Bit suggestions needed

[KyrieNZ]

So I took my new hunter on a hunt farm ride last weekend. French link and grakle as per usual at home. I turned back after 10 mins as she was strong (and as I wasn’t well the previous day, didn’t have the strength or desire to continue).

I rode her for a week in a happy mouth pelham, double reins, no chain, much happier with the braking system.

At the hunt in the weekend she was good, but I found the double reins a little fiddly (I am usually quite happy using double reins). After a strong ‘check’, she wasn’t happy about that much curb/leverage action so I am thinking about changing to a Kineton noseband, but a snaffle bit - perhaps a Waterford?

What do others use with a Kineton?

My mare doesn’t leap, buck, rear, plunge, etc - she’s just strong.

[pologirl27]

My mare used to be very very strong and hated a pelham. I found a ton of success with a Myler bit with a port. I could use a kimberwicke too. Less leverage than a pelham but you still have brakes. No personal experience with Kineton nosebands.

[connemarafan]

I like a three ring french link elevator (or gag as we call them in England) with a fairly snug flash and I’ll switch to a ported pelham with an elastic curb chain for a big meet in unusual surroundings. My mare sometimes starts out fresh but after the first couple of runs she does her own braking which is lovely! I haven’t ever used a kineton either.

I should add I found my steering went in a waterford, strangely enough so that might be something to keep in mind.

[Beau_s_mom]

Myler Kimberwicke for my guy. Works like a cham.

[KyrieNZ]

Thanks for the replies, I have a few bits at home to try, including a 3 ring gag. Think it will be a case of trial and error until we find a happy medium

[Hunter_s_Rest]

A kineton is quite strong, and will certainly help with a lot of bull-headed horses. I’ve galloped a few horses you can’t hold one side of without it; they’re like little lambs with it - kineton + a normal thin-ish D-ring snaffle. On the other hand, I had a wonderful steeplechaser I trained here to 2 championships who I could not hold in anything, including the kineton. YMMV, but if they don’t pull on it, it just sits there. Self-rewarding.
With good hands - steady, quiet, educated, my go-to bit is a plain snaffle gag. With a figure 8 if the horse opens his mouth to evade the action.
A Waterford, I’ve found, is quite soft.
I would not put a kineton on a Waterford bit. (But I have not so I could be wrong!)
With good hands, though, the traditional gag is strong when need be, but just a normal snaffle otherwise.
I have 2 that favor the Mylers. She may not like the action against her tongue. Certainly worth a try.

[jawa]

I wouldn’t want to use a kinetoscope with a Waterford. It might be fine for a short day with limited correcting, but if you have a long day the combination might create pinching and rubbing.

[Come_Shine]

My go-to is a Wilkie snaffle/wonder bit.

Good luck with it!

[bornfreenowexpensive]

This has been a useful bit for strong horses as there are a lot of different configurations you can do. Not overly harsh either so some of the diva but strong horses do not object to it.

https://www.equestriancollections.com/english-horse-tack/english-bits/gag-bits/stubben-ez-control-doubld-joint-3-rng-gag-bit

[Debbie]

I use the kineton with a level one Myler and have great control. My horse tends to lean down and this combo softens him and keeps his head up without a lot of pulling. He greatly resented a 3 ring and a Pelham, but is quite happy in this combo.

[otterhound]

Surely there wouldn’t be any curb action with no curb chain? Perhaps try her with one and see if the different action helps?

[xeroxchick]

Sometimes if you try a french link pelham that has a copper roller it keeps them soft and you can just use the curb rein when you need it.

[csaper58]

A cross chain caveson? It crosses under the horse’s chin, right side chain to left side curb hook; left side chain to right side curb hook.

Depending how tight/loose you adjust it, it can give you more stop, with leverage on the nose.

You can use it with any bit with curb hooks, like a Kimberwick or a Myler or a pelham with rein converters. You don’t need two reins.

www.wcircle.com/inc/sdetail/475 I would never add spikes on the noseband.

[Willesdon]

As she is apparently over enthusiastic rather than misbehaving, how about a Kimblewick. Slight leverage and the curb to add further braking power. Not too severe.

[Linda]

My jumper was almost uncontrollable over fences. He loves to jump and literally never ever stops at a fence. So controlling him on our approach is not easy.

As a result, some yrs ago, my trainer had me switch to a 3 ring and PRESTO, I was back in control… The thing I especially like is that I ride it with two reins. When he is calm and relaxed, I can just ride off the snaffle with the top rein.

When we jump, I pick up more contact with the bottom rein and he immediately backs off and is respectful. Such a fun ride when it doesn’t seem that we are running the Kentucky derby. Love love love that bit!

[BeastieSlave]

When I first started hunting my guy, I really liked a kimberwicke that did not have slots for reins - like this: http://www.doversaddlery.com/kimberwicke/p/X1-01106/?utm_campaign=bazaarvoice&utm_medium=SearchVoice&utm_source=RatingsAndReviews&utm_content=Default
It allowed for a bit of curb action, but I felt like it didn’t have as much leverage as a slotted kimberwicke or pelham.

My horse really is pretty sensitive and not hard to stop (just a little enthusiastic sometimes). He also has a low palette and once he got the hang of hunting, I found he prefers a mullen mouth 2 ring elevator and he hunts in this bit: http://www.doversaddlery.com/happy-mouth-mullen-mouth-2-ring-elevator-horse-bit/p/X1-01665/