snaffle but he wouldn't stop, if you were to pull and be strong with him he just shortens and bunches up in the canter, sometimes he'd be literally cantering on the stop before he'd trot! However I don't have this problem in the gag. He's just excitable and a naturally forward horse so I don't want to bit him up (if I put him in something severe he'd just stop and rear as this is his 'coping' strategy) and I want to have something at the end of the rein so I can feel him taking me, I just need some braking and steering for skinnies. Any ideas?!

 

[username223]

have you tried using a different noseband? my horse is similar.. has a very soft mouth on the flat, she just tends to get a bit forward towards jumps, not in a horrible way at all! but i had basically the same problem as you becuase she reacts quite violently to poll pressure (tried her in the 3 ring and with a tiny bit of pressure she just ran along on her back legs, throwing her head up everywhere!) so i tried a worcester noseband (it connects to the bit) pic : http://www.stallions-uk.co.uk/ScriptLibrary/photo.php?327_1.jpg
it works by using nose pressure rather than poll pressure and it really worked with my mare, i finally had control doing tight turns and checking her when i went XC, and you can use your normal bit too =]

 

[hellybelly6]

Hi, I was thinking along the lines of a mullen mouth pelham or kimblewick, but both have poll pressure to a certain extent.

Snaffles seem to not quite be enough for your horse so I wonder if a Dr Bristol would do the job, as it is without poll pressure. A Dr Bristol can be turned when way or another so that it has less tongue pressure or more as required.