Which Bit?

[donkeydo]

Can anyone help, got any advice on which pelham/double can help a horse to sit up more infront please

[Milliesmum]

I don't think this is what you want to hear, but anyway - IMO, in order for your horse to sit up more in front, you need for the hind quarters to be engaged. This - in my opinion - cannot be achieved with the use of a specific bit but needs to come with time, patience and correct schooling. Any bit with a gag-type action will raise the head (e.g. wilkie, dutch gag etc,) but you will still have the back end trailing out behind, so you will not have solved your problem.

Sorry not to be more help!

[diadem]

I agree, it s about getting the horse up off the forehand by using positive riding, half halts, good leg reinforcement and lots of transitions. Good luck

[donkeydo]

Do lots of dressage getting high 60% goes nicely in a snaffle but when we use a pelham the pony just tends to lean and can look long, pony can be lazy and backs off the leg so it can be quite difficult

[diadem]

How old is he?

[donkeydo]

Shes 8. Got 69.5% in last dressage test its all there in a snaffle. We use a mark todd pelham with a lozenge in the middle as she seemed happy in that rather than a cambridge with a port.

[apple123]

Think you should find yourself a better jockey!

[Milliesmum]

Sept 29, 2008 14:01:31 GMT apple123 said:

Think you should find yourself a better jockey!

I don't think that's a very kind comment to someone who has come on here recognising that there is a problem and asking for advice?

Personally I would recommend some lessons, as we can all learn, and I hope that through hard work and perseverance you can find a solution and move forward with your pony. Good luck!

[apple123]

Not really as I'm the jockey and it's my mum asking the questions!!!!
Thank you for your advice Milliesmum but unfortunately there's nobody in my area that give decent lessons and because my mare is very tricky trainers seem to be over cautious in lessons so I don't really benefit from them

[Milliesmum]

Apple123, I'm sorry I didn't know the you were the jockey in question LOL!! Is there a reason she needs to go into a pelham, i.e. for the classes you want to do? If she goes nicely in a snaffle then it could be something about the action of the pelham she is trying to evade? Have you tried leaving off the curb chain? or using roundings to lessen the poll action? I think if you could get to the bottom of exactly what she dislikes then maybe you would know what to do next?

[apple123]

:-) I wouldn't be that mean to someone!
She needs to be in a pelham because although she is still a Novice in terms of experience she's an Open Small Hack and I don't really like doing the Show Riding Type classes as she's too horsey compared to 14.2s. We don't use the curb chain or a lip strap, we haven't tried roundings yet. I try to ride her completely off my leg (and a schooling whip to back it up!) but sometimes she can be quite lazy making this quite difficult. I only do dressage upto Novice so she's still in snaffle for that. I would ideally like to have her in a double for my showing classes and ride off the snaffle rein but I get worried about having too much in her mouth - I know a bit is only as strong as you make it and I always try to be as soft as possible so that she feels she can always go forward and not back off the contact. I think it's just a case of trial and error. I've spent three long years working on her, the last show I went to she warmed up for 15 mins beautifully and then as soon as my class started she went all long and lazy.

[ghost]

I find a happy mouth 3 ring gag excellent for lifting the front end, plenty of schooling with upward transitions etc. to get the horse really thinking up and away from the leg. Pelham wise we used a consequero (sp) with success, really suited the pony in particular as she was prone to laziness insisting you carried her with your hands rather than her going in self carriage, soon sorted it though.

[donkeydo]

Cheers for all advice but whats a consequeuero (sp) ghost never heard of it!

[Milliesmum]

www.shop4bits.com/ccp51/media/images/product_xlarge/x-CP%20CONSOQUEROPELHAM.jpg

[diadem]

Awww, Apple you are a trickster and Millie, foot mouth insert, comes to mind LOL, bless.

What about a Rugby Pelham?

Ps Apple, Karma 'd you that made me chuckle.

[apple123]

:-D
He he!!! Tried a rugby pelham before - suited my last horse but not this one. She did go nicely in the Cambridge last week so I'm going to try her in that again.