Swingle Tree & Wilson Snaffles ... Help Pls?

[SmokeyX]

I was wondering if anyone could give me any advice on either obtaining or making a swingle tree please? My gig doesn't have one and Shettie's nearly ready for putting to but I'm having major problems finding out any information. I'm also confused as to what size it should be.

I've read somewhere as well that Wilson snaffles are supposed to be better for driving Shetlands. Has anyone ever had experience of these bits please and where to get them? I've been long reining Tonka in a rubber snaffle and I'm really LOATHED to put him into a Liverpool. I assume that the Wilson snaffle is less severe? I'd really appreciate anything you can tell me.

Anyway, sorry for rabbling on but I'm so close to getting Tonka put to and my expert leaves for Germany in just over 2 weeks time and I'll have to go it alone (with a little help from hubby) so I'm a tad stressed LOL

[Wally]

Our Shetlands hate Liverpools, not one of them has taken to them at all.

We use either a Wilson or a French link butterfly Pelham on the top ring. You get a mild hanging cheek effect and they all go really happily in them.

The Wilson can be a pain, becasue some of the little darlings will spin the bit in their mouth and it's really important to make sure you get it the right way round when you do it up.

it's also vital that you put the reins through both rings otherwise the action of the bit becomes really severe and pinches like a vice.

A swingletree needs to be wide enough so the traces don't rub his sides. The best place for the swingle tree on the vehicle is slightly lower than the collar, so the traces gently slope down.

For lightweight pony vehicles like that any jobbing blacksmith or even a farrier could make you one. You just need a good bit of steel, make sure the bolt you use is a good one as all the weight of the vehicle will go through that point.

Swingletrees sometimes come up on e-bay. Just make sure you don't get a full sized one!

[Wally]

just nipped out, one of the carts was sin the trailer about 5 feet from the back door.

The swingletree on that is:-

The actual body is 20 inches,

the entire, overall length with the pig tails is 34 inches, though you don't need pig tails, you can have sticky up attachments, that'd bring it back down to 20 inches. The traces would sit at about 22 inches! am I making any sense at all? ;)

[SmokeyX]

That makes perfect sense and your advice is most useful, thank you so very much. Now just to track down a teeny enough bit LOL

[shandy84]

Also sometimes have swingles on carriagelink and ebay :)

[SmokeyX]

Oh I'm liking the idea of the Pelham but where oh WHERE sells teeny ones? I've searched everywhere and can't find a 4" :(

[Esther.D]

Dinky rugs used to but don't have them listed any more http://www.dinkyrugs.co.uk/23906.html or of course Wally can get them through Abbey for you :)

[Wally]

I have to order them in specially. But it's not a problem, it's handy really as you can order whatever mouth you wnat, say a franch link or a jointed.

[SmokeyX]

Hmm now I'm tempted! hehe Are Abbey bits not really, mega expensive though? I'm really confused as to what's the best option i.e. the jointed or the french link :confused: He's only ever had a rubber snaffle and these metal bits look soooo scary! Would it be inconvenient Wally if I gave you a call? I had a look at your website and your Shelties are just fantastic! I really enjoyed the film as well. Gave me some hope hehe

[Chip]

Abbey bits are a little expensive, but the bits are hand made and of the highest quality, and more importantly, are made in ratio. For example, most Liverpool bits (I know that's not what you want) that are sized 4" come with huge 'horse' size rings etc, Abbey however make the rings etc smaller so they fit a smaller face nicely.

[Esther.D]

To be honest as far as I could find Abbey are the only option for butterfly pelham or similar for anything with a 4" mouth, I have searched and had no success finding anything else so I am resigned to paying abbey prices for Bobby's bit - they are lovely bits though, I already have an Abbey 4.5" Liverpool and that is much much nicer than the cottage craft ones.

[Wally]

If I remember rightly a 4 inch French link Butterfly Pelham works out at about £36 plus P&P.

'spensive but as chip says they are nicely proportioned for little faces. We got a french link, cuprium (SP?) one for Jackson Pillock and he's going really sweetly in it. That was a tad more expensive, but worth it as he's such a sensetive little bloke that anything to chill him is worth it.

Esther, you wouldn't recognise him after you drove him at the RHS. He is having a few issues with in little head at the moment.

[SmokeyX]

Sorry for taking so long to respond but been a very busy week! I've hired a girl to finish off the last stages of Tonka's starting to drive but she leaves for Germany on Friday so it's been all systems go!!! Thank you all so much for your help but I managed to get a Butterfly Pelham and although he wasn't very sure of it for a start (complete with a 5 second rear!) he's settled into it really, really well and it looks like all being well, he'll be put to for the first time tomorrow ... or rather today as it's after midnight haha. I am so, so, SO very excited!!! :D

[Wally]

best of luck with him.