Bit suggestions for first foxhunt or paperchase

[SonnysMom]

So I have a green 6 year old OTTB. I am taking him on his first paperchase this weekend. I hope to hunt him later this year with a small local unrecognized hunt. No jumping required on either of these initial outings.

I normally ride him in a french link snaffle for both jumping and dressage. However he can get slightly strong with it when jumping so I know if he decided to get a bit fresh he could/would easily blow through it. I did a test jumping lesson with a french link beval bit. He isn’t really thrilled with it. However it could have just been a fussy day for him that day.

He has a history of being fussy and flipping his head. He has gotten much better but he still has the occasional day of being fussy but no head flipping. Last winter he was flipping it so hard with my FEI level dressage rider he fipped one rein over his head so both were on the same side.:eek: I don’t think that was due to bad hands on her part. That degree of flipping is long past but under stress I would expect it may return. I will use either a running martingale or a standing to prevent him from flipping his head two far above the bit to avoid it. I have used both with him but the standing most recently so neither is new equipment.

I took him xc schooling at Fair Hill a few weekends ago with just the snaffle but I was able to avoid the big groups for the initial 15 minutes. A friend of mine and I just trotted and then cantered the perimeter of the field to settle him before we moved to where everyone was jumping or cantering/galloping near us. He jumped quietly over a few fences and was willing to leave his friend and have his friend leave him.

He quickly got to the point that horses galloping by while he stood there was fine. He started a bit fresh in the sense that I felt like he was taller than normal. He was willing to follow his buddy gelding at a nice distance even when cantering. But there were no hounds and no galloping in big groups which can quickly change the dynamics of things.

Generally he is a sensible horse.

He did dump me a few weeks ago when I was hacking up the drive after his ride. It was the first cool windy fall day and the horse in the field next to me decided to run, buck, squeal and rear. I shut Carson down too hard and should have just sent him forward. Lesson learned. So he isn’t 100% dead quiet but with those circumstances I can’t totally blame him. However it does highlight that I would like the options for a touch more control just in case.

Any suggestions on what bit you would try? I prefer to not use 2 reins but will if I have to.

[xeroxchick]

Borrow a French link pelham. Riding with two reins is very easy once you get used to it, which takes about ten minutes. That gives you a break leverage if you need it but if you don’t it is what he’s used to.

[Foxglove]

I know this goes against what others have said, but instead of changing your bit, maybe put more training on the horse? Specifically, one-rein stop. My new hunt horse (this is his second season out coming from a never-been-hunted background) had a few issues with bolting, bucking, and trying to pass everyone on the hunt field. Methodically, and pretty much 5 days a week for a year, we walk-trot-canter and at least 20 times --a few at each gait, do a one-rein stop. Be sure you know how to do this correctly before you start yanking on one rein at a canter --an untrained horse might fall. But a well trained horse, who has been schooled and schooled, will feel your hand slide down the rein, and all by himself, slow down, stop moving his feet, and relax. I ride both my horses in snaffle bits, no tie downs, no nothing. Both will immediately stop when asked --once we had a fall ahead of us. My horse (young as he was) immediately responded to a one rein stop and waited while the entire first flight raced past him (missing the rider on the ground). But that takes a lot of time and mundane training when one can just pop in a stronger bit.

[SonnysMom]

@jawa

If he is mostly happy with the mouth piece you are currently using, stick with that. You will have to play a little to see if he needs a running gag, a 3 ring bit, a pelham or… some other with a similar mouthpiece.

Please ride him outside of hunting in the most exciting environment you can muster with the new bit. Sometimes more isn’t always better. As you have found out, shutting him down to hard/quickly can cause more of a problem than not.

I would advise introducing the martingale in the same way. Some horses are VERY sensitive to having their heads restrained mid temper tantrum. If the head flipping worry is merely the reins, You could try an Irish martingale. It keeps the reins on either side of the neck, but doesn’t restrict the horses head movement…

He is already used to both a standing martingale and a running martingale. At one point he was flipping the head hard enough and high enough that I would worry about breaking a nose so needs more than the Irish martingale just in case.

I will paperchase a few times with the new bit first. Most of the ones in area are well attended and have a large number of horses. He would be in a group of 3-4 but likely will be passed by other groups and sometimes you come up on other bigger groups and join them for a bit.

