Change of bit = total failure UPDATE

[SuzieP]

I thought I'd try Bea in a hanging cheek, french link snaffle today......really inspired by the success Jo has had with Dancer's pokey nose.

He's usually in Dr Bristol, which I'm not altogether happy about - but he seems to be comfortable in it and it does give us the brakes we need on occasions But it isn't dressage legal.

I've tried a mullen mouth pelham and a jointed pelham and he hated them both!

I've tried a straight bar snaffle - and again a very cross horsey!

So, the Baucher. We went out for a hack and so far so good. He was relaxed and comfortable - until I asked for a canter. WHEEEEEEEEE WHOOOOOOOOO - no brakes LOL I had to really sit back and pull to get him to take any notice at all - and I really HATE doing that.

So it's back to the Dr Bristol with an ordinary French link snaffle for dressage. Ah well - it was worth a try I suppose.

[JoM]

Oh no Sue!!! What a be**ar!!! Have you tried him in a french rugby pelham? Again, not dressage legal, but a nice bit to ride in. Dancer is a link or straight bar boy. Doesnt do snaffle or jointed. I have a rugby french link pelham in a 5 1/2 you could try if you like. I only use it in showing season.

Lisa has pinched her hanging cheek back as she needed it, so I popped my straight bar snaffle back in for my lesson - and the little monkey went like a charm in it! I think he is remembering the baucher and pelham and has decided for the time being to play the game rather than have the others back in!!! LOL Unfortunately, brakes wise, it is as much use as a chocolate fireguard!!

[SuzieP]

Do you want my hanging cheek f/l snaffle, Jo. It's no use to me..... 5.5 inches.

Thanks for the offer of the pelham - Gill lent me one a while ago to try. Failure again!! LOL

I guess that what the boy likes, the boy will just have to have and we'll keep working on the pokey nose. He's not too bad. We get a lovely outline for a while, but he's not consistent yet. I think that he gets tired and that he maybe needs to muscle up a bit more. Time and patience will be the answer for the lad I think.....

[admin]

Oh that is a shame.

I will admit that the Dr Bristol is my least favourite bit (not including things like the bike chain bit or anything). HORRID HORRID thing.

I can understand why you use it - but it is so very very harsh on the tongue and mouth - that i would go to almost any lengths to avoid using it.

Jacqui has a lovely bit - it's a bit like a grown up wilkie snaffle crossed with a KK ultra. So there is quite a bit of poll pressure, but it is fairly kind on the mouth/tongue. I imagine you can get quite a thin version which could help with brakes a bit.

I also really quite like the Myler combination bits as an idea. I did try on on Tilly once and she HATED it (refused to move!) but I think I'd be quite keen to try it again on another horse with brake issues. I'm sure Tilly's problem was that she has such a big head that it was pressing on her face all the time - even without me using the reins.

Please feel free to ignore my ramblings. I get a bee in my bonnet about things (draw reins, dr bristol bits, people who ride off the curb rein) and I just feel the need to rant! Sorry

Olivia

PS Bright-water LOVES your avatar - he's just spent several minutes with his nose glued to it trying to work out quite what it was!

[SuzieP]

I know Olivia - I really, really don't like the Dr Bristol either Which is why I hoped the hanging cheek would be OK.

I'm interested in the sounds of Jacqui's bit.......can you give me any more info?

LOL at Brightwater........

[admin]

I can't seem to find the bit I mean.

The closest thing I can find is the KK Universal bit



www.linkwoodec.co.uk/en-us/dept_16.html

But I seem to remember the bottom ring being sort of twisted up to make it more like a wilkie.

No idea if it's dressage legal - probably not.

Have you tried a waterford?



That can be quite severe as it wraps round the tongue (if Bea seems to react well to tongue pressure)? But I've known a couple of horses go nice in it. I think to me it is less severe as it wraps round the whole tongue rather than putting a lot of pressure on a small area.

Olivia

[SuzieP]

Thanks for taking the time to look for me, Olivia.

No - I haven't tried a Waterford. There is a pony at the yard who's quite strong who goes well in a Waterford. Bea might like it......it'll certainly be flexible in his mouth, unlike the straight bars that he seems to hate.

Anyone got one they'd be prepared to lend to me to try out? Or swap for the hanging cheek?

Modified to say that I've done some research and have ordered a Waterford on trial......thanks again Olivia.

[bevbob]

Oh what a shame the baucher didnt work. Bobs isnt 100% stoppable in his either but much better than an ordinary french link.
What about trying it again but just for schooling? its a safer environment in the school and he might go well in it in a schooling situation instead of hacking out? or have you already tried it in school?

[SuzieP]

Yes, Bev - tried it in the school and our stopping distances weren't good. He just goes so much better in his Dr Bristol. Strange isn't it - given the way this bit works I'd have thought he'd find it really uncomfortable, but he doesn't seem bothered by it at all. Mind you, I don't haul him about and use squeezing give and take with the reins to give the aids, so maybe it doesn't hurt him. I dunno..........

[bevbob]

Maybe its because its a strong bit and your using it sympatheticaly he prefers it???
When I had Bobs in the pelham he was great in it, it stopped him tanking off up the hill but also made him buck all the excess energy he had in his back end lol!
Its just a bugger you cant use it for dressage.

[carolinec]

Sam is in a Waterford baucher (6") Sue and he seems to really like it.
I got it after he'd bolted a ouple of times and he's never tried it again.LOL
I did give a friend a 5.5 inch one which I could ask for a loan back of it you want to try one out.

[SuzieP]

Thank you Caroline - I've ordered one on trial which should arrive in the next day or so. I think it's the Waterford Baucher - it's like the one in the pic Olivia posted.

[carolinec]

Hi Sue
Yes, it's a Waterford Buacher in the picture.
Sam goes very well in his as it's flexible but you get more control if it's necessary. I was advised to buy a half inch bigger than your normal bit size as it's supposed to wrap around the sides of the mouth a little.Thats why Sam is in a 6".

[SuzieP]

Ah - glad I got one on trial then - might need to swap it for a 6" as Bea is a 5.5" normally. thanks for the tip.

[SuzieP]

The Waterford arrived at the weekend on trial from www.shop4bits.com. I've been very impressed by the service from them.

Anyway - I tried Bea with it in the school and he went really well. He mouthed the bit nicely and was responsive and comfortable. I'm hoping to try the Neue Schule version soon to see what he thinks of that before I shell out on a new bit. A hack and a class riding lesson will be the big tests as he's inclined to get quite strong doing both. But so far so good......

It's one of the "downsides" I suppose of getting a horse fit and healthy - they can get stronger and more energetic. But I know which I prefer....