Opinions on Kimblewicks please

[sparkle123]

Just wondering what people's views/experiences are with this bit?

We got our Connemara whp end of December 2011, who was previously ridden and competed in a tomb thumb bit (with bit tape). We haven't really changed this whilst getting to know him, although recently he seems to be resenting it a bit; not uncomfortable just not really respecting it. His previous owners used to vary the tomb thumb with a waterford universal bit, we think for this reason. We have ordered the waterford to try but in the mean time tried out about 5 different bits today.

He does get keen jumping and with the tomb thumb tends to hold his head high during this phase, which obviously he gets marked down for! Although he isn't really strong, he does tend to lean a bit and get faster and faster through out the round!

So with our instructor we tried him in the kimblewick, and it made a huge difference; he wasn't heavy in the mouth but held his head very nicely and skipped round enthusiastically a 1m course with still being keen, but nicely and controlled! Some of the other bits we tried he felt like he wasn't going forwards, but he felt really good in the kimblewick.
We have borrowed it and may use it this weekend, although instructor warned us that sometimes it only works for a while?

Sorry this is long! Just wondering if anyone had any experiences with it or could tell us a bit more about it!

Thank you!

[sarahp]

Seems to have gone out of fashion! When my children were small it was used for extra brakes for those too young to ride with two reins, daughter used to hunt her C in one but everything else was done in a snaffle.

[GinaGeo]

I wouldn't use it as a schooling bit, as the curb will be in play whenever a contact is taken. But I have used it with success for hacking my own Connie in the past. He's now in a snaffle for all discplines and I just add a Martingale for hunting and jumping.

In short it's not a bit I'd use every day, but occasionally when better "brakes" are needed for safety's sake out hunting or jumping it'd quite often be one of my first port of calls.

It was very popular when I first joined Pony Club and some of the more old fashioned families still swear by them. It seems to have been replaced by the more fashionable Dutch gag now though which I'm not keen on.

[sageandonion]

Well this will surprise you all. I actually think the kimblewick has a place, safety. It is good for a very strong horse and/or one that carries poll low on the forehand. The curb can be elasticated, loose or tighter and it requires just the one rein which is better for the less experienced rider.

So it isn't for schooling, but I think in other circumstances it is very useful and is I think making a fashion comeback.

Way better and kinder than the tom thumb or the three ring gag.

[sparkle123]

Thanks for your replies, yes we would only use it to compete and keep him in the snaffle at home. I have heard it was 'old fashioned' but having tried the dutch and english gags, another waterford and two different pelhams thought that the kimblewick was by far the best for him today

[fanfarefan]

i used to hunt/xc/sj, a cob in a kimblewick , it worked marvels ,i had brakes , and i had a head that wasnt heavy and on the floor , i personally think it is a very under used bit , but fashions change !!!!!!

[piaffe]

I used to use a kimblewick on my old jumping pony. She could take a bit of a tow in a snaffle but I had fabulous brakes in the Kimblewick !!! I agree it's not a fashionable bit, but I used to swear by it !!!

[sageandonion]

So I shall confess, I have one in my tack room. I don't have cause to use it but it is there with my essentials. KK Sprenger do one if you want a really classy metal.

[ikklecob]

Jun 27, 2012 19:10:51 GMT sparkle123 said:

I have heard it was 'old fashioned'

Now't wrong with old fashioned if it works.

You never know you could start a trend.

[hollyberry86]

My old pony hated most bits, I tried the lot from snaffles to dutch gags to wilkies. She was too strong in snaffles (pervious owner not me) and didn't like the poll action of a gag. She went really well in a kimblewick but as it wasn't appropriate for the show ring I then tried her in a straight bar pelham with two reins and never looked back. I only rode off the top rein but was reassuring to know the brakes were there if necessary.

After a lot of perseverence she would in the end go fairly nicely in a snaffle but never as well as she did in the pelham.

[gurnos]

I used to use a kimblewick when I was a small 9 year old riding a full up 13.2hh section C. Would much rather use on of these that a gag which are 'fasionable'!

[LucyHebditch]

Love a Kimblewick!

[Milliesmum]

You can get them with plain 'rings', and you can also get them with slots in the bit ring, so there are two options of where to put the rein, the lower slot giving you a bit more curb action. Which is an option if there are occasions where you need a bit more brakes!

If it suits him, he's happy in it and he goes well, then it sounds like it's the bit for you!

[FF]

I had a slotted kimblewick for my welshie for fun rides. Just kept the speed under my control.

[barbiegirl]

I share a 14.2 traditional and he schools nicely at home in a kimblewick. I show him in a ported pelham. His owner went through a phase where she found him strong and lost confidence so put him in the kimblewick. We have since tried all sorts of other bits, snaffles, wilkie, french links, waterford but he goes best in the kimblewick. I had a lesson on him last week and he was really working well in it and instructor said if he is happy to school in it then leave him in it.

[baggygirl]

My mum had a kimblewick bit on her 17hh Irish draught who hunted a lot. He went fabalously in this bit and never had any ifs or buts with it! I also had a globe pelham with my very strong 12,2hh which are very similar to a kimblewick. Yes, it is old fashioned but few workers use them now including Gold Digga.