| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
|
kizzy
Bronze Member
Scotland
228 Posts |
 Posted - 28 Feb 2006 : 7:17:37 PM
|
hi
i have a 9yr old arab mare, well schooled, happy snaffle mouth for flatwork, and for sj i just put on a grackle and she isnt too strong. the problem comes when we are out hunting, doing XC or fast work generally, i find the breaks just dont work! i was really hoping to progress with the eventing this season, moving up to 1.05m-1.10m, but there is no way we can do XC at that height, if my mare insistis on going round at flat out gallop(she is only 14.2hh)!
i have tried her in a cherry roller, dutch gag, happy mouth, french link, dr cooks bitless, pelham, and a kineton noseband(it didnt fit though, pony size but still too big over the nose). not one of these bits/nosebands made any difference, i might aswell have had her in a snaffle!
please any suggestions or advice would be great, i think it is just when the adrenaline takes over she ignores the bit, but i just dont know how to get around the problem?
thank you
|
|
Report to moderator
|
|
|
arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 28 Feb 2006 : 9:09:42 PM
|
Im not very knowledgable with this sort of thing but I had control problems with an ordinary snaffle and now use the hanging cheek variety. I find it works a treat! Just a thought but I would probably wait for the experts to add their more experienced advice!!
|
Report to Moderator  |
|
|
Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2006 : 07:57:57 AM
|
Kizzy
Have you thought about using a Myler bit they have one for every level.I use all their bits depending which level the horse is at the time and what I am doing with them at the time.At the minute Iam using a comfort mouth long shank combination.This bit works on three areas depending how strong the horse gets.The first is the nose band (like a hackamore)The second is the head piece works on the poll and the third is the bitallowing all three to work.
All my Arabs go well in these bits.
The web site is http://www.themylerbitbank.co.uk/
Pauline |
Pauline Higgs
Equine & Human Holistic Therapist
www.thegentlestouch.co.cc
www.endurancegbmidsouth.co.uk
Berkshire / Hampshire Border |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
fi
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
102 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2006 : 09:51:47 AM
|
Hello Kizzy,
When your mare's enthusiasm takes over how is she jumping and approaching the fences. Does she remain neat,careful, still thinking or is it manic hurdling?
Fi |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
kizzy
Bronze Member
Scotland
228 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2006 : 2:07:47 PM
|
hi fi,
thats the worst bit, when she gets excited she gets really flat, and the first few fences arent too bad, but half way round the course it is basically manic hurdling!
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
templars
Platinum Member
England
1852 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2006 : 2:22:04 PM
|
Hi Kizzy
We had something similar and we've had to go right back to basics. Our boy was really good cross country but got stronger and stronger (and flatter and flatter). We've spent the winter doing dressage and indoor show jumping to try and get him lighter. He was in a grakle and dutch gag - we've managed to get to a snaffle and grakle cross country and it seems to be working but it's taken a good few months to get him there.
The other thing we did was hire the cross country course and basically fly round the lower jumps for 3 or 4 circuits and then practice with the higher fences on an individual basis. Just kept going till he got bored with everything. We did that several times but again it's taken a few months. The only problem is on competition days, as soon as you get the coloured tape out for his boots and he sees Evie in her cross country colours, he gets more on his toes then as soon as he sees the other horses and hears the loudspeaker commentating - we're off.
I'm not aware of any other gadgets that you could try (and believe me we've looked). We've relied on flat work and one to one training from an ex-three day eventer. Boring but it seems to be working.
Good luck and how brilliant there's someone else out there eventing their Arabs!!!! Go for it girl! |
   www.eviepeel.com    |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
fi
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
102 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2006 : 4:11:30 PM
|
Hello Kizzy,
I think the advice/comments given above is spot on. Do you have a trainer?
