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  Discussion on Bit for trail riding
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Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2000 - 11:10 am:

I need some advice. I'm a pleasure trail rider
(I ride English), currently I use a plain snaffle with a running martingale but if my horse gets excited (which is often) then I don't feel I have enough control (what an understatement!). She doesn't do anything really bad, just wants to go fast, and I end up in a real tug of war. My friends who ride Western say I'm way "under-bitted". Can anyone give me advice on pelhams, kimberwickes, others??? I do have a pelham which I used in the past but got tired of the double reins.

Thanks

Posted on Saturday, May 27, 2000 - 4:23 pm:

Hi Pamela :) I saw your message and thought I'd put in my two cents. I didn't see in your question how experience your mare has or if you've tried any other training techniques, so if you have, I may be off base here. Anyway, I think people sometimes replace basic training with bigger artificial aids whether they be spurs, bigger bits, bigger whips, etc. I'm not saying they are never needed, but I believe they are overused. Before you put more bit in her mouth, have you tried lunging her before you ride her? How are her basics? When you aren't on the trail, does she walk, trot and canter when you ask rather than when she wants? If she doesn't, it sounds like she needs more basic work rather than more bit. How are her manners when you're on the ground? I've found if I can't control a horse on the ground, the problems only get worse when I got on top. Does she know voice commands? If not, they can be of tremendous benefit especially if you have a young horse who tends to get distracted easily. The sound of your voice can really get her attention while pulling on her face may just cause her to resist more if she doesn't understand what you want.

About 22 years ago, my parents bought me a 4-year old Appendix Quarter horse mare. We got her right off the track. She was really hot and all she wanted to do was run. I started her on an snaffle bit, but soon moved her to a twisted wire snaffle. All the twisted wire managed to do was make bloody ruts in the side of her mouth. She was definitely more manageable, but it almost ruined her mouth. We sold her when I went to college. The person who bought her put her back in a snaffle and took the time to take her back to square one and teach her the basics. The mare ended up being a quality dressage horse and it was a lesson I never forgot.

Well, hope this helps. Good luck with your mare!

Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2000 - 11:37 am:

Hi Nancy,
Thanks for answering. I know that your advice is the correct advice but for various reasons more training for my horse is definately out of the question. For one thing, she has arthritic hocks and even when treated with injection etc she finds "training" work uncomfortable. Because of her hocks she cannot canter on the bit, for example. Plus she mentally hates it, big time. I "tortured" her for several years with dressage training (with a professional). No one could believe that her hocks were severe enough to interfere with training level dressage, but they do (proven by bone scan). The trainers thought she was just being "resistent".
She is very high strung but really enjoys being out on the trails and I really just want enjoy our trail rides with a bit more control over her.

Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2000 - 5:34 pm:

Hi Pamela,

I agree with Nancy that harsher bits should never be a replacement for training. However, if you're at the end of your rope, then have you tried a curb bit such as a Tom Thumb? It's basically a snaffle bit with shanks. So if you stay off your mare's mouth, it's no different than a snaffle. But if she decides to go, you've got the added strength of the shank. The longer the shank the more severe the action, so try to find a shorter shank. My older Arab mare didn't come with brakes, so I used the Tom Thumb (only on the trail) while re-training her in the arena with a snaffle. I can take her on any trail now with a simple snaffle. But we (or at least I) would have gotten killed if I'd tried that in the beginning.

A curb bit can be very harsh in the wrong hands so you need to be careful. However, if you're sensitive to that, I'm sure you'll be fine. Plus your mare will figure out quickly, that if she settles down, you get off her mouth. I replaced the chain under the chin with a leather piece, to make it less severe. Make sure that it fits properly. You should be able to get two fingers between the strap and the chin. If you know anyone who rides western (it's a very common western bit), ask them to check it for you. And it will fit onto your English bridle if you don't want to buy a Western bridle.

Posted on Sunday, May 28, 2000 - 8:18 pm:

Thanks, a friend of mine uses one like that. She didn't know what it was called, now I know. She loves the bit. I've got light hands so maybe that would work good.

Posted on Monday, May 29, 2000 - 2:36 pm:

I would maybe also look at a flash noseband if you ride in a cavesson.

Posted on Monday, May 29, 2000 - 3:15 pm:

A flash noseband could be useful. I have a TB who can be quite strong with just a cavesson, but he is a perfect angel and stops pulling as soon as you put on the flash, even if it isn't tight!

Posted on Monday, May 29, 2000 - 3:25 pm:

I've never tried a flash on her - I'll give it a try.
Thanks
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