Need bit suggestions for a quirky old horse....

[Mia_Sorella]

For my mare that dives, a rubber Pelham was not a good option. Not only did she continue to dive and yank, but she learned how to brace against the bit as well.

I use a regular d-ring Waterford as our jumping bit. IMO, if you’re looking for hunter “legal” I’d stick with the d-ring as I find they hide unconventional mouthpieces better.

Occasionally, my mare gets a tune-up in a double-ring Waterford, one of the Gina Miles bits, if she’s being just plain rude (this mare will yank you hard out of the tack and then fling her head straight up). It’s a harsh bit; the second set of rings squeezes the sides of the mouth. I ride in it with a loose rein and let her “hit” it herself when she dives down. I’ve only had to do a handful of rides in it as the message was received pretty quickly.

[vineyridge]

If he’s normally a snaffle ride, try a full cheek with keepers. That will stabilize the bit in his mouth, and it is legal for hunters. IIRC. You can get them with mullen mouths as well as jointed.

IMO, a broken pelham is one of the harshest bits available.

[RegentLion]

Thanks all!!!

Yes- a rubber Mullen may be too thick. I was looking for a metal one. He does seem to like his metal French link so I’m going to try that.

I’m not hell bent on continuing him over fences. We don’t do it much now. I now have great food for thought on what to bring up with vet…

so if they’re excited to go/jump but are “doing the dive,” do you stop jumping them under the assumption that it’s pain? Or just lessen?

Keep in mind this IS an 18 year old been there done that fellow… And I’m not in an area that has a vet hospital for extensive work. I have not considered what lengths I’ll go to for him either. He seems super happy to do all his work. He’s got a fantastic work ethic and loves to do his job.

Im particularly loving dressage on him but am getting the jumping bug again as my friend and barn owner is learning to do it.

[betsyk]

[QUOTE=RegentLion;8488909]

Realistically I don’t see us eventing again much if at all. I’ve got 3 kids (4, 2, 1) and events are 6+ hours away. I really just want to do a lot of dressage (love!) and some jumping for fun. My friend is going to go to some hunter/dressage schooling shows and I’m going to go also and would like to do some courses with him. He still seems pretty willing, but I don’t want to push him if he’s hurting.[/QUOTE]

Back yard eventing is the best kind! I’ll probably never get to another real event again, either, but we can play at it at home!

[Grasshopper]

My older mare with a low (practically flat) palate and fat tongue ended up really liking the Myler comfort snaffle, with the wide barrel middle link. For years prior to trying that, the best bit I’d been able to find for her was a JP French link, with the curved arms, and I liked a Waterford for hacking her outside. I did occasionally use a Pelham on her, but she was just a very forward horse and not truly rude or dangerous, so if I recall correctly I mostly used it when my shoulder was acting up and I couldn’t deal with any leaning.

She did injure her SI at some point, but was always the type to get heavy and lean when out of shape, and if anything would lean harder on “harsher” bits except the Waterford. Then we found the Myler and she was so much steadier and happier and didn’t lean on it…and then after a few months she injured herself and was retired. :sigh:

[JenEM]

@fordtraktor;8489754

Boucher is a great bit, used it on my jumper. It won’t be your Hunter bit, though. They are not “traditional” enough. I mean, some people will argue they are fine but it is like showing in a loose ring. Technically OK but just marks you as different. Go D or Pelham, D if you can.

If you try and like the Baucher, you can always use a fullcheek with proper keepers for hunters. Perfectly traditional and acceptable. Mine goes in a Baucher for dressage and sometimes goes in a fullcheeck FL for hunters. Though now we’re usually using a Tom Thumb pelham to jump–it’s just enough reminder when needed, mostly a snaffle when not. I wouldn’t use a pelham without the chain–it can rotate freely then, which is not what you want.

[x]

If you are trying a pelham, the horse will either like a mullen mouth or a jointed pelham–they do make them in a french link mouthpiece if he prefers that. I have found that a horse will like one or the other, but not both, and may go terrible in one, but great in the other. Rules have changed for hunters, so that a running or a standing is acceptable. Head flipping, though, I have had better luck with a standing martingale than a running–they bang their nose a few times and usually stop head flipping. Another bit you might try on him if he is a leaner is a waterford.

[x]

Also, diving after fences–I might try schooling him with a pole on the ground after the jump…so he lands, and in the first canter stride crosses the pole…

[SinMiedo]

I once rode a mare who was very similar to your guy. We tried a plethora of bits without much success until I was advised to try a Kineton noseband. That + a big fat French link was the magic combo for her.
It’s definitely not legal for hunters, but maybe worth looking into for XC. A Worcester noseband is another option; same concept, but it basically looks like a flash attachment that attaches to the front of the bit rings, kinda like a hybrid hackamore deal. They’re both adjustable, so you can vary the amount of pressure exerted on the nose vs the bars.
Good luck!

[IFG]

I have not read the whole thread, but as my horse aged, his mouth changed. I played around and actually spoke with Dale Myler, and this bit made him comfortable. Added benefit, you can rent it from this place to see if it works: http://www.horse-rider-etc.com/merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=HRE&Product_Code=89-29335-RENTAL&Category_Code=MEWNH-RAB

[IFG]

Forgot to add, have you tried a Miklem? The combination of the Miklem and the Myler, really made my fat-tongued horse much more comfortable.