| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| proctorclaire |
Posted - 31 Jul 2010 : 9:34:24 PM
I was wondering if anyone could help me with what bit to use for my 15.2 connemara x mare. She is very very highly strung. She has had everything checked (teeth, back, tack etc) and everything is fine, she is just generally a strong horse. She is currently on a happy mouth 3 ring gag (reins on 2nd ring) and is still very strong. Anyone recommend any other good bits to use?
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| 22 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| wheelie |
Posted - 24 Mar 2011 : 10:51:33 PM
Hi fee
I am obviously going to disagree but i feel that saying a horse must go in a snaffle is also a traditional view.I try to treat them individually what suits one may not suit the next one horse may like the snaffle the next might hate the action and a different bit suits them better.I used to ride my mare in a thickish french link .I decided to have a look in her mouth whilst she was wearing it, well it looked blomin uncomfortable with the edges of those joints on her tongue and obviously when it came into action probably hit the roof of her mouth (very hard to describe with out picture im not good with words i know )i set out to find a more comfortable one and she is currently in a myler. But as i am writing this im thinking she probably would like bitless.
with my old boy he was difficult very head strong horse stuck in his ways he didnt like the jointed snaffles he would wrench the reins out your hands ,he had a dent in his nose from i think his possible harness racing days and was a bit funny about pressure to this place(understandably). I admit i wouldnt touch a three ring gag with a barge pole now.I feel there much more severe than people think! I would show some pictures for comparisson but that would be completly taking over this thread but there also paper copies |
| Fee |
Posted - 24 Mar 2011 : 03:19:18 AM
Wheelie I'm not surprised your horse went better with minimal contact and bolted with those bits in! Don't need three guesses what he was running away from!
I wish more people would try to empathise with the horse and think less traditional when it comes to things like 'they are strong so I will get stronger'. Or maybe if they just realised that if they get light their horse will get lighter!
I just shudder when I see some of these bits and the 'contact'. Most of the bits I dont even know what they are but the sound awful and I wouldn't like it my mouth.
I wish the grass roots of training new and young people would change to more consideration that the horse is a living, intelligent, sensitive and dignified animal.
I also wish I could get to sleep! 
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| wheelie |
Posted - 23 Mar 2011 : 8:47:54 PM
I had a standardbred who came to me with a French link but I was only little and he was too strong so we went up to a 3 ring well this got very very interesting he would regularly bolt with it and throw his head down mid bolt! I tried single jointed snaffles, back to the French link , a hanging French link , English gag, funny copper bit with roller, big cherry roller small cherry roller ... There was probably more but you get the picture oh and a English hackamore . the only bit he went well in was and it is a bit controversial a rubber Pelham with single bottom rein!!! I'd regularly try and get him to school in a snaffle but he hated it and with the top rein on the Pelham he didn't like either!! He went well with minimal contact. He had a small mouth 4 1/2" I think he just preferred the action of the Pelham even though i worried what people would say I knew what we were happiest and safest in! ( oh and he had back and teeth checked regularly) biting is a very difficult thing as there are so many different views on it ! I just try to listen to what the horse likes but obviously that way you end up with quite a few bits!!!
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| Pheebs |
Posted - 23 Mar 2011 : 11:01:23 AM
Hi there
I agree with those suggesting a hackamore/bitless bridle. I've learnt that with some strong horses, if you keep increasing the strength of the bit, the stronger they get! And sometimes actually taking the bit away can solve the problem.
As for supplements have you tried Frisky Mare? Either that or possibly a magnesium supplement- I think there's one called Magcalm which is meant to be very good :)
Best of luck with your horse
Pheebs x |
| Cate |
Posted - 23 Mar 2011 : 08:59:52 AM
Regarding Arabs they often cannot accommodate a bit easily, especially a jointed snaffle, as they have small mouths, big tongues and the roof of their mouth is straight whereas most breeds are domed.
