What bit would you use? *long, sorry*

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bex1984

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Pony:
14hh Fell X Hippo. 8 yrs old. Generally very well mannered, likes to please but schooling is pretty much non-existant. Can be nappy back to the gate of the school when pushed out of his comfort zone or when he's feeling tired and/or lazy.

Does occasionally tank back to the gate at super-fast trot or canter - sets his neck against you and off he goes. This is improving but when he's really determined I just can't stop him, and this is the problem really as on these occasions he is effectively "winning", and that's something you just can't let him do!

Has been with me 2 months and is ridden 4 - 6 times a week in the school. Have been on 2 hacks but currently don't have anyone to hack with and I don't want to hack alone.

Currently ridden in a full cheek snaffle, before I had him he had only been ridden in a rubber pelham without the chain.

Rider:
Me! Pretty much a novice, can walk, trot, canter, just started jumping. Quite unbalanced (working on this!) and can hang on to his mouth occasionally
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Majorly lost confidence a few months ago but getting a lot better. Want to improve my riding rather than just whack in a stronger bit, but also want to get the bit right for both of our sakes.

Just wondering what you all think would be the best thing for us both? Should I stick with the snaffle and hope over time he learns to listen and becomes stoppable?

Hope I'm making sense, please remember I am a novice and just want the best for my pony.
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I would like to hack out and canter on hacks but don't feel I could at the moment in case he tanks off.
 
not often (very poor) but having occasional lessons from a friend, who is great and knows all my weaknesses! Also picking up lots of advice from everyone else on the yard whenever I can! If I could afford to ahve a lesson every week I would!
 
oh, should also mention, it's not just me who has trouble stopping him...he has been ridden by someone else and tanked off to the gate with her repeatedly.
 
Your pony sounds very much like the Black Baggage & he looks virtually identical to her too! lol

BB is really strong & rather prone to tanking, where she becomes very hard to stop but is currently ridden in a kimblewick with a leather curb, which is proving highly effective & she seems to rather like it.
The advantage of this over a pelham is that it is designed to be used with only one rein, unlike a pelham, where you need either two sets of reins or roundings.

Alternatively, put him back in the pelham maybe & add a curb chain or leather curb, if that's what he was in previously.
Either way, you would probably benefit from some extra lessons, as these could be unnecessarily harsh on him if you are 'hanging onto his mouth', you really need to have a reasonably good seat & hands for both these bits or it is rather unkind on the pony, as used unsympathetically, they would be classed as quite severe!

Always make sure there is someone competent with you when you try out a new bit, in case of adverse reactions, especially when adding something like a curb chain, though he has probably had one on before at some point, I would think! lol
 
Hello

Stick to the bit you are using for now - and if you cant have lessons try and work on the lunge - get a friend to help you out - lunge without stirrups and no reins - for 15 mins at least twice a week - you balance will improve although you pont will get fitter as you do this so may get abit stronger.

In the mean time - get an experiencec sharer - get them to help sort him out and then the money you get from them - put towards lessons???

I love Fells - best ponies - but very clever !!!

He needs to be sorted out esp at 8

xxxxxxxxx
 
I would be reluctant to use anything with a chain for the exact reason that I do ocassionally hang on to his mouth.

Browbrow, have been doing lots of work without stirrups and it is defo improving my balance, will do more of the same but don't really have anyone to lunge me regularly (and pony hates lungeing). Unfortunately I suspect mine is not clever.
 
Hello Chick

Maybe he just hates the school - my old fell HATED IT !! Why dont you try and get out hacking? Get someone to walk with you for the first one - he might be a different pony out? Or go out a 6 am so no traffice etc? Or ride in a small paddock with grass so pony doesnt associated the place with work? these are all just suggestions!!! :-)

My welsh X is like this but she gets told ASAP but I have been riding for ages so wont take no CR&P!!! Hee Hee but out hacking she is ace much happier and not ' bored' . Rushing back to the gate is such a pony trait - he has been taught bad manners there - do you know history? x riding school or kids pony?

I ride my welsh in a dutch gag - which is very effective but I am thinking about changing to a pelham as someon advised she may like it more .

good luck and Keep persevering!!!
 
It is bad manners, it's him throwing a tantrum. The majority of the time i can turn him before the gate and push him on, but very occasionally he's not really stoppable.

He was a kids' pony before I had him, same home since he was two.

I will try to get him out hacking, I think he'll be nappy alone and I just need to build my confidence to the point where I can push him through it. The idea of riding in a field is good, will see if I can find somewhere suitable.
 
i would say the bits not the problem its his manners so just keep working on your schooling you will get there eventually a bit may help you in the short term but it will short cut the problems your having. perhaps if you want a little more control a hanging cheek snaffle or a wilkie snaffle could help without being too extreme. hacking will help your confidence and as for napping that will only go away with practice my horse did it when i got her and still does now so i make sure i ride out alone atleast twice a week to remind her she can do it alone and now she is fine, at first it was a nightmare all the spinning and sillyness but you have to ride them through it otherwise you can never go for a relaxing summer hack alone!! good luck and keep going i know how it feels to have a pony who is difficult it took me months to feel like i was "getting somewhere" with mine but i feel a great sense of acheivement now x
 
Thanks, good to hear from someone who's overcome hacking problems. I have major confidence issues out hacking and these will probably transfer to him, so I need to build up my confidence, and his confidence in me, and then hopefully I'll get out hacking!
 
maybe do another post about it to hear how others got over theres, im sure you will pick up loads of good advice as there are so so many people that have problems. im on a big yard and id say around 30% cant/wont hack alone.
i was very lucky the confidence problems were my ponies so i helped her get over it and now she is fine. the schooling is the opposite the problems are all mine!!
with perservence and the right training you will get there - you need some positive experiences under your belt and then there will bne no looking back xx
 
try a jointed pelhm... its strong enough to stop but fine for the novice rider as its not as hard on the mouth as the straight pelhm...
 
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