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The tack room

Need a 'bit' of advice (see what I did there?!)

2 replies

needastrongone · 20/05/2014 10:20

Thank you always you knowledgeable horse folk.

We have had our loan pony 3 weeks now. She is lovely, and she has settled in really well already, but isn't a novice ride by any means (nothing that DD can't deal with as she is experienced enough now to handle it)

My question is about 'bits' Forgive my lack of knowledge.

Our own pony, who is going in 2 weeks, was our first. He is incredibly soft mouthed and responsive, if not at all forgiving to a heavy hand. We have only ever used a snaffle for him, and we figured eventually that he was most comfortable in a plastic, two piece eggbutt snaffle. And so used this. Clearly not a strong 'bit'.

Dloanpony has a far less 'flighty' and sensitive nature, but has far worse 'brakes', is much stronger and harder to stop. She's more forgiving though to a heavier hand, but actually, because of Dpony1, DD has soft hands (in the main). Happy that DD can deal with this.

We need to keep her in a snaffle, given we do a lot of mounted games at PC and MGA (only allowed a snaffle and no crop), and she came with a hanging cheek (plus a few others I don't know the name of) I wondered if folk had any suggestions? I am not wanting a strong bit to do the job of correctly riding and forgive me if I have used quite the correct terminology and asked the question incorrectly but she is much harder to stop then Dpony1, who will stop on a sixpence.

She also head tosses a lot, which I think is habit or impatience, she loves doing stuff but will head toss when stood. Teeth fully up to date (last week), saddle was expensive and correctly fitted, back is fine? Uses a martingale anyway.

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Muddiboots · 20/05/2014 15:12

Id say for games a hanging cheek snaffle with possibly a grackle noseband might give you better brakes? Thats what we used on speedy little game pony.
Dont like flashes really but Grackle has sightly better action IMHO

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needastrongone · 21/05/2014 13:08

Thanks, friends at the yard have suggested a hanging cheek with a drop nose as not sure she likes the grackle (not tried).

Appreciate the reply.

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