Many years ago I found this out with an Arab gelding I bought; he came with a very thin Dr Bristols which everyone said was awful. So, I listened to everyone and traded the Dr B for an eggbut snaffle and ended up trying every bit under the sun that was suggested, some hit the roof of his mouth causing it to bleed. I found to my cost that he hated all, i.e. would not open his mouth, would run round his box when he saw the bridle. So, we went from bridling in a Dr Bristols with no problems to listening to what all and sundry said and not being able to even catch our boy. So we went onto a Hackamore which he would put his head into willingly.
I spoke to Dr June Alexander and she confirmed that Arabs were often unhappy in their mouths, but some would just grin and bear it. So perhaps your Connemara x mare is the same as the Arabs.
I also now use a mullen mouth vulcanite pelham with my Arabs as they open their mouths no probs for them. Another bit I have success with is a Myler, thin but they seem to like it. Also used a hackamore with great success. |
| Quarabian |
Posted - 22 Mar 2011 : 7:26:11 PM
Well done Callisto.
It is amazing that some horses go better bitless and yet it isn't amazing. Remember, horses don't run away with us they are trying to run away from us. Take away the problem and there is no need to run, or pull, or open their mouth or throw their head up. Not getting at anyone, but it is worth a try. |
| Callisto |
Posted - 22 Mar 2011 : 6:59:05 PM
Ok so it's taken me seven months, but today I bit the bullet and hacked Lily out in the Dr Cook for the first time, and I am very pleased, she was very responsive, and adopted a much nicer outline in all paces (except gallop - didn't try that ), as opposed to sticking her nose out and opening her mouth which is how she evades her very expensive (and gentle) KK bit. Wish I had tried it before, but wanted to do it under controlled conditions in a school in case she didn't like it, (opportunity never arose, hence just putting it on and heading for the woods) but so far she seems VERY happy. |
| Callisto |
Posted - 06 Aug 2010 : 6:20:46 PM
Thanks Babs, I'm really looking forward to trying the Dr Cook out |
| BabsR |
Posted - 06 Aug 2010 : 2:49:53 PM
Hi....No!! really don`t need any training with the Doctor Cook Bitless Bridle My OH`s horse Oscar.... whatever bit we tried (only gentle ones of course) he just did not like...open mouth, would not relax and no way do we ever consider clamping his mouth with a grackle or drop noseband.
The Doctor Cook Bitless is so simple, no "forcing pressures" at all!!
Looking at it, you can`t imagine you could have complete control and I believe most horses do get strong...due to discomfort of the bit.
Can def say OH powerful 16.2hh Anglo very happy and goes so well and with the lightest contact, through all his paces even at a full gallop
Doctor Cook Bitless....a big thumbs up from OH and Oscar 
Babs
www.SunrayAngloArabianStud.co.uk |
| alpacastoo |
Posted - 06 Aug 2010 : 12:14:35 PM
Hi - interesting thread. I have just ordered a Dr Cook bitless for Whisper. She has been backed and although a very laid back mare (usually) she strongly objects to a bit. I have tried a mild nylon, a flexible rubber and an eggbut snaffle (which my other horses have always gone well in). She shakes her head about, tries to push it out with her tongue and gets tongue over bit, constantly opens her mouth etc. She is only being led from a halter with her bridle on so its not as if it is "heavy hands" causing the problem. I have decided to try the bitless as she responds so well to natural horsemanship type rope halter and flexes and gives so readily. It should arrive today, so I will start training her (on the ground) with it and see how she responds. Watch this space |
| proctorclaire |
Posted - 05 Aug 2010 : 9:10:05 PM
Thanks all for the replies. I will defo try the waterford or the bitless bridle. |
| Callisto |
Posted - 05 Aug 2010 : 7:24:12 PM
Babs
Having read your post I am sending away for a Dr Cook synthetic bridle to try on Lily, as I do not think she is particularly happy with either the straight bar happy mouth snaffle or the KK snaffle with lozenge that I have tried her in so far. She can be rather strong and opens her mouth, it has been suggested that I put a drop noseband or a grackle on her, but personally I hate clamping their mouths shut. Anyway, I thought the Dr Cook was worth a try, and my question is - do you need to train them to respond to it or is it straight forward to fit it and ride in it?
