Bit Problems - What is Best

[NoviceNic]

Hi there. I bought Captain with a Snaffle and a Straight bar Pelham. I schooled him in a snaffle but rode him out in the startight bar pelham. Sinlge reins and no roundings so in effect it was only a straight bar bit. Last Summer I discovered he had some issues with solo hacking and local Shows. Basically his confidence plummeted and he would run to the nearest thing with 4 legs. No amount of turning or pulling stopped him. He bites the bit and then runs like the clappers. Anyway I put a dutch gag in to help with more stopping power. Since then we have come on leaps and bounds together but I am not convinced this is the right bit for him. He will still bite the bit and run off. He is easier to stop. He rides with a high head carriage (always has noisy bu**er), he never salivas at the mouth. I know he is used to novice riders and believe he has a hard mouth. He sets his neck and pulls me along. Also he is brilliant in walk for staying on the track and bending/flexing but take him up into trot and he completely ignores every aid I do. My question is should I change his bit?? Also should I get some help in schooling him as I dont feel I am getting far????

[Tangle]

If he is naturally inclined to a high head cariage then I'd take him out of the gag. Assuming you don't have the reins on the snaffle ring (or you'd still be in the snaffle ;)) the first thing to happen as you take up a contact is to lift the bit in the mouth giving the "gag" action which generally causes a reflex "raise your head" signal. Poll action won't really come into play until the bit is already pressed hard against his teeth.

I would definitely suggest you get some help with schooling - a good RI should also be able to help you find a suitable bit. A pelham could be a good option, especially if you can get to grips with two reins - then you can ride off the snaffle whilst all is well but use the curb rein if the head goes up (the curb strap means the pelham can't lift in the mouth, so you'll always get pol/curb action).

It does sound like it's as much a schooling issue as a bitting issue, though. Good luck :)

[NoviceNic]

I was thinking about the full cheek snaffle. I thought it may help with getting his attention in front/inside of him rather than the outside. Not keen on the pelham and double reins as I am novice rider.

[Tangle]

It's probably a case of experimenting - probably not what you want to hear :(.

An instructor should be able to speed up the process, by (hopefully) having a good knowledge of the action of different bits, but at the end of the day every horse is different. As you've already got it, you could try the pelham with roundings - it's not ideal as you loose the flexibilty, but plenty of people do it and find it works for them. A full cheek might help, but I'm not sure it'll do anything to stop him grabbing hold of the bit. Maybe adding rollers might help - make it harder to snatch and give him some distraction?

Do you have a bit bank near you? Will your local saddler let you take bits on trial?

Hope you can find something that works :)

[NoviceNic]

I was thinking about rollers so he would play with them and try and saliva a bit. Might have a look around. I will get my RI in and school him, I am just giving her a bit of time as she has just had hers PTS.:(

[jenren!!]

the first thing to happen as you take up a contact is to lift the bit in the mouth giving the "gag" action which generally causes a reflex "raise your head" signal.

Definitely. The gag is actually designed to lift the horse's head - the opposite effect you want!

A stronger bit may help stop Captain, but you are only going to wind him up more. Horses are flight animals, if they are unsure about something they tense up, and run to the company of others for safety. If they are restricted from going where they feel safe, they panic. If you were to stop Captain from running to the others by using a stronger bit, it's like a wild lion in the wild clinging on to its prey (sorry to sound dramatic).

so i think it might be a trust thing. If you are hacking alone and your horse doesnt like it and trys to run to other horses, it obviously shows that he doesnt trust you enough to rely on you to keep him safe. You need to gain his trust. Over time your horse will learn to trust you, just like a rider learns to trust their horse. Spend as much time as possible with him, in company, gain his trust when he's comfortable.

On the other hand it may be a lack of respect, he simply doesnt want to be on his own, however much he trusts you and takes advantage. As for this good schooling is needed. Teach him to respecct your aids, if you say stop, it means stop.

At the end of the day there is no substitute for good schooling, changing the bit should be the last resort but if you feel a change of bit would help, by all means go by your instincts :)
Hope this helps

Jenny

[NoviceNic]

Thanks Jenren. We have been doing loads of join up, solo hacking and taking things slow at the Shows. We have been doing very well and he hasnt bolted/napped with me for 7 months. I feel that the gag is just not the right bit for him as he hangs his tongue out all the time in it and the high head carriage.