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Post by mickey on Oct 24, 2009 20:54:36 GMT -1
I'm afraid for a non-dales! Becky- for those who dont know about her as I know I dont post that much about her- is a 16 year old ex BSJA 16.3ish chestnut mare (the chestnut is important :  . Bought her in feb and I've been getting to know her. She came in a pelham, a bendy rubber one but her old owner did tell me she jumped her in a jointed pelham. She is incredibly idle at times but is also very strong which is very contradictory!! I've put her back on competition mix, it doesnt make her stronger just faster off my legs. The rubber pelham got changed- I had very little steering in it. Currently in the jointed pelham but I feel it's too much- it is causing her to bounce uowards when I wont let her go, which unseats me a bit nd makes jumping a little hairy. I did try a metalab bit, a little bit like a dutch gag with a lozenge and sliding action, schooled nicely (little strong) but then I tried a jump and had no control whatsoever after the fence. French link snaffle was a joke- may as well have stuck her headcollar on. Any ideas?? I seem to need a jointed bit for steering... |
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Post by JoM on Oct 25, 2009 5:32:24 GMT -1
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Post by olivia on Oct 25, 2009 9:43:31 GMT -1
I do love my neue shule universal bit with a leather curb www.neueschulebits.com/acatalog/Universals___Gags.htmlI know it looks an awful bit of kit - but Tilly is much happier in it then any of the pelhems we tried. I always ride with two reins on it, so when I just use the snaffle rein it's very similar to her KK ultra that I normally ride in with just a little bit of poll pressure. But if I pick up the curb rein I can apply quite a bit of curb and poll pressure. Tilly is a pleasure 95% of the time, but hacking out on her own she can get very strong on the way home and on fun rides I feel more comfortable with a bit of extra brakes. The other good thing about having that leather curb is that it holds the bit centrally in the mouth - so the steering on it is far far better than in a normal gag where steering can be more than ropey!!! I will also add that Tilly was always a bit of a tit to jump - really grab the bit and tank. Over the years I upped and upped the anti with bigger bits and shorter and shorter martingales and more restrictive nosebands. When I came back to jumping my new instructor made me ditch the lot and I was only allowed to jump in a snaffle, cavesson and longish running martingale. We started off with poles on the ground, then a pole all of about 6" building up very slowly and only moving on when Tilly was calm about jumping. To be fair to T she could have progressed much quicker without my nerves, but it was only a couple of months until we went XC schooling in just the snaffle. So it might be worth going back to complete basics with her just to see what happens. |
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Post by mickey on Oct 25, 2009 11:43:45 GMT -1
Thanks- I dont think I would have enough brakes in your bit Jo but do like the look of it- will bear that in mind if Oz gets to a stage of needing a little more.
I do like the look of your though Olivia- really does look an option. I would love her to go in a snaffle but Im not sure that at 16 she'd ever change- she's done BSJA for a number of years in a pelham. The approach isnt too bad- its the bit after! I am nervous which doesnt help and the trouble is I cant stick the fence up enough for her to back off and respect it. Poles are hilarious- they are out to kill her. Fences fine, poles on the ground she has to stop dead at, leap over and get away as fast as possible etc. She isn't scared- she completely takes the mickey out of me with them.
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Post by mickey on Oct 25, 2009 15:08:16 GMT -1
That's an interesting idea- and wouldn't cost me as much!! I'm tight and cant believe some bits cost over £80! Not sure what a tom thumb bit is- will go google Thanks  |
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Post by harleydales on Oct 25, 2009 20:34:34 GMT -1
I use a Tom Thumb Bit on Harley - it is a sweet iron one. It's kind of a gag but you can have the reins on the snaffle ring to remove the gag action. Mine has a lozenge with copper rings and also has copper ridges on one side of the bit too. Harley LOVES it and really behaves in it - and doesn't lean on it. I got it from the saddlery Shop and it was less than £20 inc P & P.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 26, 2009 15:39:36 GMT -1
Just a thought but my mare came in a mullen mouth pelham. I found her very unresponsive in it with few brakes!
I now have her in a happy mouth dutch gag (straight bar) on the ring below the snaffle ring (not bottom) and she goes lovely with brakes. I dont do schooling in this only hacking, i would put it on snaffle ring for flatwork schooling, might not work for you but did for us. Good luck.
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Post by sweetpea on Oct 28, 2009 17:05:28 GMT -1
I also use an Eldonian Revolver bit but with the bevelled cheek pieces (?) which is a bit like a Wilkie snaffle.
I drive 'P' in it and she can be a bit strong at times but I feel in control.
It has a slot for the bridle cheeks if you need help to keep her head down and another for the reins to give you a little more leverage if needed.
P likes the lozenge mouthpiece and the independent cheeks seem to help with steering, especially at speed !!
I'm sure it wasn't much over £20.
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Post by SuzieP on Oct 30, 2009 18:30:05 GMT -1
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Post by harleydales on Nov 2, 2009 14:50:54 GMT -1
This is the one I use:  except mine has copper inlay along the bit. And this is Harley wearing it:  I have the copper inlay away from the bars. I once had it in the other way round and he wasn't impressed!!! |
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Post by SuzieP on Apr 5, 2010 18:15:43 GMT -1
I use a Tom Thumb Bit on Harley - it is a sweet iron one. It's kind of a gag but you can have the reins on the snaffle ring to remove the gag action. Mine has a lozenge with copper rings and also has copper ridges on one side of the bit too. Harley LOVES it and really behaves in it - and doesn't lean on it. I got it from the saddlery Shop and it was less than £20 inc P & P. I got one of these today for Bea to try. I like that the rein can go on the snaffle ring most of the time, but that on the days when he's strong I can move it. I have to say though that there must be quite a lot of leverage on the gag ring and I'll be very careful with it. |
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Post by kathnsonny on Apr 5, 2010 18:30:21 GMT -1
I've just put Sonny in one of these (tom thumb) and absolutely love it as does he. It is making such a difference to his schooling, I got mine from the horse bit bank. would b careful, i note Harley is wearing bit guards, my instructor said this type of bit because of the action is best used with bit guards and vaseline too to prevent any rubbing.
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Post by SuzieP on Apr 6, 2010 6:38:44 GMT -1
Thanks for that - I'll get some and put them on before using the bit.
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Post by harleydales on Apr 6, 2010 11:27:52 GMT -1
I thought because of the gag action there was the potential for bits of lip to get caught so use the bit guards. I use them on quite a lot of bits to be honest.
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Post by valerie n scout on Apr 6, 2010 12:18:17 GMT -1
Yep thats what Tomas is in ...love it x
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. Bought her in feb and I've been getting to know her. She came in a pelham, a bendy rubber one but her old owner did tell me she jumped her in a jointed pelham.
Ridgelane Duke 
Country Rose
