Kimblewick help

[Sparklie]

Please help me find a bit for my friend's horse...he's proving quite a wierd one :o

Bit of History...

15.1hh, rising 5 yr old thoroughbred.

Started off in a single jointed full cheek snaffle when my friend got him straight out of a racing yard 2 years ago. Very green and turning was a bit hit and miss so the full cheeks helped lots. Quite soft mouth though and started to work on a lovely ourline.

Changed to a hanging cheek french link as he was opening his mouth and leaning. So we eliminated the nutcracker action and moved up a notch on the bit strength gage as he was getting strong when jumping and hacking (basically he'd lean and run off)

Last summer he got to the point where he really was just leaning and going and was starting to not work on an outline and just shove his head up and go. He was also opening his mouth more and friend didn't like the idea of a flash (he's a sensitive boy and when we tried him with it he got very upset and refused to go forwards).

I suggested she try my kimblewick for a few rides to see if a stronger bit would just give him that little nudge in the right direction back to behaving again and then she could go back to her hanging cheek.

The results....he adores the kimblewick and so does my friend. She can stop, turn, get him to work in an outline all with no fuss what so ever. Now the odd bit......she doesn't use the curb chain :p

Now this isn't an ideal bitting set up so what can she use instead? The kimblewick is a cambridge mouth one (i think...is that the one with no joint and a bump in the middle?), is there anything else anyone can suggest?

[Pink's lady]

Kalli is the same. She's not strong, so really could get away with just a headcollar but in a bit she didn't like she was stubborn and resistance and 'needed' a stronger bit.

Went through the whole list - single joint, double joints, no joints. Curved mouth, flat mouth, rubber steel and nylon. Hanging cheek, loose ring, eggbutt. Didn't like a single one:rolleyes:

Until I tried her with a cambridge pelham. She loves it:D

However they don't come in a full cheek version (hence getting a pelham, cos it's got shanks).

But if your friends lad has learnt to steer properly then you could try a cambridge snaffle (also known as a magic bit). They only come in loose ring however. Try ebay - they have for less than £6, new. Otherwise a non-slotted kimblewick without a curb chain would just be a hanging cheek D-ring snaffle.

[Snow_Pony]

I use a ported kimblewick with a loose chain (so doesnt come into action) Could you not do that?

xxx

[Bobbin]

My mare adores her Kimblewick. Can't you get a straight bar fixed cheek bit with the port in the middle that has no chain? I am sure a girl on my yard used one once.

[eml]

There is a company that will make any combination of mouthpieces/bit styles you want. We had a globe pelham and hanging cheek version of the same mullen mouthpiece made for a strong dressage pony.