I'm planning on taking my mare hunting for the first time this season (her first time, not mine!) I'm after some advice with regards to changing her bit for something a bit stronger (the bit will probably only be when hunting or similar activities).
She is currently ridden in a Bomber Bits Happy Tongue Fulmer Snaffle for schooling and a loose ring Waterfrod snaffle for hacking.
She is fussy when it comes to bits as she seriously dislikes jointed bits - have tried a few different mouthpieces to no avail! I decided recently to try a Waterford as it lays in the shape of the mouth if you get what I mean and, although she hacked very well in her BBHTF snaffle, she really really liked the Waterford. So I have decided that to hack she can be in the Waterford.
Really I would like the mouthpiece to be a Waterford as she goes nicely in the Waterford and doesn't grab hold of it (she occasionally grabs hold of the BBHTF snaffle as it hasn't got any joints!). I was thinking of either a very short shanked Waterford Pelham, a Waterford Universal or a Portuguese
waterford 2.5 ring gag (made by Bomber Bits). I would use 2 reins as well (one on the main ring, one on the stronger ring) so that i only use the full strength of the bit if its definitely needed - in other words, in the name of safety .
It is made slightly more complicated but the fact that if i put anything too strong in her mouth or anything with too much poll pressure she will rear (shes a rearer anyway so I'd like to avoid even the slightest aggravation if possible)
Does anyone have any other suggestions as to what i could put her in for hunting?
Im only changing it for hunting as a preventative measure and to ensure that we can enjoy a days hunting safely
She is currently ridden in a Bomber Bits Happy Tongue Fulmer Snaffle for schooling and a loose ring Waterfrod snaffle for hacking.
She is fussy when it comes to bits as she seriously dislikes jointed bits - have tried a few different mouthpieces to no avail! I decided recently to try a Waterford as it lays in the shape of the mouth if you get what I mean and, although she hacked very well in her BBHTF snaffle, she really really liked the Waterford. So I have decided that to hack she can be in the Waterford.
Really I would like the mouthpiece to be a Waterford as she goes nicely in the Waterford and doesn't grab hold of it (she occasionally grabs hold of the BBHTF snaffle as it hasn't got any joints!). I was thinking of either a very short shanked Waterford Pelham, a Waterford Universal or a Portuguese
waterford 2.5 ring gag (made by Bomber Bits). I would use 2 reins as well (one on the main ring, one on the stronger ring) so that i only use the full strength of the bit if its definitely needed - in other words, in the name of safety .
It is made slightly more complicated but the fact that if i put anything too strong in her mouth or anything with too much poll pressure she will rear (shes a rearer anyway so I'd like to avoid even the slightest aggravation if possible)
Does anyone have any other suggestions as to what i could put her in for hunting?
Im only changing it for hunting as a preventative measure and to ensure that we can enjoy a days hunting safely