wilkie/loop ring snaffle

[tinkerbell88]

Just wondering if anyone has used this type of bit and would love to hear your experiences.
I am looking to possibly try this on my mare to jump as I am finding that in my gag (only on the first gag ring) that because I have brakes I am over-using them a little bit and strangling the canter, yet cannot hold one side of the wild creature in a snaffle and it starts getting dangerous. I would like to continue with a bit that works in a similar way to the gag as this is an action she understands.

Thanks in advance

 

[arizonahoney]

Hum - don't think the Wilkie would be the solution for you; its action is that of very mild poll pressure and it sounds like you need something a bit more direct?

Just out of interest, what kind of evasion / effect do you get in a snaffle?

 

[Jane_Lou]

We used a loop ring snaffle to jump Baileys, XC he was perfect in a 2 ring gag (prepares to be shot down in flames) but sj it was just too much and like you said, the canter was strangled, he ended up going more up and down than forwards. What I used was one of these, the centre revolver worked really well with him.
http://www.ejeffries.co.uk/product/132398/BICR05/_/Loop_Ring
He went XC in one of these
http://www.ejeffries.co.uk/product/132398/BICR21/_/Dutch_Gag_3_Ring

 

[tinkerbell88]

I did wonder if there would be enough poll action for me

I have tried her in a fulmer with drop but when I did a half halt or took a pull she did this wierd shooting sideways thing so that wasn't helpful. I have had her in hanging cheeks, eggbuts, loose rings all with a flash but she is just too strong now in those. When she is being strong and rude she sets her neck and leans on the bit and I find it very hard to get her to come back to me at fences without a huge battle and it's fairly unsuccessful anyway and I used to finish the xc with throbbing arms.
Since trying the gag though she is much softer in her neck so I can alter the canter and ride from my seat and leg into a lighter contact. However, I am a bit of a control freak and sometimes I take too much of a hold, kill the canter and add strides in left right and centre. Although she is still scopey enough to clear the fences it makes it hard work for her and I get very frustrated for riding like a numpty. It is a bad habit of mine-I'm a sit for an extra stride person rather than a take strides out person and I'm working on it in lessons but I'd just like a slightly kinder bit so that when I'm having one of those days it isn't so extreme for the poor mare.

Now I'm jumping at Intermediate level I need that extra bit of control I don't have in a snaffle because she is the type to take strides out if she is in control which I'm obviously not very keen on!
I am very fussy and want everything to look perfect and pretty and although the gag is working to an extent (I just need to adapt my riding slightly) I am a perfectionist and just wondered if there was something better out there to use. I was thinking a waterford maybe the next thing to try. Any ideas?

 

[tinkerbell88]

JL- the second bit is currently the one I am using but it is just a fraction too strong sometimes. She is also happier in a french link mouthpiece.

 

[Jane_Lou]

That is exactly what we found, the 1st one proved to be perfect - I would lend it to you but I sold it with the horse! It gave that bit more than the snaffle without the over reaction of the gag, if you overchecked even slightly in the sj he would virtually stop dead and then loose his forwardness, with the loop ring he was respectful but still forward.

 

[tinkerbell88]

Very interesting, thank you. I'm tempted to have a look around and see if I can get one cheap enough to try then if it doesn't work I'll add it to my bit box anyway. I was also wondering if they did different sized rings as obviously the bigger the ring the more poll pressure. Might ring my tack shop and see..

 

[OneInAMillion]

What about a Bevel? They are like the Wilkie but I think the rings are like 6cms across

 

[jumptoit]

There are a few here that are a good price the only thing to check is how thick the mouthpiece is the first one I got for my mare was stupidly thin, I think it was a cottage craft one but the Jeffries revolver one I have is fine.