Which bit for a draft horse

[cassy]

Is there anyone out there who rides a draft horse? If so what bit do you use for hacking. At present we are using a snaffle but "no brakes" what so ever, might as well have a headcollar on. I don't think she has a great deal of desire to run off with me across the fields but I would rather be safe than sorry. So what would you recommend? As I will be having it made specially I would like to make an informed choice based on other peoples experience.
thanks

[Yummymummy]

I ride a shire x cob and use a ported kimblewick after trying a snaffle and a gag which did nothing.

now I have steering and she is happier :)

[Dinsarsio]

I ride and drive my welsh cob.He has a straight bar liverpool bit for driving and a ported kimblewick for riding.No problems with either

[xloopylozzax]

it depends on her individual mouth conformation, not all heavy types are the same.
it is common for them to have fleshy tongues, so ported or thin bits will be preferred.

[heavyhorsesrus]

We started our Belgium Draft bitless and he has stayed that way every since. We found it difficult finding a 7" bit in the UK. He is ridden, driven, logs that way and is perfectly happy.

Our Vanner was in a Happy Mouth loose ring snaffle at first but now rides and drives bitless.

What breed is yours ?

[posie]

We started our Belgium Draft bitless and he has stayed that way every since. We found it difficult finding a 7" bit in the UK. He is ridden, driven, logs that way and is perfectly happy.


to steal the thread a bit - wow - any pics? would love to see him logging (if that's the correct terminology?!:o)!

and back on topic - hack a percheron in a thin-ish jointed loose ring full cheek snaffle. she does RDA in it too and suits her great...

x

ETA - and heavyhorsesrus - welcome - see it's your first post!

[heavyhorsesrus]

hi Posie,

Thanks for the "welcome" :) when I figure out how to post pictures I'll put them on !

Glad to hear there are quite a few heavies on here, there is definately a growing number coming into the country now.

Perhaps we can start our own thread ... if there hasn't been one already and then we don't have to hijack someone elses ;)

[Yummymummy]

My old lady is 19 years old!! She is beautiful :D

[Midnight Rose]

Sam (shire cross, looks like a huge gypsy vanner) wears a Myler comfort snaffle wide barrel with english d-rings. He never has a curb though.

Sam is very stoppable so you might find a bit like Sams too soft. Sam is more responsive to your weight and position in the saddle than whatever you're doing with your hands. He's a jumpy horse and he bolted from a bicycle on a long rein once, he didn't even go a whole stride before I was under complete control again.

[bigfluffyclydey]

Hello,

When I got my big fella he was being ridden in a jointed Pelham with roundings. He hated it :eek: and still had no brakes ;)

He has got a fat tongue and a fleshy mouth, so think it was the joint of the Pelham he really objected to.

In the end I looked to see what I could buy in his size (6 and half inch). I found a hanging cheek french link and a waterford - either neue shule (sp?) (too expensive) or with loose rings.

So, I tried them both. Either is better than the Pelham, but I still have no brakes. I just don't worry about it so much now. I can only really stop him by turning him, but I don't often need to.

I am going to try him bitless as soon as I've got a bit of spare cash. We've just moved yards, so finding myself buying stuff all the time at the moment :rolleyes:

He seems to just be able to set his jaw (is that the right expression?) and ignore a bit. From what I read about Waterford's he shouldn't have been able to lean on it, but seems the BFC didn't read the information himself :p

[anniesmom]

my percheron draft mare has a snaffle for schooling and a low ported kimblewick for hacking.

[Denbenj]

Hello,

When I got my big fella he was being ridden in a jointed Pelham with roundings. He hated it :eek: and still had no brakes ;)

:p

Ditto My cyldesdale driving horse I had when I did commercial driving was also used on trekking.. he was in a pelham with roundings for being ridden... goodness knows why as he wasnt strong or pushy... His mouth became very wooden and he started to just tuck his head in after being tugged on by beginners :mad:

[Konch]

I have an IDx, for hacking and jumping its a ported rubber kimblewick and for dressage/schooling I have a KK ultra baucher of 14mm.

[jowyles]

I ride my shire x haffie in a ported kimblewick, he responds well to the curb chain, although recently has been putting his tongue over the bit so I have changed to a Snaffle for a while. Hard to fine 6 inch bits!!

[lachlanandmarcu]

slightly off topic but can we see the Haffie x Shire???!!!! (prev post!)

[jowyles]

Lol yeah sure here he is mr trouble!
He is only 15hh bless him I think his legs just stopped growing too soon!

[cassy]

Thanks everyone. I am having a kimblewick made to measure. You can't buy 7 inch bits off the shelf.
Yes I think a section for heavy horses would be great. How do we do it???

[Shire Monster]

not sure if they have 7" but have a look on the cumbrian heavy horse site they sell stuff for gees gees on the larger side they may have something there, defo worth a look

doh just had a look, she doesn't seem to have them in her little shop area of the site now but its just been updated, could be worth emailing just to ask her advice on where to buy, I'm sure she was selling giant rugs headcollars bits etc for the chunky's last time I looked at her site, they may just not be on the site yet after updating, she's really lovely could be worth a quick email

[chickyd444]

i ride my Irish Draughty in a vulcanite pelham - an amazing bit, straight bar so no nut cracker action, soft wide rubber in the mouth, poll action, instant breaks, i absolutely love Jasper's bit He works really well in it :)

[5.7FB+16.2FC]

after trying about a million bits with lu he decided that he likes ported kimblewick he is brill in this bit:D

[cassy]

Update.
I met up with some old friends yesterday for a hack, just a gentle one as I still have trouble with the brakes (still in french link). It was a disaster. My mare kept surging forward at the trot to be at the front, even though we were only walking, and knocked everyone out of the way as I used all my strength and riding skills to pull her up. Once at the front she was a bit happier but still kept having the occasional rushing fit.

We came to a very inviting grass track and I foolishly suggested a steady trot. My daughter and friend on their TB's trotted off in a very sedate manor. My friend and I gave them a bit of a start and then we asked for trot. My mare shot off at a spanking trot and my friends horse thought we were off and came cantering behind me. Well that was it. My mare took off at the canter (something I didn't think she could do) and I was completely out of control. I screamed to my daughter and friend and they stopped as I headed towards them at a flat out canter. I knew my mare wasn't going to stop so I pulled her to the right and narrowly missing the drop down the dike we overtook and after a hundred yards my mare noticed she was alone and pulled up.

My daughter was very cross with me as her horse started bucking when I came past. Thank goodness everyone else was under control.

Anyway I got the new kimblewick out today and tried it on a quiet hack with my daughter and YES I had control at the trot. My mare threw her head up and down when I first took a check but thank goodness settled and responded well to my half halts. What a difference a bit makes.

[Rarah]

I ride and drive my welsh cob.He has a straight bar liverpool bit for driving and a ported kimblewick for riding.No problems with either

Same as Dinsario - except mine's a Clydesdale x cob.