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 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
   
Location: Montana | All, right I have 2 questions.
First, I ride my mare in a snaffle...and she sometimes leans on the bit, not always, but she does. I usually move up to a jr. cowhorse to get her to back off, or a twisted wire snaffle to get her to back off, then go back to a regular snaffle. Besides those two, any good step up bits that a horse won't lean on? Her teeth have been done, so I know that isn't an issue.
Second, besides Caldwell, what are good saddles to keep you centered? I can't afford a Caldwell, and am looking at used. I have one that throws me forward, and another that throws me back. The one that throws me back I'm working on adjusting the stirrups to see if that helps. The one that throws me forward, the stirrups are set where they are comfortable and I have the recommended space in the right areas (and a trainer set them for me), but I kind of think it has more to do with my mare's running style (very ratey) than anything.
Thanks in advance!
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Regular
Posts: 98
| for the bit i would try molly powell's rookie bit
and for the saddle i have had luck with crown c's and double j pozzi | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| For a step up bit, I will go to a sweet six, dave Elliott spur up, Sheri cervi diamond lifter short shank, Ed wright fixed bit short shank, Lynn Mackenzie myler bit, o ring combo bit. Those are my go to bits
For a saddle what saddles are throwing you forward and back. The one throwing you back, I wonder is the seat too big?
I find crown c keep me centered, but so does the tod Sloan, Lisa Lockhart (dislike free swinging stirrups, but I can still ride centered), Sharon Camarillo by courts, Marlene eddelman by circle y (the old ones, haven't rode a new one)
Biggest think I find with my saddles, is if my core is not strong I will be thrown forward, so I work on my core, if my horse is leaving me behind at the barrel the seat is too big. I have also heard if you are falling forward then the seat may be too small. | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Thanks Cheryl! Both saddles are 14", one is a Courts (not Sharon Camarillo, though) and the other is a Double J with a Pro tree. I got the Double J because it fits both my mare and gelding with correct pads for each of them, and because I've heard before they don't throw you forward. But, it is the one that throws me back, LOL. The Courts throws me forward only when I'm running fast and turning (i.e. barrel pattern). Other than that it fits good and I like the feel of it.
Like I said, I'm working with the stirrup length on the Double J, as I believe that could be part of it.
As far as bits, I was thinking sweet six because my mare doesn't like a lot of gag and does with the feel of the snaffle when she doesn't lean on it. I can stop her in a snaffle, so I'm not too worried about whoa. | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | cheryl makofka - 2015-02-12 11:50 AM For a step up bit, I will go to a sweet six, dave Elliott spur up, Sheri cervi diamond lifter short shank, Ed wright fixed bit short shank, Lynn Mackenzie myler bit, o ring combo bit. Those are my go to bits For a saddle what saddles are throwing you forward and back. The one throwing you back, I wonder is the seat too big? I find crown c keep me centered, but so does the tod Sloan, Lisa Lockhart (dislike free swinging stirrups, but I can still ride centered), Sharon Camarillo by courts, Marlene eddelman by circle y (the old ones, haven't rode a new one) Biggest think I find with my saddles, is if my core is not strong I will be thrown forward, so I work on my core, if my horse is leaving me behind at the barrel the seat is too big. I have also heard if you are falling forward then the seat may be too small.
Cheryl, I hope you read this, but which mouth piece do you like best on the sweet six bit? I've heard they have a feel similar to s snaffle, and my mare and I like that feel. I know which mouthpiece on other bits we get along with well, but would like to get another idea. I like the plain snaffle, but have been curious about a dog bone mouth piece for a while. I don't need more bend, we are just about right on that, just something that she doesn't lean on. Thanks again! | |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | Disagree with the Cervi. My sister's gelding rides in one. Even the short shank is a big bit with a lot of power, especially in less-than-perfect hands. I like the sweet 6 though. I have one sitting around that's a twisted wire dogbone. If I need to transition my gelding up at any point I'm getting another one in a smooth mouth. I really like dogbones just because a single jointed can fold in a horse's mouth and poke them in the palate. A dogbone won't. | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | cavyrunsbarrels - 2015-02-15 2:17 PM Disagree with the Cervi. My sister's gelding rides in one. Even the short shank is a big bit with a lot of power, especially in less-than-perfect hands. I like the sweet 6 though. I have one sitting around that's a twisted wire dogbone. If I need to transition my gelding up at any point I'm getting another one in a smooth mouth. I really like dogbones just because a single jointed can fold in a horse's mouth and poke them in the palate. A dogbone won't.
