Which bit next?

C

Clairey&Meg

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Hello,

I've got a welsh sec D mare. Shes currently in a french link eggbut.

Shes still way too strong for me! She literally won't stop. I'm undecided on which bit to go for next?

So doesnt bite the bit in any way, doesnt pull or throw her head about. I don't feel confident to take her out on a hack as I feel I'm really lacking in control.

I went to a local shop and they suggested a dutch gag. What would you recommend?

Thanks
CB
 
Clairey&Meg said:
I went to a local shop and they suggested a dutch gag. What would you recommend?
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Personally that seems like a very big jump up for my liking! As your current bit is very very mild! What about something without a french link, just a plain snaffle? I ride my 17h in a snaffle with cheeks and he works really well on that, however when he was in a loose ring snaffle just ran away on me!

My other mare is in a hanging cheek snaffle which is a nice wee bit too!

Try borrow some from friends/neighbours before you buy, save yourself some cash too! :D
 
Can you maybe get some lessons on her with a good instructor? You could get other methods to help with your control? I was always told that if you put a stronger bit in it works for a little while and then the horse just gets stronger and stronger and it's a vicious circle? Although my friend uses a Universal bit for jumping and likes it, it has an extra bit at the bottom and a lozenge so I don't think it's too harsh. I'm not an expert on bits though.
 
Definitely get some lessons and see what the instructor thinks. Would be far better than asking people who don't know the horse and haven't even seen him..
 
Honey08 said:
Definitely get some lessons and see what the instructor thinks. Would be far better than asking people who don't know the horse and haven't even seen him..
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Now now, is that a dig at the rest of us who tried to help with previous experiences? :rolleyes:
 
I don't think a dutch gag is a massive leap at all and it would be the bit that I would consider having tried a similar 'leap' with success... like any bit, it is the hand that uses it that is the key as is understanding the way the bit works. Thus it would be wise to have some lessons with an instructor who can get to know your problems and work out a solution with you.

I prefer french links over single jointed snaffles (I don't like the idea of the bit hitting the roof of the mouth) and would choose a french link every time.

OP I would really look at the thickness of the mouthpiece you use. I would err towards the thinner side rather than the thicker.

Waterfords can be useful bits in this situation but knwoing the breed I would still go back to a DG.... maybe looking at a waterford as a step down once the DG has had the desired effect?
 
I agree with CBF. A DG, or better still NS Universal, should be used with 2 reins, one on the snaffle and the other as a curb rein which only comes into play when a 'bit extra' is needed. Please don't poke your horse in the mouth with a single-jointed snaffle, OP.
 
katiieking said:
Now now, is that a dig at the rest of us who tried to help with previous experiences? :rolleyes:
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Not a dig at all, just sensible advice. Do you not agree that getting an experienced person/instructor to actually watch the horse and rider is better than asking on the internet? I count myself in with those people I described who haven't seen the horse and don't know him. You could ask this question to thirty different people and get 30 different answers, all of which worked for different horses. 29 of them would be wrong for your horse. How is someone inexperienced to know from a forum...
 
Thanks!

I've had her for 5 years so I don't see getting an instructor in would help regarding which bit to advise me on, I'm not a nervous rider and have been riding many years now.

For 5 years she was fine in what she had, until recently hacking her out I had no control and shes gone a little more jumpy recently.

Last night I tried her in a friends Dutch gag and it was brilliant! Worked wonders. I'm very soft on her mouth anyway.

I'm still not 100% on whether I want to take the leap to a dutch gag though, but it made a huge difference last night and I felt completely back in control.

Decisions Decisions.
 
Honey08 said:
Not a dig at all, just sensible advice. Do you not agree that getting an experienced person/instructor to actually watch the horse and rider is better than asking on the internet? I count myself in with those people I described who haven't seen the horse and don't know him. You could ask this question to thirty different people and get 30 different answers, all of which worked for different horses. 29 of them would be wrong for your horse. How is someone inexperienced to know from a forum...
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I'm not inexperienced...I was simply asking for more peoples views on the matter. I've had horses all my life and bits have never been an issue for us.

I now feel like I need some extra control on her.
 
Clairey&Meg said:
Thanks!

I've had her for 5 years so I don't see getting an instructor in would help regarding which bit to advise me on, I'm not a nervous rider and have been riding many years now.

.
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You are entitled to your opinion however I think this is quite narrow minded of you. I have been riding years and years but we are always learning and it is good practice to have the help and opinion of someone on the ground to advise on things like this as they may see things we haven't seen or felt.

Given the recent 'jumpiness' I would be inclined to suggest another issue here - perhaps green grass acting as rocket fuel or her season's affecting her or both....
 
Clairey&Meg said:
Thanks!

I've had her for 5 years so I don't see getting an instructor in would help regarding which bit to advise me on,
.
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I more meant an instructor might be able to help you achieve alternative ways to control her rather than changing her into a stronger bit. As I said, I have always believed a stronger bit makes the horse itself stronger and then you need an even stronger bit and on it goes.... Maybe that's an old fashioned idea now?

If it's a sudden change I agree with CB there may be another cause. Usually horses don't change all of a sudden without a reason IMO.
 
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