XC braking issues

diggerbez

diggerbez

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i think its time that i needed something slightly stronger for XC than my normal snaffle/ cavesson combo- any ideas? horse is very sensitive and has a soft mouth so don't really want to overbit him- especially as he's just started to really take me into a fence, but yesterday i was struggling to get him listening to me at times, which obviously could be dangerous if there was a tricky combination early on.... :confused:
 
They are all so different - but I swear by a ns universal gag on my boy! Same mouthpiece as his snaffle, but with a bit of poll action, and a leather curb. It works a treat on my boy and I know a few who have been successful
with it!
 
see i dunno if that would be too strong for him...was thinking of trying the mexican noseband route as maybe that might just stop him from getting away from me so easily?
 
ecrozier said:
I swear by a ns universal gag on my boy! Same mouthpiece as his snaffle, but with a bit of poll action, and a leather curb.
Click to expand...

Completely agree with this post, iv'e had same kind of issue recently out hunting, i ride all other disciplines in a loose ring french link as my mare is super sensitive. Put her in a waterford to stop her leaning on the bit out hunting and she was running back, hanging behind the bit etc, tried the NS universal and has been great just giving me that little extra than my usual snaffle but something she's not too scared of relaxing into either.

You don't have to use the bottom loop and can ride on the snaffle ring or alternatively with two reins if you want to pick and choose when to really pull them up.
 
Mine is also very soft mouthed and backs off anything else I have tried that's stronger than a snaffle. I ride on the snaffle ring except when xc or cantering in a group!!
 
a drop solved my issues.... how is he strong? head up? leans? crosses jaw? opens mouth?
a kineton is a good noseband for a little extra breaks without changing the bit
 
what does he do? Does he lean or pull?
Sometimes a simple straight bar snaffle will solve the issue on a horse that leans. On a horse that keeps pulling try a waterford.

Before all that I would try a drop noseband and then mexican. If the horse really hates having its mouth closed then try the above.
 
he definitely pulls rather than leaning... he's generally strong but was really bad in the working in- was turning to the fence and he was just pissing off towards it :eek: i don't think that he opens his mouth but not sure if he's crossing his jaw or not (how would i know?) I used to have him in a flash but took it off because i didn't need it...
 
I have a similar problem (without the sensitive mouth bit) and was contemplating a drop or a grackle noseband....so will be interested to hear more views on this...

Mine is the same as yours and doesn't lean....but she doesnt' particularly pull either...she's just strong!!
 
I would go with the mexican noseband, then maybe something like a french link or a neue schule starter, team up or demi-anki. They are not severe but different to what you are using. It depends how much more control you want, for more I would go to the universal or a vulcanite or happy mouth pelham. A kineton is quite strong.
 
i'm fairly sure that i have the starter bit at the minute. might try a universal then as a few people have mentioned that one...guess it'll be a case of trial and error :) thanks folks :)
 
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