krw
Full Member
Posts: 223
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Post by krw on May 31, 2012 19:30:12 GMT
I have a 11yr old connemara which this year we are doing hoys classes with. He has a very soft mouth and goes in a snaffle at home. One problem though when I put him in any bit with two reins he hates it he goes really tence through his neck and jaw then goes bridle lame or gets in the ring a can't keep his feet on the ground and runs off. You name a bit and I have tried it I have spent thousand. Last resort show him in a snaffle what are people's opinions on this? Do judges frown upon it? Please help I'm stuck !
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Post by GinaGeo on May 31, 2012 20:18:25 GMT
I'd show in the bit he's go best in. If your boy is happiest in a snaffle then keep him one. A good judge really ought to look past the lack of two reins, especially when it is just a snaffle being used ;D
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Post by Kerbeck on Jun 1, 2012 8:53:18 GMT
you know what I think  any good jusge will see past his snaffle |
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Post by Jessica on Jun 2, 2012 20:16:52 GMT
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Post by solsfriendpipin on Jun 2, 2012 20:23:05 GMT
we had a dartmoor last year and we did hoys classes in a wilkie it took me 3 years to find a bit he was happy in and i didnt want to risk upsetting him by putting him in a double,none of the judges commented |
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Post by LMSmith on Jun 3, 2012 20:25:00 GMT
My welsh section C goes so much better in a loose ring snaffle than any pelham or double bit however I did some HOYS quals last year in a snaffle but no matter how well the pony goes the judge seems to think the pony is a novice :/
I have now found a double bit that he is happy in however he is not as nice to ride in this bit as his snaffle!
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Post by mcw on Jun 3, 2012 21:18:44 GMT
There was a Section B who qualified and competed in a wilkie last year. |
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Post by LMSmith on Jun 3, 2012 21:37:38 GMT
There was a Section B who qualified and competed in a wilkie last year. Yes there was however this was a true novice and not an open pony in a snaffle. From what I saw of the pony at HOYS it was very baby and should rightly have been in a snaffle. |
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Post by louisegelly on Jun 4, 2012 11:30:24 GMT
Was just about to come on and ask the same question. We have a little coloured traditional who goes really well in a snaffel but the minute you put him in a double hes tuck his self right in. We was told at a county show last year by a judge that also judges at HOYS qualifiers to continue showing in his snaffel. He is only 5 so we will continue to carry on in his snaffel. Also I'm pretty sure Penny H once said she qualified riding a horse in a snaffel
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Post by stunstead on Jun 6, 2012 7:51:08 GMT
My opinion is that if the horse / pony is happy in a snafflw why change to a pelham / double that they are unhappy with.
My fell gelding is much happier in a snaffle than any other bit. I have shown him at county level in a pelham and have tried many different ones, but nothing has compared to his snaffle.
Any good judge should look past the bit and realise that if a pony goes well in snaffle then there is no need to use anything else. Surely the horses happiness and comfort is more important.
If your pony is happier in a snaffle then I would keep him in it. Some judges may mark you down for it, but at the end of the day its just one judges opinion.
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Post by Smurffx on Jun 6, 2012 7:53:58 GMT
My pony has a very sensitive mouth and I have only just found a snaffle which she enjoys (she wouldn't go in anything other than the breaking bit but managed to wean her off it) so I'm dreading ever having to put a Pelham/double in her for the open classes when she's older!
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Post by bunny on Jun 7, 2012 20:31:46 GMT
the pony that won our hoys ridden class at the weekend was in a snaffle. I have debated the idea as ours is better in a snaffle but we seem to have found a suitable pelham he is happy in now as long as my daughter rides off the top rein
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sophiea
Full Member
Its not an obsession, Its a dedication ;)
Posts: 290
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Post by sophiea on Jun 8, 2012 17:07:34 GMT
i show mine as a shp so a pelham does look alot smarter and if she goes in her snaffle she looks like a novice. however i have to practically not touch my bottom rein.
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Post by tbmare on Jun 10, 2012 10:18:23 GMT
Erm, i have 2 separate opinions on this,
it comes down to etiquette or showmanship,
personally i think if doing an open class then it should be a double or pelham, but i am very much with you in what you horse goes best in... perhaps those that go well in snaffle ..could you not try the jointed with and elastic curb chain and the lightest contact on the curb rein, or perhaps a soft rubber pelham, a lot of horses go well in this.. rode my anglo in one if in the open class.