One of the hunts I have the opportunity to take him on sometimes only has a few people hunting as is less than 6. Apparently sometimes only 3 or 4 people. It is a good opportunity to intoduce him to the hounds without a big field.

The other hunt as more like 8-12 in the field unless they are doing a joint meet. I have hunted with the bigger hunt in the past and they are really good with helping work with a green horse. I have not been able to get out with that hunt this year as the weekend fixtures either have been joint meets or in a territory that is not appropriate to a horse new to hunting. I would love to hunt their home farm but they have really only been hunting there during the week. Regretfully I work and have limited vacation left so can’t hunt during the week.

I have a friend that will loan me a broken pelham for this weekend. I will try it in the ring first to make sure he doesn’t hate it.

[SonnysMom]

@xeroxchick

Borrow a French link pelham. Riding with two reins is very easy once you get used to it, which takes about ten minutes. That gives you a break leverage if you need it but if you don’t it is what he’s used to.

I am borrowing a Pelham for this weekend.
I can ride with 2 reins it just isn’t my favorite thing and I try to avoid it. I have hunted my other horse in a rubber pelham, a 3 ring elevator and a Myler combo bit all with 2 reins. He was a tough horse to hunt. He got better as he got older and eventually I could hunt him in either a waterford or a beval bit.

[Hinderella]

My every day bit is a french link snaffle, my next step up is a Waterford. I tried my pony in a pelham, she backed off so much that I felt as though I had no horse in my hands.

[AKCH]

My one mare goes into a french link snaffle but she gets a little excited at the beginning of the hunts(she is a young horse mind you without a lot of experience). With her a french link Kimblewick was great. The waterford is also a good option because they have nothing to hang onto if they try to lean on you.

[gypsymare]

Peewee bits are popular around here. I find it walks the line between having enough control and not worrying a horse further. It’s effectively a thin mullen mouth. A Pelham can be too much for my sensitive guy and can back him off too much even when he feels like a freight train in a snaffle.

[SonnysMom]

@gypsymare

Peewee bits are popular around here. I find it walks the line between having enough control and not worrying a horse further. It’s effectively a thin mullen mouth. A Pelham can be too much for my sensitive guy and can back him off too much even when he feels like a freight train in a snaffle.

I have never used a Peewee but I know a friend has one that she used on a prior horse.

He hated the Myler pelham. I have not been able to find a reasonably priced French Link snaffle. The only one the tack store had was $150. The myler was used so less expensive.
I picked up 2 other used ones - single jointed and mullen mouth.

I may just suck it up and use the bit he is used to. He really is generally sensible.

[Hinderella]

This is the mouthpiece I use on my pony for everyday. There are several similar bits on eBay in this price range:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Stubben-Sweet-Copper-Link-Pelham-5-1-4/173607484703?hash=item286bcffd1f:g:0wUAAOSwDZ1bK~3z:rk:10:pf:0

[BeeHoney]

I completely agree with choosing a pelham with the same or a similar mouthpiece, and adding a running or irish martingale. Obviously test out the bit ahead of time. Here’s the deal–you don’t HAVE to use the curb rein, but it is there if you need it. If your horse is out of control it affects other people and their safety as well, so it is a courtesy to other people to make sure you have more control than you think you might need.

Please consider the use of some kind of prep. Longe in the am, and have a calming supplement picked out that seems to work for your horse. Arrive early so that your horse can settle down or have an extra five minutes of longeing if needed. Also consider the use of a small dose of Acepromazine (if you do this, test out the dose ahead of time).

This part you already know but I’m going to say it anyway in case anyone is reading who doesn’t know. Put a green ribbon in your horse’s tail and if your horse is fussy keep some extra distance between yourself and other horses. Do not, under any circumstances, use another horse’s rump to assist you in pulling up. Have a plan to come in early if anything doesn’t go well.

[Foxtrot_s]

Going out under bitted will serve no purpose. His mouth will get banged up and cause more frustration. Rig up something he is comfortable with but which you can ‘add’ if needed - pelham, gag, but make it a step up. We do not use standing martingales in a hunt, but a running. If no jumping, you could use a standing, but if he needs that fifth leg, his head should be free. Close his mouth. If he behaves, he will not feel the extra insurance.

I’ve used a variety of bit; best might have been a gag, because a big reef on that at the beginning and he slipped along beautifully, knowing it could happen again.

