What Bit would you recommend for my horse?

[alinni1336]

I have a new horse who likes taking off after a jump every now and then but she is chilled before jumps. She has a sensitive mouth, when you "pull" her she throws her head up trying to evade the contact. I currently ride her in a happy mouth Portuguese gag (3rings) with rein connecters but she still runs through my hand.

I don't want to hear, oh she may have this or that problem that is why she runs off after the jump. She has been checked, she is healthy and all her tack fits.

Thanks

 

[Lgd]

Speak to Gail Johnson at www.horsebithire.com
Can highly recommend her. She came to our yard yesterday to do a bitting clinic.
I now have a happy 3yo with his first bit, solved the curling and steering problem with my recently backed 5yo stallion, and managed to find a bit my 20yo was happy with and gave me decent control. The latter I really did wonder if we would find something as she has melanoma in her mouth/round her lips which is affecting the contact as she is less sensitive due to the tumours (tried bitless - epic fail). I was keen to find a snaffle but horse decided on a pelham after trying 5 different bits. All the others went well in the first bit she selected including a friend's slightly batty ex-racer who went on the bit consistently for the first time ever.

 

[wkiwi]

If she is evading the contact, then it may be that she needs re-schooling to accept the bit rather than going for a more 'controlling' bit. Personally I would take her back to a plain type of snaffle (e.g. eggbutt or loose ring; cavesson nosebean) and re-school her to accept the bit; it does take time, but I used to one and three day event ex-racehorses in a plain snaffle without them rushing or pulling.
If she accepts the contact at all other times except when jumping, then jump from trot, maintain contact but don't pull back against her, and get someone on the ground to work out why she is rushing after some jumps and not others. Once you have identified the cause then you can work on fixing the problem.
Good luck.

 

[dianchi]

So gags lift the head when you put pressure on the mouth, her head throwing could be this issue and just over reacting to the action.

A curb bit, kimberwick for instance might be worth a shout, but bits should not replace correct schooling but can aid you working towards harmony

 

[smja]

I'd look at the speed/canter quality of your approach, generally speaking mine likes to rush off if we've come in too slowly or with not enough energy. That might be a reason she only does it sometimes?

 

[Rosesandhorses]

A really good exercise to do is to halt straight after the fence. I do this with all my horses that tend to think they know best on landing. Once they've got the idea of this you can halt, turn on forehand/haunches straight back to fence in opposite direction. Once they've got this over the same fence and change direction each time on landing. This basically keeps them listening and on board with you.