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Post by CRNativePonies on Jun 13, 2012 8:50:02 GMT
I'd leave him in the bit that his happier in! If he goes well in a snaffle then in my opinion thats all that matters. If the judge likes your pony then they won't have an issue with what bit its in. If people get away with riding in swales and other extreme bits then why not put them in a bit at the other end of the scale x
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Post by bethanyy on Jun 13, 2012 11:52:35 GMT
It's trial and error I suppose! If he is happiest in a snaffle then show him in the bit he worls best in, all you can do is try and see how your results reflect the snaffle decision. Yes all judges have a different opinion but at least if you show him in the snaffle you can get an idea of judges' opinions and then react from those - whether it be to compete him in the snaffle or try to find a pelham/double he is comfortable in |
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Post by Kaseyleigh on Jun 19, 2012 7:34:03 GMT
Judges love snaffles especially M&M judges because it shows your horse is working and not being forced in an outline by a pelhum or double stick with the snaffle!.
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Post by showingfanatic on Jun 22, 2012 18:39:36 GMT
just read through this with interest, I have a 10yo sec b ex broodmare who is a novice. she rides away in her pelham no problem but recently taken to grabbing hold and point blank refusing to go forward in it, she does not do this in any other bit. I think ive ridden her in it too often and she has realised now she can lock onto it and not work. She is now working very happily in a hanging cheek waterford snaffle with a nice light contact. i left her in this for a HOYS class, she went sweetly and didn't put a foot wrong but didn't get anywhere, people have said this could be due to her being in a snaffle and consequently looking too novicey.  |
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Post by whp94 on Jun 22, 2012 19:38:48 GMT
I don't see how a pony can look novicey if it's in a snaffle, it would only look novicey if it gave a novicey performance surely?
I'd rather see a pony properly schooled and going sweetly in a snaffle than something that is bitted up and terribly schooled- I've had one like that and it took me a long time to teach him that head on chest and going a million miles an hour is not a good look!!
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Post by showingfanatic on Jun 22, 2012 19:48:48 GMT
well thats what i thought whp94, she did not buck, wrong leg, nap or spook (unlike some :  nor was she overbent. now as she went well im happy and not too bothered, however i now feel im racing against time to get her back in a pelham so she 'looks like an open pony'  |
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Post by kaptinkook on Jun 22, 2012 19:53:37 GMT
I ride my Connie in a french link snaffle and he goes well in it. So for showing I used a french link pelham, loose leather curb and loosish curb rein.
He doesn't seem to notice anything different!!
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Post by katieg14 on Jun 22, 2012 19:58:37 GMT
my 11year old sec B is fine in any bit and sometimes I put him in a snaffle to do HOYS and RIHS qualifiers as if im showing my dartmoor then he as to have the pelham. no judge has ever said anything and hes been well placed when hes had the snaffle in.
I do think as its and open class it is better if they do go in a pelham or double but only if they go there best in one.
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Post by whp94 on Jun 22, 2012 20:01:17 GMT
well thats what i thought whp94, she did not buck, wrong leg, nap or spook (unlike some : nor was she overbent. now as she went well im happy and not too bothered, however i now feel im racing against time to get her back in a pelham so she 'looks like an open pony' I wouldn't feel under pressure or worry about making her 'look like an open pony' put her in what she is happiest in therefore she will be able to give a good performance as she is happy as opposed to not going forwards in the pelham. At the end of the day if a judge is any good they should see past what the pony has in its mouth. Outside of the show ring a pony that's in a Pelham etc. is generally seen as a strong pony - rider needing extra brakes. Why isn't this the case in the show ring? Part of showing is about the pony having good manners right? You don't do dressage in pelhams or bits with hideous mouth pieces! |
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Post by LMSmith on Jun 22, 2012 21:21:20 GMT
just read through this with interest, I have a 10yo sec b ex broodmare who is a novice. she rides away in her pelham no problem but recently taken to grabbing hold and point blank refusing to go forward in it, she does not do this in any other bit. I think ive ridden her in it too often and she has realised now she can lock onto it and not work. She is now working very happily in a hanging cheek waterford snaffle with a nice light contact. i left her in this for a HOYS class, she went sweetly and didn't put a foot wrong but didn't get anywhere, people have said this could be due to her being in a snaffle and consequently looking too novicey. I actually watched your class at Cheshire and recognised your pony from pictures on here! ;D There were at least 3 ponies in the final top ten line up of your class that were in snaffles so i don't think this had anything to do with your placing or lack of  If I had to be honest I would say that your pony was carrying possibly a little to much weight however I really like your pony and would advise you to carry on trying with you HOYS classes |
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Post by Smurffx on Jun 22, 2012 22:28:13 GMT
It was nice and refreshing to see so many snaffles at Cheshire in the HOYS classes! And being high up in the placings, so they clearly didn't mark them down for the sake of what bit they were in, to a point anyway!
