Bit Suggestions (sorry!)

[Larri DB]

OK I just know I am going to regret this but I will be taking part in my first ever dressage test on the Moose in a couple of weeks (It's on our yard so I cannot use my usual no transport excuse :blush: )

I've swapped between a couple of different bits since her backing (straight bar unjointed vulcanite eggbutt, french link loose ring snaffle and a baucher single joint) I always end up going back to my pelham because she produces by far her best work in it. Obviously I can't use it for the test, so can anybody suggest the best alternative??

Background - 6 1/2 yo Luso mare, temperamental, does wonderful lateral work but still has occasional issues over basic things like transitions when she gets a stress on (holy cow it was like riding a circus pony last night -canter strike off was a capriole :ouch: )

Thanks Peeps!!

[Heather]

Hmmm, Larri- isnt it maddening that so many horses go so well in the Pelham, and we STILL cant use it in dressage?

Well a bit of news, Paul Belton owner of Albion Saddlery and the great German rider Klaus Balkenhol, developed a new pelham, which Paul tells me is a great improvement still on current ones, as they felt the transition to a double straight from a snaffle was too much.

It seems that Emile Faurie uses the Albion pelham for a great deal of his schooling at home now, and Albion and Klaus are trying to get it fast tracked through the FEI for official use in dressage tests. Vindication at last for the good old pelham!!

Paul is sending me one to test, so let you know how it goes!!

Heather

[Funky MeerKAT]

I am riding one of my horses in a rubber pelham, it is his favourite. I too am having the problem of not being able to compete in one for dressage. I think what I am going do is get a rubber mullen mouth straight bar, I also wonder if I could get that in a hanging mouth bit?

Hope my rambling helps lol.

[Larri DB]

Brilliant news Heather!!! Deffo great for the future if it comes off B)

Sadly still won't help me though...bum! Test rules state simple snaffle, so I still couldn't get away with it

Would a kimblewick be an alternative?

FunkyMK I have the rubber pelham and I thought the straight bar Eggbutt was the nearest thing but she gets horribly heavy in my hand with that :(  

[Mandeigh]

a kimblewick can't be used in comp either.

Last year Roh was in a pelham and going quite nice and soft, but still a pain in a snaffle...until now.  I spotted someone useing a plastic covered fillet baucher last year and took a chance on getting on.  It has a french link, plastic covered mouth piece and he is going really nicely in it.  While it doesn't apply any poll pressure, the attachement to the cheek pieces is similar to the pelham...I have no idea if it is anything to do with that...or  amultidude of other things, but I havet o say that so far I am quite impressed with that as a bit and at 24quid .....a bargain!

good luck with the comp and don't forget we will be screaming for pictures!

[lmevans]

Hello

have similar problems with Noosa - lovely soft obedient flexed self carriage in theb pelham, heavy hollow leaning wildebeest in the snaffle.

I've been trying to wean her off the pelham into a french link filet baucher (hanging cheek) by hacking and schooling in the pelham first, then more recently taking off the curb chain and still riding with two pairs of reins, and now still in the curb-less pelham just riding with the upper rein - action is then the same as the filet baucher. She is still heavier in this arrangement than she was in the full pelham set up, but lighter than she used to be!   I'll keep going and see how she goes from here.

Good luck
Lucie xx

[vic]

That's v interesting Imevans.  My 7y/o is out of a shire mare and although he isn't too tank-like 'cos of his Andalucian dad, I ride him in a mullen mouthed pelham by choice.  This keeps him light and happy (I think!?)
For dressage tho' he goes best in a french link baucher too.

I figured there is a bit of poll pressure because of the hanging cheek and the french link prevents him leaning to a point.

(ps I have just discovered his jumping style is awasome in the baucher too - 'cos it stops me taking over all the control when I approach a fence in freeze mode  :unsure: )  

Any horse with draft breeding has been created to have alot on his forehand for draft work, so they have to work so much harder to balance with a rider on board.

[Larri DB]

Cheers guys, I'll try her back in the single jointed baucher tonight and see how she takes it, if pants I'll try and find a french link version.
Have a lesson tomorrow night so may be able to borrow something from my instructor.

Photos?....... I'm trying to get a 5 mile exclusion zone put round the venue, you can almost guarantee the results of our test will be on Kirsty's Home Videos :lol:  

[cassiejane]

I have been wondering lately if you can use a filet baucher in dressage competitions - does it count as a snaffle then?

 

[lmevans]

It is indeed one of the 'legal' bit ring options. I think the BD website has the rulebook in download-able format with pictures to illustrate the legal mouth pieces and cheek arrangements and you can mix and match between them. i.e. any of the legal mouths can go with any of the legal cheeks in your bit choice. So my french link is fine and the filet baucher cheeks are fine so the whole bit is okay in combo!   Hope that makes sense!

Lucie x

[Camacoona]

Like most have mentioned I use the same combination with Ketchup, I use the french link baucher and the pelham.  The baucher is far better than any other I have tried, although you can now get a mullen mouth hanging cheek happy mouth snaffle, though I don't know how good they are for performance.

[cassiejane]

I think I might try a filet baucher - as far as logic is concerned I cannot see any difference in action from the Dutch gag with reins on the main ring - which is the bit my loan horse came with.  

I would like to replace it because I have a thing about them   (particularly when you see them used by children riding jumping ponies on the lowest ring - who are dragging the pony around by the mouth) but actually he goes really well in it so something with a similar action would be a good ideas.

[jaymmz]

When I first got Fletch he was being ridden in a rather harsh pelham, which he didn't like much, and over the first couple of months I tried various bits (happy mouth pelham, flexi dutch gag, copper french link eggbut snaffle) none of which he seemed happy in and all of which he would speed off in when the fancy took him.
Like you I needed to find something suitable for dressage, and someone recomended a Sprenger KK-Ultra loose ring snaffle, which I tried and he loved from the word go. He relaxed with this bit straight away, he salavates nicely, and having used it for about 4 months now I am even jumping 3ft3 in it! Something his previous owner would not believe!
If you have to/want to ride in a snaffle at all, I highly recomend them
James

[Janette]

Aren't horses wonderful.
I can't get away with any bit which has a joint which allows horizontal movement in it.  Star does settle and work very well in her ported mullen Myler, (no nutcracker action, but does have the independent side movement).  However, this bit is illegal as far as Dressage is concerned so we make do ( ) with a mullen mouthe eggbutt.  I'd love a loose ring, but finding one is like finding hens teeth - gold ones!

I did try her in a happymouth for a while, but she ignored it!  Might give that another go, seeing as how we are a bit further on in our schooling.

Just a thought - Because horses ARE such individuals, are BD being a bit short sighted by insisting that all horses should go well in their 'limited' range of approved bits, during a test.  Some 'simple snaffles' can be desperate in the wrong hands.  I thought the aim was to produce a relaxed horse, happy in his work, and willing to listen to his rider.  Limiting the range of bits must be rather like saying some human languages are 'better' than others.

 

[hinny_heart]

"Limiting the range of bits must be rather like saying some human languages are 'better' than others."
Good point there - and made me think that forbidding bitless bridles is like forcing me to wear contact lenses before I can enter an exam, even though they're desperately uncomfortable for me and I normally wear glasses ... it would seem even more illogical if I could take tests in Geography, Biology and Ancient Greek while wearing glasses (X-country, SJ and endurance with a bitless) but had to do my English Lit (dressage) in contact lenses (bit).

Hmm ...