Whats your first port of call for a stronger bit?

[SWE]

As title, horse starting to get a bit keen cantering and XC (not strong at all in any other situations) and I've not used anything stronger than a snaffle in YEARS!

Where should I start?! If anything she carries her head a bit high but not overly, and she doesn't really lean per se, just generally strong!

Currently in a turtle top loose ring snaffle but occasionally goes in a nathe straight bar if she gets a bit sensitive in the school.

Ideas welcome!

 

[OrangeAndLemon]

Honestly, I always start with asking my instructor...can you have a lesson now that covid restrictions are lifting?

I once tried my boy in a Pelham for showing reasons, he's not heavy and perfectly polite in a snaffle so I expected him to go into himself a bit with a Pelham but we lost all control, no brakes or steering at all. We went to the show in a snaffle for better control ...which is a long way of saying, it really depends on the horse.

Having said that, a lot of my friends use a Waterford for horses that can be more of a handful. I wonder if that might be worth a thought.

 

[scats]

I’m a big fan of kimblewicks for faster work in open areas on over-enthusiasts.

 

[Elno]

I usually reach for a uxeter Kimblewick when going up from a snaffle. Two of my horses actually preferred a kimblewick over any other bit ??‍

 

[milliepops]

I'd look to keep the mouthpiece the same if she's sensitive that way. Do they make the turtle top with other cheeks (3 ring or Pelham etc?)

 

[DirectorFury]

The do the turtle top in a few different 'stronger' cheeks - beval, balding gag, jumper, nelson gag, pelham, and universal. Mine goes well in the TT jumper for anything fast or exciting (she also has a habit of lifting her head up as an evasion), but that might be a bit strong to go to as a first step. You could try the universal or pelham with a leather curb and two reins?

 

[hollyandivy123]

I’m a big fan of kimblewicks for faster work in open areas on over-enthusiasts.

I these are an underrated bit, very useful on pinging ponies

 

[Casey76]

Uxeter kimberwick with a mullen mouthpiece would be my go-to for a step up.

 

[blitznbobs]

I like a universal or a double depending on the horse

 

[Jellymoon]

I usually start with a universal.

 

[Tihamandturkey]

I usually reach for a uxeter Kimblewick when going up from a snaffle. Two of my horses actually preferred a kimblewick over any other bit ??‍

My lady prefers her ported Uttoxeter ?

 

[tallyho!]

Kimblewick all the way.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Tom Thumb. I usually go with the snaffle version first then up it to the gag version of really strong. Most horses I’ve tried it in have liked it and it’s given me good breaks without feeling like I’m hauling on them ?

 

[WelshD]

Mine has a Kimblewick, its a Myler one used with a curb chain and single rein. Pony loves it though I think its ugly as hell

 

[Birker2020]

As title, horse starting to get a bit keen cantering and XC (not strong at all in any other situations) and I've not used anything stronger than a snaffle in YEARS!

Where should I start?! If anything she carries her head a bit high but not overly, and she doesn't really lean per se, just generally strong!

Currently in a turtle top loose ring snaffle but occasionally goes in a nathe straight bar if she gets a bit sensitive in the school.

Ideas welcome!

I used a hanging cheek snaffle for dressage and a Neue Schule Tranz Angled lozenge pelham for jumping. A mullen mouth pelham nearly wrecked his mouth as it was bearing down and started to cause very minimal calcification in the bit seat. So my EDT suggested the NS TAL pelham.

But I used to find that although not 'legal' my horse would jump and flat work extremely well and very light in my hand in just a Dually!

 

[Rowreach]

Have you tried same bit/different noseband?

 

[dreamcometrue]

Ported Kimblewick for me too.

 

[WineOClock]

Same mouthpiece but switch to a universal.
Not a bit, but have also used a market harborough for hacking. Helpful on my uneducated just over from Ireland boy until our flat work (and his understanding of whoa and go) became more established.