Thanks very much! I know with a snaffle I am very comfortable with just a single joint because I know the feel and I know how my horse reacts in it, but was thinking with a sweet 6 that the dog bone might be a better choice. I appreciate your input.  | |
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 Veteran
Posts: 288
| Actually alot of times I don't go to a bigger bit from a snaffle. I go to a little S hackamore. It gets them using their body and of course works of their nose so it leaves their mouth alone. After I get them light again I go back to the snaffle and they usually respect it a little more and use their body better | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| mtcanchazer - 2015-02-15 12:22 PM
cheryl makofka - 2015-02-12 11:50 AM For a step up bit, I will go to a sweet six, dave Elliott spur up, Sheri cervi diamond lifter short shank, Ed wright fixed bit short shank, Lynn Mackenzie myler bit, o ring combo bit. Those are my go to bits For a saddle what saddles are throwing you forward and back. The one throwing you back, I wonder is the seat too big? I find crown c keep me centered, but so does the tod Sloan, Lisa Lockhart (dislike free swinging stirrups, but I can still ride centered), Sharon Camarillo by courts, Marlene eddelman by circle y (the old ones, haven't rode a new one) Biggest think I find with my saddles, is if my core is not strong I will be thrown forward, so I work on my core, if my horse is leaving me behind at the barrel the seat is too big. I have also heard if you are falling forward then the seat may be too small.
Cheryl, I hope you read this, but which mouth piece do you like best on the sweet six bit? I've heard they have a feel similar to s snaffle, and my mare and I like that feel. I know which mouthpiece on other bits we get along with well, but would like to get another idea. I like the plain snaffle, but have been curious about a dog bone mouth piece for a while. I don't need more bend, we are just about right on that, just something that she doesn't lean on. Thanks again!
For the sweet six mouthpiece I like the lifesaver with the I ring in the middle.
All my horses have worked well in it with the exception of the one who likes a Mullen mouthpiece | |
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Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | cheryl makofka - 2015-02-16 11:40 AM mtcanchazer - 2015-02-15 12:22 PM cheryl makofka - 2015-02-12 11:50 AM For a step up bit, I will go to a sweet six, dave Elliott spur up, Sheri cervi diamond lifter short shank, Ed wright fixed bit short shank, Lynn Mackenzie myler bit, o ring combo bit. Those are my go to bits For a saddle what saddles are throwing you forward and back. The one throwing you back, I wonder is the seat too big? I find crown c keep me centered, but so does the tod Sloan, Lisa Lockhart (dislike free swinging stirrups, but I can still ride centered), Sharon Camarillo by courts, Marlene eddelman by circle y (the old ones, haven't rode a new one) Biggest think I find with my saddles, is if my core is not strong I will be thrown forward, so I work on my core, if my horse is leaving me behind at the barrel the seat is too big. I have also heard if you are falling forward then the seat may be too small. Cheryl, I hope you read this, but which mouth piece do you like best on the sweet six bit? I've heard they have a feel similar to s snaffle, and my mare and I like that feel. I know which mouthpiece on other bits we get along with well, but would like to get another idea. I like the plain snaffle, but have been curious about a dog bone mouth piece for a while. I don't need more bend, we are just about right on that, just something that she doesn't lean on. Thanks again! For the sweet six mouthpiece I like the lifesaver with the I ring in the middle. All my horses have worked well in it with the exception of the one who likes a Mullen mouthpiece
Thanks Cheryl, appreciate it.
Wickedstepmother, my mare gets very stiff in a hackmore of almost any kind. I'm not sure if I'm just not good with a hackamore or sidepull, but I don't seem to get along too well with a horse in one. My mare is fairly light mouthed, she just leans on the bit sometimes. | |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| mtcanchazer - 2015-02-16 2:21 PM
cheryl makofka - 2015-02-16 11:40 AM mtcanchazer - 2015-02-15 12:22 PM cheryl makofka - 2015-02-12 11:50 AM For a step up bit, I will go to a sweet six, dave Elliott spur up, Sheri cervi diamond lifter short shank, Ed wright fixed bit short shank, Lynn Mackenzie myler bit, o ring combo bit. Those are my go to bits For a saddle what saddles are throwing you forward and back. The one throwing you back, I wonder is the seat too big? I find crown c keep me centered, but so does the tod Sloan, Lisa Lockhart (dislike free swinging stirrups, but I can still ride centered), Sharon Camarillo by courts, Marlene eddelman by circle y (the old ones, haven't rode a new one) Biggest think I find with my saddles, is if my core is not strong I will be thrown forward, so I work on my core, if my horse is leaving me behind at the barrel the seat is too big. I have also heard if you are falling forward then the seat may be too small. Cheryl, I hope you read this, but which mouth piece do you like best on the sweet six bit? I've heard they have a feel similar to s snaffle, and my mare and I like that feel. I know which mouthpiece on other bits we get along with well, but would like to get another idea. I like the plain snaffle, but have been curious about a dog bone mouth piece for a while. I don't need more bend, we are just about right on that, just something that she doesn't lean on. Thanks again! For the sweet six mouthpiece I like the lifesaver with the I ring in the middle. All my horses have worked well in it with the exception of the one who likes a Mullen mouthpiece
Wickedstepmother, my mare gets very stiff in a hackmore of almost any kind. I'm not sure if I'm just not good with a hackamore or sidepull, but I don't seem to get along too well with a horse in one. My mare is fairly light mouthed, she just leans on the bit sometimes.
The a shank hack does stiffen them up. I use them when my horses have too much bend | |
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