The first run is always exciting, try not to nag and hope he settles. The first three hunts may seem ‘easier’ but when he gets the name of the game he may change, too, until he realizes sit is a waste of energy at the beginning of a log day.
Week in week out, they learn.

[Hopeless]

@Foxglove

I know this goes against what others have said, but instead of changing your bit, maybe put more training on the horse? Specifically, one-rein stop. My new hunt horse (this is his second season out coming from a never-been-hunted background) had a few issues with bolting, bucking, and trying to pass everyone on the hunt field. Methodically, and pretty much 5 days a week for a year, we walk-trot-canter and at least 20 times --a few at each gait, do a one-rein stop. Be sure you know how to do this correctly before you start yanking on one rein at a canter --an untrained horse might fall. But a well trained horse, who has been schooled and schooled, will feel your hand slide down the rein, and all by himself, slow down, stop moving his feet, and relax. I ride both my horses in snaffle bits, no tie downs, no nothing. Both will immediately stop when asked --once we had a fall ahead of us. My horse (young as he was) immediately responded to a one rein stop and waited while the entire first flight raced past him (missing the rider on the ground). But that takes a lot of time and mundane training when one can just pop in a stronger bit.

This bears repeating.

[Foxtrot_s]

Hate to say it - but most hunt horses learn their trade in the field – schooling was not high on the list of abilities of the riders. All the skills a horse can learn are helpful, and one rein stop is great…but just sayin’ that in real life…! So many hunt horses are from the track, no brakes, no bend, etc.

[vineyridge]

One go to hunting bit has always been the Kimberwick or Uxeter. It’s a very mild curb action bit, and with one or the other, it is possible to increase the curb action by about an inch. You don’t have to fool with double reins unless you want to. I’d try that first, myself.
You can get either ported or mullen versions of both.

In my opinion, a broken mouthpiece, even a double jointed one, on a pelham makes it one of the harshest bits out there.

[Foxtrot_s]

I had a tough little Standardbred I hunted for years - she went very well in a Kineton noseband. But if you have a horse that curles under, it would be no good. But it does have an interesting, effective action.

[AllHorse]

I’d be inclined to over bit the first time out, its going to hurt nothing as long as your hands are OK and you can give him a light hand if its warranted.
The 2 or 3 ring gags are great but they’ve got a different action to a normal bit so you should work the horse in it before you plan on doing anything he finds exciting that will revive his racing brain
Sometimes a mouthpiece with more power in it works better than a whole new style of bit - Waterford’s are good for horses that get strong and heavy on your hands and a slotted Kimberwick gives that bit of leverage without needing double reins
I’d use a running martingale for hunting, not a standing one - if the horse stumbles its got a better chance of righting itself.
I wouldn’t want to rely on a one rein stop out hunting - they have their place but not amongst a field of galloping horses when you’re on a horse that has a good chance of switching off and setting its neck - you could end up turning the horse right into the path of others and causing a real wreck

[beowulf]

Personally I don’t like to bit up; I’ve done that a few times and sometimes the way they react to a bit can surprise you - so ride and test it first. That and sometimes them being worried about this new bitting can cause more issues than it solves.

Can you go with a running martingale or standing martingale instead? Half the time what I really need with the fresh OTTBs on their first pack expedition is something to keep them from completely inverting to the point a bit isn’t effective, because that’s usually a precusor to them deciding it’s time to go. :lol:

[kcmel]

What size bit does he need? I have many options, several kimberwicks and elevator bits (one ring and 2 ring) with french link. I have Myler kimberwick that’s very mild. Most of them are 5.5 though. I do have one 5" cartwheel bit that is a french link. If I can find it;). I can hand something off to K next week if you are interested.

[SonnysMom]

He did really well at the paperchase with his regular eggbutt double jointed snaffle. I gave him a 1/2 cc of ace about hour before we mounted. He was a bit fussy with his head and rooted a bit but was pretty darn happy. He lead some, was in the middle some, and last of 3 some. If we caught another bigger group he didn’t feel the need to try to catch them. He was willing to keep a safe distance between him and the horse in front. He needed a lead into water and one of the streams he jumped like ditch instead of walking through it. All and all he was really very well behaved. We walked, trotted, cantered and galloped.

1/2 cc is minimal for him. He gets more for turn-out if they haven’t been out due to weather for a few days. He will run a bit after a few days with no turn-out. We have a high clay content so the fields will get slick after a rain. I don’t need him hurting himself. He is already a pro at that and at pulling shoes.