need bit advice
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need bit advice
Can anyone suggest a bit for my 5-yr-old draft cross? he is a big sucker and right now we are in an egg but snaffle but I am having a hard time pulling him up after a jump or after a good strong gallop he wants to keep going or likes to put is head down and throw a buck he isn't mean or anything just big, and stupid, (and I'm 41 now) so I need alittle help...any suggestions?? thanks.
You could try an elevator bit. Here's an example:
http://www.statelinetack.com/global/pro ... 28825&Ne=2
Short of a Pelham or Kimberwick, these will help a lot with getting 1200 lbs out of your hands.
http://www.statelinetack.com/global/pro ... 28825&Ne=2
Short of a Pelham or Kimberwick, these will help a lot with getting 1200 lbs out of your hands.
So Run for the Roses, as fast as you can.....
I personally think that you should skip all the bitting tricks and go back to basics with your horse.
There is a reason that hunters are supposed to go in a plain D ring snaffle....they should have enough foundation to respond to the bit.
Moving up to a harsher bit is just being lazy....take the time to reintroduce basics and your horse will go a lot further.
Good Luck!
There is a reason that hunters are supposed to go in a plain D ring snaffle....they should have enough foundation to respond to the bit.
Moving up to a harsher bit is just being lazy....take the time to reintroduce basics and your horse will go a lot further.
Good Luck!
o.k. don't know much about hackamore's and bitless bridles, don't "I" have to be really strong to use a hackamore? I've used them pushing trails and stuff when I worked at a hack barn years ago...but really someone explain to me the "hackamore" I alway's thought you had to have a really well broke horse for it.
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ratherrapid
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I'll tell you what I know. Which probably is very little. with runaway racehorses over the years ive used everything from draw reins, martingales, ring bits, spicer bits, you name it. The only thing i've ever used that will definitely stop a horse is a spicer bit, after they're trained to it. Spicer though is a questionable bit for jumping and manuevering. As Amanda said, it helps to work with a horse instead of going to a more severe bit. but, if your on the horse that's running away you understand this idea has limits. In an effort to understand bitting i've read all the books over the years. The books seem to only cover simple basics. If there's a book out there that addresses problems like on this post, I'd like to know what it is. I'll also relate that the Myler book deals some what with this problem, and they have some bits that they advertise that help with intractable horses. Maybe non-racing sports riders who experiment around with equipment might be the best source here. The person ive run into that knows most about bitting is Hillary Vernon. She has a website. But, she charges $$$ for advice. and leave it at that. On the race track you give and take with a horse till it slows down. That fails to work with some horses and u have to use brute strenghts. I'd personally be interested if someeone has some equipment to recommend.
I just want to clarify this horse is by NO means a "runaway" he's just a big heavy "lug" of a horse and I'm just not as strong as I used to be, I did use a chin strap and drop nose band worked like a charm Thanks guy's,
The subject of "runaway's" is an interesting one, I too am a former ex.rider i've gallopped horses with lip cords, gum chains and even had one that I had to "twist" baling wire around his nose along with the lip cord figure 8 and still this horse could only jog the wrong way along with a pony, a dead runaway he was. I used to love to see the people come watch the horses train in the morning and "think" they could do a better job! some even showed up with boots and a helmet and "poof" "I'm an excersize rider"
The subject of "runaway's" is an interesting one, I too am a former ex.rider i've gallopped horses with lip cords, gum chains and even had one that I had to "twist" baling wire around his nose along with the lip cord figure 8 and still this horse could only jog the wrong way along with a pony, a dead runaway he was. I used to love to see the people come watch the horses train in the morning and "think" they could do a better job! some even showed up with boots and a helmet and "poof" "I'm an excersize rider"
My tb was no runaway at all; instead he was quite lazy and liked to lean on the bit, fall on his forehead, and put his head down and "root" at the canter. Obviously, at these times his position was primed for a smart little buck, especially after a fence.
This horse was well schooled in the basic principles and no amount of "schooling" corrected this tendency. Closing my hands and making my arms rigid and inflexible was the only way to prevent this behavior.
Eventually I realized that this response was not helping me or my horse, and at a trainer's suggestion I put him in a eggbutt snaffle with a mild slow twisted mouthpiece. His lugging and heavy forehand disappeared in the matter of one schooling session, and without any distress to him at all. He was completely comfortable carrying the bit normally and accepted it to the tune of very good dressage scores, even putting his head down to "seek" contact when offered a loose rein.
However, this bit made heavy pulling uncomfortable for him, presumably creating pressure points on his bars when he fell on his forhand and began to root at the bit.
This horse was thoroughly checked for any sort of physical pain that might be causing him to resist shifting his weight to his hind end, etc. In the end, I really think that he was a lazy sod that was doing the equine equivalent of "slouching." He's a happy horse that enjoys his job, and in this bit he does it well.
Just like all horses need different hoof trimming and shoeing techniques, they also may require different head-gear and training techniques. While turning to a "harsher" bit was not something I do as a rule, it worked in this case.
There are many people that will give the same advice to every question, but usually training horses by principles that include "always" or "never" aren't usually very effective.
Best of luck!
This horse was well schooled in the basic principles and no amount of "schooling" corrected this tendency. Closing my hands and making my arms rigid and inflexible was the only way to prevent this behavior.
Eventually I realized that this response was not helping me or my horse, and at a trainer's suggestion I put him in a eggbutt snaffle with a mild slow twisted mouthpiece. His lugging and heavy forehand disappeared in the matter of one schooling session, and without any distress to him at all. He was completely comfortable carrying the bit normally and accepted it to the tune of very good dressage scores, even putting his head down to "seek" contact when offered a loose rein.
However, this bit made heavy pulling uncomfortable for him, presumably creating pressure points on his bars when he fell on his forhand and began to root at the bit.
This horse was thoroughly checked for any sort of physical pain that might be causing him to resist shifting his weight to his hind end, etc. In the end, I really think that he was a lazy sod that was doing the equine equivalent of "slouching." He's a happy horse that enjoys his job, and in this bit he does it well.
Just like all horses need different hoof trimming and shoeing techniques, they also may require different head-gear and training techniques. While turning to a "harsher" bit was not something I do as a rule, it worked in this case.
There are many people that will give the same advice to every question, but usually training horses by principles that include "always" or "never" aren't usually very effective.
Best of luck!
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ratherrapid
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here i am giving advice, and i was trotting along today with my huge 16'3" gelding and suddenly he's off the bit. trotting along without taking up the bit at all "and" threatening to throw me. I had to stop and just walk. then trot, and takes a hold of the bit for a few strides, but, does it again. over and over. he's also suddenly constantly playing with the lozrenge bit all the sudden. I have him just in a bridle with d ring lozrenge snaffle, no caveson. I've never had a horse just let go of the bit at the trot. what gives here? anybody have any suggestions.