I am going hunting for the first time on Sunday. It is a local unrecognized hunt. They are not expecting a large turn-out on Sun since it is apparently an add-on day.
I pretty regularly paperchase my horse. This last Sunday he about pulled my arms out with his normal bit which is a Myler Baucher. I have used a D waterford with him but it doesn’t have much more oomf.
I need suggestions for a bit that has some more brakes. I am hesitant to use anything with a curb chain as he can get a little light in the front end when he is fresh.
I do plan to lunge him a bit before we go to the hunt and to put on his standing martingale. I haven’t been using one for most of the summer but I think it would have helped this past Sunday.
I am also going to take him out Sat to one of the local parks to make sure he isn’t too fresh on Sunday.
I need to be able to buy the bit locally so that I can try it a time or two before Sun.
Maybe a 2-ring? Or a big twist? I’m surprise the waterford doesn’t work. I found on my horse it really backed him off (too much).
I’d start by adding a running martingale, rather than a standing. I’ve found that a running martingale gives you a bit more leverage that sometimes allows you to stay with a milder bit.
Personally, I hunt in a Kimberwicke but my horse hated the two ring and seems to accept the curb chain without complaint.
I have a 3 ring that I could use on the middle setting. I have a running martingale attachment for my breastplate that I have never used so I could try that with either the waterford or the Baucher.
The BO has some slow twists and corkscrews I could try.
The waterford just does not seem to have that much more stop for this horse.
I am thinking of going out trail riding on Sat. Maybe I will try a few along the way and see which works the best.
I think running martingales in the hunt field are a bit dangerous.
JMHO
Can you borrow a mikmar?
Xeroxchick,
Why do you think a running martingale is dangerous? It is the allowed martingale in eventing because it will release quickly if there is problem over a fence.
I’d say that half our hunt rides with a running.
Of course many came out of eventing so maybe we are pre-disposed toward it.
The only time I’ve been told not to use a running is with a two-ring or three ring bit because here is always some (albeit) slight weight on the reins when you are using a leverage bit it means the horse will always feel it.
I used to hunt my last horse in a bitless bridle and a running martingale (not the Dr. Cook’s, so no poll pressure). It gives me just a bit more control.
I don’t know anybody with a Mikmar.
I am not really sure how to properly fit a running martingale so am a bit hesitant to try one. My trainer is traveling this week so I won’t be able to have her show me before hunting.
I do get the feeling she isn’t a big fan of running martingales. She gave me a quick reason why but I don’t really remember what she said.
Just put a Kimberwicke on my gelding and had a lovely time Sunday in the back of 1st flight. I might miss the upper body work out but look forward to less challenges to my direction in the former slow twist full cheek snaffle.
The upgrade to Kimberwicke was like magic for my horse, too. In the snaffle he was starting to gallop in race horse mode – head down, leaning on the bit. With my injured rotator cuff, that wasn’t cutting it.
Now with Kimberwicke he’s light but isn’t curling behind it. Mine has a quarter moon mouthpiece which he also seems to really find comfortable.
Kimberwickes have different mouthpieces. Try using a bit with a little bit of a port. That way when you are in his face trying to get some control you are not putting lots of tongue pressure on , which they naturally will fight if there is no release. My hunt friends do really well with Myler MB36 mouthpieces. A ported kimberwicke would possibly work too.
I have had a lot of success adding a kineton noseband in conjunction with a waterford bit if the waterford bit does not do enough. The waterford stops them from locking their jaw and the noseband adds slight pressure to the nose similar to but not as severe as a hackamore (I have used it on horses who went bonkers in a hackamore, but went great in it.) I have used this on horses that had similar issues to yours, where the waterford was not enough, but a pellem is too much. As far as martingales are concerned I am not sure how a running martingale could be dangerous, but I am a eventer who foxhunts, so go figure. However I do see danger in a standing martingale. I look at it this way if my horse hits a hole or very uneven ground I want him to be able to use his neck to balance. If his head is tied down he can not and it could end badly. Good uck finding something that works.
Balance makes a big difference
Ashley and I have the same concern about the standing martingale. Of course, we are both eventers who also foxhunt. There are many treacherous spots in the natural ground that you want to allow your horse the freedom to use his head and neck to save both of you. I’ve also had a boarder whose horse broke the standing martingale trying not to fall.
I’m also going to suggest the liberal use of dressage training to train your horse to balance himself and teach you how to cue him and help him.
I wrote a book, INTERMEDIATE RIDING SKILLS, many years ago, that would be helpful for you. It’s out of print, but still on amazon and very cheap. (No, I don’t get anything if you buy it)
Robin Hirst
whicker-I will have to look up your book.
I finally talked to my trainer. She is loaning me a rubber pelham and I am going to try it out with a loose curb chain. She thinks he will be fine in that. I am trying it out on Sat first. It has been a long time since I have ridden with two reins. This should be fun.
I am hoping to pick up some more dressage lessons this winter with Finnegan. We definately can use them. I had some hock issues earlier this summer so the vet had banned circles for a bit.
Thanks for the suggestions.
Well, I went hunting on Sunday 11/21/10 and then again on Thanksgiving. I had a blast. Finnegan was a good boy. Both days were pretty quiet so I think he just figured we were on a gloried trail ride with some dogs.
When we first got to the kennels on Sunday, the hounds were baying he was shaking a bit. I think it was because he was on the trailer and couldn’t see them. Once I got him off he chilled out pretty well.
Thanksgiving started out with snow flurries, then sleet and then rain. It was a short hunt. Thank God for Under Armour.
Finnegan then got to hunt on Sat 11/27 on children’s day with my BO’s daughter. She went on the other two hunts on her large pony. I gave her the option to ride Finnegan since she likes to ride him.
After the hunt was done the fieldmaster and some of the whips took the kids larking down something they call the challenge trail. It is a short trail that winds through the woods with about 7 jumps including a small drop. I think they went thru it like 2 times in one direction and 3 in the other. It seemed like every body had a great time.
It was great fun and I hope to be able to hunt again.
I used a rubber pelham both times and he was great in it. For Cheyenne he was in the pelham but with converters and a slightly looser chain. She had never used two reins and hunting did not seem like the time or place for the first time.
I’m glad to hear that he went so well! To take your daughter so easily is terrific. Congratulations!
So glad it went well!! I hope you are hooked!!
Definately hooked.
Actually Cheyenne is not my daughter. She is my BO’s daughter. She is fun to ride with.
We may try to go again between Christmas and New Year’s.
Before you know it, you’ll be joining so you can go once a week. Then you will try to figure your vacation time so you can do some hunts during the week. THEN… you’ll be hunting 2 times a week and trying to figure 3!!! It is very addictive.
jawa - You are so right. I am going to check into joining and I do have enough vacation to hunt occasionally during the week. Bellwood only hunts twice a week- Tues & Sat.
Bwaa-ha-ha! Virginia is calling…
Then you will start looking for the coth hunts. Practice for the one this spring, heh, heh, heh!