Fi
|
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
kizzy
Bronze Member
Scotland
228 Posts |
Posted - 01 Mar 2006 : 5:21:29 PM
|
thanks everyone,
I will take on board the advice, and its nice to hear of other multi talented arabs!
i get flatwork lessons about once a month, but have yet to find an eventing/jumping instructor who suits me(and my pony more importantly), but we are getting a couple of lessons from jeremy spring(supposed to be an event trainer or something like that?) in march, so if there is no improvement by then, he might have some ideas.
thanks |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
cassy
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3348 Posts |
Posted - 02 Mar 2006 : 1:43:29 PM
|
| where are you based? i have a accredited event trainer whos also bhsi and v good price, he is mike gee and can see him on the net 07932163577 is his no, im not advertising here as have no idea where you are and type of lessons req |
Angie
  |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
kizzy
Bronze Member
Scotland
228 Posts |
|
|
DawnBrookes
Gold Member
United Kingdom
647 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2006 : 12:18:49 PM
|
I would definately echo Pauline reference the myler combination - contrary to popular belief they are NOT!!! strong and nasty...(any bit is nasty if used incorrectly! )
I tried all the bits / nosebands etc that you have, my mare will happily school and do dressage in a baucher french link, I hack and train (with others doing fastwork and exciting fields etc! ) in a very mild and softly padded english hackamore and shes amazing (wish we could do dressage in the hackamore or even just a headcollar!) We've also started doing a bit of show-jumping, also in the hackamore.
BUT - get her to an endurance event and thats it, mad mare kicks in!  (she's just so competitive - bless!) no matter how many times we went and tried to keep her calm.
She has been competing since a 5 yr old and will be 12 in may this year. (I bought her as unbroken 3yr old so I also KNOW her mouth has never been abused)
However - just over 12 months ago we found our solution - the myler long shank combination , with the low port mouthpiece....it is truly the most amazing bit ever for us - as soon as we changed to this her heart rates dropped so much I actually asked the vet if he thought she was ill (actually I said ' are you sure? is she still breathing????!!! he offered to re-take it but I said we'd stick! ) its now almost spot on the same as when I take it at home! and her recovery rate is much quicker, and the ride is just SO much more fun!
I only use it when I know she will be keen - competitions and fun rides, and can't praise it highly enough .. for me if my mare is happy then thats proof enough to me that she is not reponding because it hurts. (we had such battles in snaffles and pelhams and dutch gags - I used to worry terribly about her mouth but if you are heading for a main road crossing with dodgy brakes its just not fun!!)
maybe worth a try - you can hire them from the bit bank and I think they deduct the cost if you then buy one.(I was lucky enough to borrow a friends - I did wonder when I handed over my £97 cheque but it was worth every single last penny)
|
Edited by - DawnBrookes on 03 Mar 2006 12:24:32 PM |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
DawnBrookes
Gold Member
United Kingdom
647 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2006 : 12:19:54 PM
|
| ps. I put a sheepskin cover on the nose to make it softer! for full effect you are not supposed to but it doesn't affect our control and its kinder for her |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Eeyore
Gold Member
1181 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2006 : 12:45:14 PM
|
Another vote for the Myler combination bit. My old TB could be very headstrong and after years of trying everything going both bits and bitless I splashed out on the short shank, comfort snaffle with the low port. She was so happy in it, I wished I'd found it years earlier The best thing is that the horse gets a 'warning' with light pressure on the poll and nose before the two stops on the bit ring are engaged and the actual bit comes into use. It is extremely subtle and my old girl really appreciated its action. Most of the time I used to ride her using the mildest action and the bit would only come into play if she got carried away and forget her age! She was schooled to the seat but would forget this when a gentle canter turned into a flat gallop  |
Heléna
   |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Judith S
Platinum Member
Wales
15686 Posts |
Posted - 03 Mar 2006 : 12:48:31 PM
|
I've used Myler long shank combis of several different horses for a couple of years now & they are excellent!!
Judith |
    |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
sparky
Junior Member
41 Posts |
Posted - 10 Mar 2006 : 5:56:12 PM
|
| I have been using various combinations of a waterford snaffle for hunting in for a few years. I find that although they look severe, actually the horse can't get hold of them,and I haven't had one make the mouth bleed. They are available in dutch gag, which is handy for keeping the extra control that I need, I find it stops my horse stuffing her head right down and going low and flat into hunt jumps. If you don't need something as strong, then the Waterford mouthpiece on a loose ring snaffle is very good as well. (Waterford is the one that looks like a big chain!) |
| Report to Moderator |
|
| |
Topic |
|
Topic Locked 