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  Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
 
Location: Illinois | I just got a new mare that is amazing to ride. She is so sensitive to seat and legs and has a nice soft mouth. The previous owner said that she used a combo bit on her (like the million dollar bit) to hold her going into her first barrel because if she comes in to fast it gets a bit squirly. I rode her in that bit and it was way to much bit for her and just seemed to piss her off. I havent had her on barrels yet so I am not sure what she does coming into first. Is there a bit that is light but has enough woah to hold a powerful runner? Help! |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
 
| On my horses I need rate on first, I warm up in a o ring snaffle, will ride at home in an o ring snaffle or a shank hack, and when I do my run I will switch.
I personally like the grasshopper bit for rate |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | I have a grasshopper actually! I used it on her today and she seemed to really like it. Wasn't sure if it had a good amount of rate though because of the chain mouth. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1898
| If you haven't ran her yet, I would hold off on finding the "right" bit for her. She might be something you can warm up, train and do basics in something very light but may need the combo heading into the barrel. I have a mare that is that way. She can be ridden in a halter until it's time to run. She doesn't like to just ride in her competition bit either but doesn't fight it once it's time for her to do her job.
Maybe you can take her to a race and just do a time only/exhibition to see what she does in the combo. If it's ugly, then look for something that matches your hands and the horses mouth. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | Thats what I plan to do, take a few different bits with me and try them out and play around with it until we find what works. Thanks :) |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| If your holding her into the first then I don't consider her light. Was it really too much bit or were you slightly hanging and pulling making her angry?
One: I'd make a run in the bit and evaluate how she did.
Two: I'd find a bit that worked for your hands.
Three: She should be able to just ride around in any bit without getting pissy if your staying out of her mouth. If she can't then you have work to do.
Four: I'd fix the holding to the first barrel problem before it turns into a ducking problem or railing problem from you holding.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | astreakinchic - 2014-10-21 12:13 PM
If your holding her into the first then I don't consider her light. Was it really too much bit or were you slightly hanging and pulling making her angry?
One: I'd make a run in the bit and evaluate how she did.
Two: I'd find a bit that worked for your hands.
Three: She should be able to just ride around in any bit without getting pissy if your staying out of her mouth. If she can't then you have work to do.
Four: I'd fix the holding to the first barrel problem before it turns into a ducking problem or railing problem from you holding.
I have never ran her on the barrels so I don't know the extent of the "holding". The girl I got her from said to just keep her controlled going into the first because if she comes in to fast it gets a bit sloppy and then you can just let her do her thing on barrels 2 and 3. I was not in her mouth at all, she just kept gaping her mouth and shaking her head.. like it was just to much in her mouth. I do have slightly heavy hands but I have been working on it and think about it. She wasn't really getting pissy and didnt do anything bad.. just was holding her mouth open. Like I said, I don't know if she really needs to be held into the barrel or just needs slow work to clean her barrel up. |
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 No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | My granddaughter's gelding is very light. You can ride him outside or do slow work in literally anything. Sometimes she uses a hack, sometimes a little nothing chain bit. He used to run in a short shank Cervi but would never finish the first barrel. She found a combo bit hanging in the trailer and decided to try it. He had a great first barrel, so now that is his running bit. He doesn't like it ride around so she puts it on him immediately before the run. I would like to find something lighter to run him in but am not going to take the chance when he is winning. Your horse may be the same type. |
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Expert
Posts: 1611
| ShortyHorse11 - 2014-10-21 1:23 PM
astreakinchic - 2014-10-21 12:13 PM
If your holding her into the first then I don't consider her light. Was it really too much bit or were you slightly hanging and pulling making her angry?
One: I'd make a run in the bit and evaluate how she did.
Two: I'd find a bit that worked for your hands.
Three: She should be able to just ride around in any bit without getting pissy if your staying out of her mouth. If she can't then you have work to do.
Four: I'd fix the holding to the first barrel problem before it turns into a ducking problem or railing problem from you holding.
I have never ran her on the barrels so I don't know the extent of the "holding". The girl I got her from said to just keep her controlled going into the first because if she comes in to fast it gets a bit sloppy and then you can just let her do her thing on barrels 2 and 3. I was not in her mouth at all, she just kept gaping her mouth and shaking her head.. like it was just to much in her mouth. I do have slightly heavy hands but I have been working on it and think about it. She wasn't really getting pissy and didnt do anything bad.. just was holding her mouth open. Like I said, I don't know if she really needs to be held into the barrel or just needs slow work to clean her barrel up.
I'd go lighter for you both just ridding around if she is gaping her mouth but definitely try her in the million dollar bit in a run so you can see how she does.
If she is having a first barrel problem i'm going to say that you need to put some set back in her (tune on her) or stiffen her back up so you can send her without holding.
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 455
| Run the horse first. In whichever bit. You will probably answer your own question. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1479
Location: rabbit run | SoFast - 2014-10-21 12:42 PM Run the horse first. In whichever bit. You will probably answer your own question.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1162
Location: White Mountains of AZ | My gelding is super light. I found he works really nice in a wonder gag bit. On trails or cow work, I will just use a D or O ring snaffle. My mare is usualy harder mouthed, when I run her on barrels, I use a Little S Hackamore. On poles though, I have to use a chain bit...On the drill team I use a more severe bit. She is funky yes, but she does great if I ride her in those events with those bits/headpieces. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | I love my sherry cervi bit |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 461
Location: Illinois | I tired the grasshopper on her yesterday and she worked wonderfully in it! Yay! |
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