[QUOTE=enjoytheride;8822949]
https://mikmar.com/images/product-line/largebits/short-bit_03.jpg[/QUOTE]
My TB really likes this Mikmar – no nose rope, but he loves the mouthpiece. When he gets nervous he spins the roller.
I rode in the slow twist at Fair Hill today and thought we had a winner because she came right back to me after the fence as well as responding to my half halts before the fence but I was wrong. Turns out she didn’t get quick because she didn’t want to go anywhere. We schooled my level as a group then my trainer got on her and took her away from the group and schooled the BN course by herself and had to switch her back to the elevator. I have a Pelham, I will try that next and if that doesn’t work with start working through the suggestions you all have made. Thank you for helping us figure her out.
I have had a really bad summer health wise so haven’t ridden but a handful of times in a few months and haven’t jumped in several months. I was planning on just hacking along with everyone until my trainer was done teaching then handing her off but I ended up jumping tons of jumps. I am paying for it now but it was a blast!
That was an interesting response to the bit, Laurie
I was going to suggest a slow twist as well. I have also used a French link, Dr Bristol regularly. For a while I used a Waterford and a full cheek with a copper roller, on a horse who liked to lean.
[QUOTE=Laurierace;8822987]
I rode in the slow twist at Fair Hill today and thought we had a winner because she came right back to me after the fence as well as responding to my half halts before the fence but I was wrong. Turns out she didn’t get quick because she didn’t want to go anywhere. We schooled my level as a group then my trainer got on her and took her away from the group and schooled the BN course by herself and had to switch her back to the elevator. I have a Pelham, I will try that next and if that doesn’t work with start working through the suggestions you all have made. Thank you for helping us figure her out.
I have had a really bad summer health wise so haven’t ridden but a handful of times in a few months and haven’t jumped in several months. I was planning on just hacking along with everyone until my trainer was done teaching then handing her off but I ended up jumping tons of jumps. I am paying for it now but it was a blast![/QUOTE]
I wonder if I saw you guys. I was there schooling too. It was a beautiful day for it. I am glad you had a good school.
Well, here’s to having a blast while experimenting!
It was extra special because I was riding my mare who I created to attempt to make a successor to my irreplaceable schoolmaster who taught me what little I know about eventing today. My first ever event was at Fair Hill with him and we won. Cantering through that water complex was one of the funnest things I ever did on horse back thanks to him. So I nailed the name plate from his halter along with a lock of his tail to the tree overlooking that water complex so he can watch over it forever. Then I cantered through it on my mare! Not often plans work out like that.
Not sure why the pic is sideways. Sorry
Didn’t some of y’all quote some BN as saying “Less is more”? Why not start with next to nothing and slowly move to more as you seek the perfect bit?
[QUOTE=Laurierace;8823557]
It was extra special because I was riding my mare who I created to attempt to make a successor to my irreplaceable schoolmaster who taught me what little I know about eventing today. My first ever event was at Fair Hill with him and we won. Cantering through that water complex was one of the funnest things I ever did on horse back thanks to him. So I nailed the name plate from his halter along with a lock of his tail to the tree overlooking that water complex so he can watch over it forever. Then I cantered through it on my mare! Not often plans work out like that.
Not sure why the pic is sideways. Sorry[/QUOTE]
Moments like that make it all worthwhile.
[QUOTE=vineyridge;8823734]
Didn’t some of y’all quote some BN as saying “Less is more”? Why not start with next to nothing and slowly move to more as you seek the perfect bit?[/QUOTE]
Like I said in the OP she is in full training with a capable trainer. She has been for three years. Her everyday bit is a double jointed snaffle. We are years past “starting with next to nothing”
There’s a great section in George Morris’ book about his “less is more” days. He went through that stage too, riding jumpers all in a fat loose ring snaffle. Then after getting his arms ripped out for a year or two, he changed his mind to “having a bit that allows you to control your horse to the fences is more”.
I am firmly in that school, and my current two horses wear quite mild bits. One jumps in a nathe loose ring and the other jumps at home in a Novocontact eggbutt. Still, when I find I don’t have brakes I add them so my horse doesn’t pull me past the base of fences and have a rotational fall. I am certainly no BNT.
It is of course a goal to get the horse to be as responsive as possible but some horses get excited about jumping and need a little help for a while. a bold horse is a good thing – mostly.
I have to say, my favorite jumping bit is short shank steel mullen mouth pelham with double reins. It lets me ride off the snaffle until and unless I need to engage the curb rein. The curb effect is there if the horse tries to brace and/or drag me around.
I know people think that double reins are too much to manage on XC but I think the trade off of variability in bit strength for the situation is well worth it
YMMV
I know how to hold two reins but don’t know how to use one rein over the other without shortening or lengthening one. My trainer will try the Pelham and if she thinks that is the one I will try the converter.
Have to say how cool it is that you were back at FH, with that history. Good luck with the Pelham! Bet you’d pick up the 2 rein thing fast but if the horse likes it with converters, who cares?
