Bit suggestions for greenie?

[gully_s_pilot]

Hello everyone–

I hunted 15 years ago, and now my thirteen-year-old daughter and I have the opportunity to join the field again. I event at Training level; my horse is a Connemara gelding. Katie events at BN and just switched to a 13 yo OTTB (long OTT, but he was there). Both of us go xc at our current levels on these horses in loose ring French link snaffle, but of course I wouldn’t take them into the field without bigger brakes. Any suggestions?

My first field hunter I rode in a gag as she tended to root; my second was a lovely boy who went in a snaffle at all other times, but whom I put in an elevator for the field. I’m leaning toward the elevator. My daughter rode her old horse in a kimberwicke. We’ll have to go buy some bits as a thief cleared out my tack room a few years ago.

[Bogie]

A lot depends on how your horses each react to a stronger bit. I have hunted many horses in a snaffle and just added a running martingale and found it to be enough.

If a horse curls up behind a stronger bit, I’d add something with two reins – a pelham or an elevator – so that I could ride with the snaffle until I needed more.

If horse is okay with a bit more bit in its mouth all the time, I’d ride in a Waterford.

I hunted my OTTB in a loose ring snaffle for his first season until he got too keen. Now I hunt in either a pelham or a Waterford, sometimes a Kimberwicke.

He absolutely hated an elevator and is only okay in a true gag.

Obviously you should try a bit out ahead of time to make sure you don’t get a bad reaction to it.

Have fun!

[jawa]

Have the horses gone on group trail rides? If so, how did they behave?

Some horses don’t need more, or more makes it worse.

[candysgirl]

Do they need more? I ride my Arab either either bitless in a sidepull or an eggbutt oval mouth snaffle if he’s having an idiot day.

If you feel you must ride in something more, I’d suggest a pelham of some kind (pick a mouthpiece similar to what your horse already goes in) with two reins. That way you can ride off the snaffle rein, but can still feel better that you have brakes if you need them.

[Romahorse]

I am hunting my little event horse for the first time this season. First time out
in a french link eggbutt-not enough breaks plus rooting. Next time out, roaded hounds in a Mikmar combo w/o the nose rope- too much bit. This Sunday rode a fast paced hunt in his 2 ring fl elevator, which is what I use to compete w/ stadium/xc, added a standing martingale, & he was perfect.

[Benson]

GP, as others have said, perhaps just a running martingale. You haven’t mentioned nosebands you event in, but I’m partial to a flash or figure eight for one who wants to take advantage. I had a nice, soft mouthed horse who I jumped and hacked out in a french link, loose ring snaffle and when Hunting, he got a wonder bit.

[gully_s_pilot]

A running martingale is a good suggestion. Neither of our horses go in one, though I was thinking my daughter’s horse needed one anyhow, as he evades by putting his nose in the air. They are both in flash nosebands.

I’ve ridden my horse in company several times, and he doesn’t usually get strong, but he sometimes gets competitive.

I emailed my daughter’s horse’s former owner, and he’s not foxhunted before, but he’s gone on trails in groups. She did suggest a three-ring bit as that’s what she’s taken him in xc before. Since I know he’s okay with that we’ll probably try one, plus a martingale.

Do you have thoughts on running versus standing martingale for my daughter? When I hunted before I used a standing one.

[Bogie]

Personally, I prefer a running in the hunt field as I think they are safer – they release more easily/fully if the horse gets into trouble and you get a bit more control.

I know people who ride with standings and I’ve never seen any problems with them. Maybe it’s a holdover from my eventing days where standings are prohibited xc.

[gully_s_pilot]

That’s the thing–I’m more accustomed to a standing, but since they’re not legal for eventing I’d rather buy a running I could use for both.

[Benson]

GP, use the running as a standing (putting rings on noseband). Mine throws his head in the air and takes OFF when he gets competitive. The standing martingale with a flash and a three ring elevator are the keys to success. Without those three, it’s a rough day for both of us.