Bitting up - what do you use?

[intrepid]

A bit late but if you don’t have luck I’ll throw in my 2 cents anyway.

My old jumper would only ever curl up in a two- or three-ring, nothing else. I also didn’t like how I felt I had less finesse with the ring bits - I felt too disconnected from her mouth. She was very opinionated, and she had a few different bits she went in depending on the season/her fitness/where we were going. On days she was really fired - classes in a big grass ring, or hunting - I would either use a Mikmar combination bit or (solid) Nathe mouth hackamore bit. For being as strong as she was, she was very sensitive to rough or jointed mouthpieces but I found the combination of fairly gentle mouthpiece with the right kind of leverage and nose pressure was the ticket and I barely had to touch the reins. Those also allowed me to keep her mouth soft, so we could school in a mullen happy mouth loose ring.

[Camstock]

[QUOTE=Ponyclubrocks;6149908]
Not implying anything about the OP or others but my observation in the hunt field is that some people bit up and don’t understand why it isn’t effective for long, but fail to understand how to execute a proper half halt.

Some folks unintentionally start hanging on the bridle, due to tension, excitement or lack of training and some horses will just numb out and start ignoring the bit.

One of my hunt horses, hang on him and he is guaranteed to speed up to Mach 10! If you stay light in his mouth you can hunt him in a simple smooth snaffle.

Just saying what I have observed…[/QUOTE]

I second this. Bitting up is the equivalent of simply speaking more loudly at a person who doesn’t speak your language, hoping that doing so will make things more clear.

Some of the bits described are best used as fencing material.

If a rider can go in an organized way from collected canter to stop in one stride in practice at home, he/she is ready to hunt. This is all simply technique and can be learned. Find someone who can teach you. It doesn’t take long if the instructor knows what she is doing and the student is committed. Ask a really good rider in your hunt.

[SLW]

@gumtree;6163085

I agree

That being said I suggest 1-2 ccs. Or is that a dirty word around here? I am sure I am going to get some snarky comments for suggesting. To each their own. Just feel its good for the horse and rider. IMO issues should be sorted out as much as possible before going out with the hunt. That’s why we have hound walking and cubing.

I have seen many safe results of this being used lightly in the hunt field. When everything else about the horse and rider paired together is suitable but there is a little too much thrust at the beginning of the hunt it can make a positive difference. If we were all hacking in a small group 3 or 4 miles to a hunt it probably wouldn’t even be an issue.

[Xanthoria]

[QUOTE=gumtree;6163085]
I agree

That being said I suggest 1-2 ccs. Or is that a dirty word around here? I am sure I am going to get some snarky comments for suggesting. To each their own. Just feel its good for the horse and rider.[/QUOTE]

Please don’t drug your horses to hunt (or show.) It’s no substitute for proper riding and training, and in a sticky moment your horse needs all his wits about him. It’s dangerous to hunt a drugged horse.

I am sure you will take that as a snarky comment and get ruffled, as you’ve already warned you don’t want to hear otherwise. Such is forum posting life.