[littlecelticpony]

Hey all....
as most of you know, I own a 16hh TB gelding. Well, he goes very well in a loose-ring snaffle while flatting and over jumps. however, when we hack out he a gets all fired up and ready to go!
so here's my question...
i'd really like a bit that i can just ride in like normal but have a little "extra" there in case i need to remind him...does that make sense?

something where i can still ride "snaffle" but have something in the back pocket...any suggestions?
thanks, guys.

[AnnaBelle02]

Well I'm a big fan of the snaffle so here is my all time favourite suggestion - get a thinner snaffel. If he responds well enough in the one you have a thinner one can only give you the same response but with an added degree of "response". Your hand commands will be "sharppened" with a thinner bit.

[slc]

i don't go with the thinner snaffle, myself. they often make the horse that wants to go toss his head, and i've had a couple bloody noses as a result. i'd try training and a fig 8 caveson or other to keep the bit you have in a better spot, or if it's really quite bad, a gag or pelham. eventers are a good example and they will put on a little more brakes on the chargey horses when they go outside.

[Toby&Arie]

My horse is the same way, he can go off of a snaffle in the ring with no problem but outdoors there are tons of distractions and he loves to go go go... takes too much heaving to get him to stop out of doors in a snaffle. That's why I put him in a pelham. When he's going along nice and mellow I use the top rein but when I need the curb rein, it's there. It works really well for us and I've had no problems with it.

[littlecelticpony]

eventers are a good example and they will put on a little more brakes on the chargey horses when they go outside.

well, that's what we do...so...because, like you guys said, i only want it there if i absolutely need it, especially since my endurance level isn't quite at the same his is yet. i do ride him in a flash, am planning on getting a crossed or figure 8 while i'm at the trade fair this week.

do you think a broken pelham, then?

[CJ]

Raps' breeder used a thin little leather strap, or piece of baling string, loosely from one bit ring to the other Over the horse's nose as a little gentle extra reminder about whoa-means-whoa.

[Super_Trooper]

I dont know if I would be so quick to change the bit....my horses will do the same, when we go out, they get excited and are a little prancy....instead of changing the bit I would use your other techniques to get him under control, do some circles, use your voice, get your horses attention back on you. I ride my horse is a full check, french link snaffle, it is a gentle bit and he listens to me thought other comands.

When you horse starts to act up on the trail, you dont want to yank on the mouth anyway....move them forward and get their attention back on you.

[littlecelticpony]

he's not a bad/crazy/idiot/freak horse on the trails, just sometimes when we canter in company he can get a little heady. which is why i'm leaning towards a pelham so i can ride 99.999% of the time on the snaffle and only have the curb there as a back up if all else fails. i just want something i can say "EH-EH! no! i'm up here, remember?" and immediately reward and go back to the snaffle rein.

<small>[ April 19, 2004, 12:42 PM: Message edited by: littlecelticpony ]</small>

[Super_Trooper]

Oh yes...I hear you! When I ride in a group, the minute we pick up a canter, my horse leaps into race mode. It feels like he is actually "flying" and I do need to get him on a cirle and get him back listening....

crazy horses anyway!

[littlecelticpony]

yeah... i think i'm going to look at a few pelhams, just do some research.
since he goes so well in a snaffle, and obviously i'll be riding him on the snaffle rein, should i try a jointed pelham?