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| BabsR |
Posted - 04 Aug 2010 : 5:01:47 PM
Dont know your horses past.....but I would suggest you try a Dr Cook Bitless bridle. If you have a menage it would be worth a try and can highly recommend them for a horse that is strong.
Often a horse that is strong can be because someone has had very hard hands or he has been over bitted and in fact is afraid of his mouth and is effectively running away from his bit!!
Know of two people who have used this bridle very successfully with a similar problem to yours.
Certainly worth a try. Can be obtained off the Web
My OH 16.2hh Anglo has always been a bit sensitive
in his mouth (not strong) in fact has a very light mouth. He is a big powerful Anglo and we have felt never really liked a bit in his mouth.....so hubby gave the Doctor Cook Bitless a try, being a little concerned he would be in control at the faster paces.
Horse loved it, hubby came back after his park ride grinning from ear to ear....said it was like having control with just a piece of cotton in his hands and was impressed how Oscar really went up into his bridle
Never rides him in a bitted bridle now!! So thumbs up for the Doctor Cook Bitless bridle.
Worth a try....bridle can be obtained in an leather look material, so not a huge cash layout and if you are happy, a leather one can be bought and you are given full credit for the synthetic bridle, if same is returned in good condition.
Babs
www.SunrayAngloArabianStud.co.uk |
| munchie |
Posted - 04 Aug 2010 : 4:43:54 PM
I used a waterford with great success on a very downhill throughbred, bit weird at first but once I'd got used to it I was very pleased and the horse had more confidence. I also rode another horse soley by my seat, he'd which had had very rough hands on him in the past and both leant on the bit and flung his head all over the place at the same time which was fun!  The less I had to rely on the bit the less the leaning with them both.  |
| Freya and Ceece |
Posted - 04 Aug 2010 : 4:14:53 PM
Have you tried a drop or grackle noseband?
Have esp. found the drop to help in similar cases. Doesn't need to be tight, just enough room to fit 1 finger in (only slightly tighter than a cavesson).
A grackle might also help, but they do need to be done up firmly to avoid slippage, so not as good if she likes to mouth.
Worth a try anyway :-) |
| flosskins |
Posted - 02 Aug 2010 : 4:26:37 PM
another vote for the loose ring waterford, my mare fought everything but that but she never objected to it either. |
| Jess.And.Tiger |
Posted - 02 Aug 2010 : 2:16:39 PM
What about a double bridle!??!
xxx |
| Pony slave |
Posted - 02 Aug 2010 : 11:51:15 AM
Exactly the same as Callisto!!!!Spent an absolute fortune on bits and then tried the waterford I bought for a fiver at a car boot!!!!
Loose ring waterford snaffle and a running martingale!!!
PS xx |
| pinkvboots |
Posted - 02 Aug 2010 : 09:57:28 AM
I would try as many as you can I find its just trial and error no two horses are the same, I would try and get away from using a gag though I find most horses just lean on them, when I backed Arabi he hated any kind of snaffle I tried so I tried a Waterford and he loved it. |
| Callisto |
Posted - 31 Jul 2010 : 10:38:50 PM
I've successfully used a loose ring waterford on an extremely strong horse that I tried in every thing from a straight bar & jointed snaffle, NH bitless bridle, hackamore, pelham, 3 ring gag...It was the Waterford that he went in best. |
| jillandlomond |
Posted - 31 Jul 2010 : 9:57:39 PM
If you've ruled out she's definately not in pain (which can often cause a horse to behave in a highly strung manner), you could try her in a hackamore to see if that helps? |
| proctorclaire |
Posted - 31 Jul 2010 : 9:46:55 PM
She is also on Supercalm which doesn't seem to make a difference. It works when handling her in hand but not for riding. Any other suggestions of things to use instead of this also? |