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Post by showingfanatic on Jun 22, 2012 22:40:07 GMT
LMSmith she is carrying too much weight, don't think she ever quite got rid of that foal belly lol! i was looking out for other snaffles, i noticed a pally in one but everything else seemed to be in a double/pelham, this is just what people have commented on to me and i did wonder i just dont know weather to leave her in that snaffle or press on with a pelham for the sake of open classes |
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Post by shelliewilson on Jun 22, 2012 23:22:24 GMT
this is a subject i am very interested in myself, my boy done a hoys qualifier in a pelham for the 1st time in may and he was a shambles - put him back in his wilkie (which he goes amazing in) and he got placed 10th at cheshire - now yes he didnt win but i didnt expect a win (he was only broken in 6 months ago and lacks muscle and maturity etc)but to be placed above producers and strong competition answers my question on pelhams, i under no circumstances am going to over bit my pony for no qualifier! seriously use whatever suits your pony and you will be suprised how many will say its nice to see a snaffle for once! :-)
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Post by vikki85 on Jun 23, 2012 8:37:09 GMT
well thats what i thought whp94, she did not buck, wrong leg, nap or spook (unlike some : nor was she overbent. now as she went well im happy and not too bothered, however i now feel im racing against time to get her back in a pelham so she 'looks like an open pony' I wouldn't feel under pressure or worry about making her 'look like an open pony' put her in what she is happiest in therefore she will be able to give a good performance as she is happy as opposed to not going forwards in the pelham. At the end of the day if a judge is any good they should see past what the pony has in its mouth. Outside of the show ring a pony that's in a Pelham etc. is generally seen as a strong pony - rider needing extra brakes. Why isn't this the case in the show ring? Part of showing is about the pony having good manners right? You don't do dressage in pelhams or bits with hideous mouth pieces! Whilst I'm sure it's true that many ponies ridden in a pelham are ridden in them purely for the extra brakes, this isn't necessarily the case with all ponies, and it is a common misconception that all ponies ridden in a pehlam are strong or can't go in a snaffle. Yes, you wouldn't do a prelim or novice dressage test in anything but a snaffle but it is perfectly acceptable to ride elementary onwards in a double. I think the idea with pelhams and doubles in showing is that the ponies are at a certain level in their training to be ridden correctly in these bits (this of course is not always the case!). Having said that, of course if a pony goes better in a snaffle, it should be ridden in a snaffle and I don't see why that should affect how they are placed in a HOYS qualifer. |
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Post by cheryl on Jun 23, 2012 9:07:26 GMT
The B in 2nd place at cheshire had a snaffle in
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Post by sageandonion on Jun 23, 2012 9:55:35 GMT
Could someone explain to me why so many people think a pony looks novicey because it is in a snaffle? I don't know where that could come from. A pony in a pelham, unschooled and clearly placed in it to get the head down looks very novicey, particularly when it is thundering around on its forehand. A pony beautifully schooled to go in the correct manner through the back and on the bridle is just that and clearly shows off a fabulous rider. I am so looking forward to seeing those ponies and riders at HOYS.
So, I need to open my mind and listen to reasons why the pelham is such a necessary piece of kit.
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any good jusge will see past his snaffle
nor was she overbent. now as she went well im happy and not too bothered, however i now feel im racing against time to get her back in a pelham so she 'looks like an open pony' 
