bitting advice

[greydales]

It probably just depends on the horse or pony Jo, as our pony went really well in it - I suppose I never associated it with elevating the head as it seemed to have the opposite effect on her. Sometimes I think it's the mouthpiece as much as the type of bit - my horse Pip absolutely hated single joint snaffles due to the nutcracker action - he always raised his head in these, but he was fine in a double jointed! Whereas Dan goes very well in his single joint and leans awfully on a double jointed!!

It's why I've got so many bits here I could start a shop ...

[JoM]

I sold all mine on E-Bay last year!!! I had 3 that were all the same! How I managed that I dont know!!!! I went through a catalogue of bits until I found one that suited his lordship! D isnt a single joint lad either! He ate the happy mouth one for breakfast!!! LOL

[jay]

I should really get round to selling the Myler I tried before I got Jay's kk. I'm sure I could actually hear him laughing at me when I tried to control him in that! He obviously thought that I hadn't spent quite enough money on that and demanded I spend even more on the kk. I've since got him back by making him work much harder

[lisa]

Hi,

I did used to ride Lea in a 3 ring gag, but as she tends to go round with her head in the air anyway (ex racer thing i think) i don't think it did her any favours, but like you i need some brakes there should i need to use them. The one time when she did sod off with me up a cart track we were pretty much near the end of it before i managed to stop her & that was on the ring below the snaffle on the gag.

I do think if they are gonna go then they are gonna go. I have never been as shattered in my life as when i was trying to pull her up the full lenght of the track, I was nearly laying on her back at one point as i was trying so hard to stop her!!

Generally speaking though she is quite good, (thats the only time she has ever taken off with me) she does listen but I do have to have a bit on her that she respects. I school her in a straight bar snafffle but wouldn't dream of going up a field or anything in it, as she ignores me when we are schooling her in it sometimes if she wants to.

I am currently on a french link hanging cheeck for hacking and generally galavanting about in, as i did want to downgrade slightly from the gag & am trying to get her to drop her head. I did test it out when I went out with a couple of girls from the yard, we did quite a lot of cantering & she respected it enough as I could hold her in it and made her stay steady even though they were galloping off & leaving her, much to her disgust as she really wanted me to let her go so she could catch em up!! (I havent tried it out hunting yet though)

I would maybe give the hanging cheek a try, is there nobody who has one that you could borrow to have a play with?? I do agree that the bit is only as strong as the rider as when we are out hacking I do give Lea quite a long reign, so I literally only used the braking system on the gag when it was required.

Hope some of this helps, I think i've jobbered on a bit though!! Sorry!!!

[jay]

Thanks Lisa, I appreciate the advice. Unfortunately I don't think any of my friends have got a hanging cheek for me to try, but I'll ask around again. Otherwise I could try my local saddlery, I think they've got a trial facility on some bits.

[harleydales]

I used the Dutch/3 ring gag on my pony Trigger who was very strong and went around with his head in the air with any bit. He respected it for a while, but then learnt to evade by using the muscle under the neck to get his neck hollow and head up. Little tinker!
Never thought of using 2 reins on it though....
I resorted to a hackamore with him in the end and he loved it.

harley's a French Link man, he doesn't like straight bar or single jointed bits. Oh these ponies and their quirks!