xc bitting/general problems

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wench

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needs some ideas/advice with regards to a bit for xc. Horse runs off with you at a competition, as he knows there are other horses in front, and wants to catch up with them. However when he is doing this he wont jump jumps, he just goes round them. I find it very hard to pull him up in the snafflr (Myler Bristol (like a french link)) he is in.

Went XC schooling a week or so ago, and tried him in a loop ring snaffle, which he definatly didnt like.

Trouble i find with him is you need to have the reins really short in an attempt to try and stop him running out, but then he doesnt jump the jump properly, and I probably jab him in the mouth a bit, as there is no give in the reins.

The intention is to get him out xc schooling lots over the next few months.
 
If he's running around the jumps it sounds possibly that its more a steering issue than a brakes one?

If you want to keep him in a snaffle then I would suggest maybe a fulmer as these help with straightness?

Otherwise if you want more brakes aswell (which it sounds like you do with the short reins issue) I would perhaps try an ordinary waterford or a cheltenham gag. I've found that running gags are much "nicer" to ride in than a belgium one as with a belgium its always leverage whenever you want a contact whereas with a running it can have a contact like a snaffle until you want the leverage. Can't really say that much about the waterford except that I have a new horse who is a bit on the tricky side to steer and when it does see the fence it tanks, and I found the waterford is perfect for xc?

Re jabbing him in the mouth, that could possibly be a confidence issue (from yourself due to being determined not to run out!) and that improved with me when the approach did and it wasn't so stressful just getting the horse to the fence, it all just became a bit more relaxed and as it relaxes your hands do tend to become softer, however its a hand-in-hand thing and as long as you're consicious about it it should improve
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Sorry I dont know what you mean by a loop ring snaffle
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Ultimately though I think you've just got to take a handful of bits with you everytime you go schooling to find what works for you as every horse responds differently to every bit!

Good luck and hope you sort it, hope some of what I rambled there was useful... just saying what I found with mine really
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I would concentrate on his flatwork and get him listenting to your leg - not your rein. Lots of changing rein, serpentines, spirals, leg yielding. Maybe do this in and arounf jumps in the arena but don't jump. He needs to listen to your body and what you want him to do - he's just pi****g off through the bridle by the sounds of it. You need to get him listening to your every aid before you go flying around xcountry.
 
Agree with what little_pink_piggies said.

One word of caution would be to remember that horses reactions and responses when cross country schooling are very different to those in an event. Mine would happily xc school in a snaffle, but in a competition we would have no breaks and go arse over tit at the first! Therefore, trial and error at competitions is often the best indicator. Perhaps you could go to some informal hunter trials too?
 
buster was always very strong and very hard to steer. i have tried fulmahs, copper roller fulmahs, myler snaffels, kimblewicks, pehlems, u name it ive tried it! the only thing ive found that works is a tom thumb, and he really likes it! it may look severe but it is a very good bit and if used correctly works very well. he used to fight every thing else especially xc were he has an 'i no best' atitude. im not really sure of the severity of ur problem but i think this bit is very good and mabye worth a try?!!
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Thanks for all the replys. He is 11. not to bad sj, but only do small fences about 60-75cm atm, as anything higher, and we have the same issues ie constant running out. However, he is getting better all the time, and hope to move up soon.

He is fine on the flat, and does everything you ask of him, although he doesnt do a lot of complicated stuff!

I have been to a couple of HT with him, and the reaction is the same, gallop round everything, apart from the ones you have to jump, ie a log on a track in some woods, and dont stop. at all.

A loop ring snaffle is like this: bit I belive it works like a mild dutch gag action with the reins on the bottom loop and cheek pieces in the top
 
Agree with the tom thumb. They sell them on the Shires site. The only thimng so far I can hold Goddy in out hunting without him overreacting.
 
I agree with the comment above - a fulmer is going to help with the steering problem.

A nelson gag with two reins might be useful - you need to use the gag action to steady, but make sure this is relatively loose a few strides before in case you do catch him.

In addition you could add a rein aid - flexi reins or soft hand rein aid to the snaffle rein. It will give you a spongy feel, but will help protect the mouth from a jab.

Lastly if you are using a single joint, conside a lozenge, peanut or similar to give you a double jointed mouthpeice to prevent the nutcracker action.
 
The only hitch with that one is that its designed so that the thin edge digs into the tongue. Won't suit every horse, so worth having a play with different mouthpeices to find one where you get a nice light feel.
 
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