cecollins0811 - 2016-06-09 8:28 AM It could be too much gag for him and it could scare him? I know that's probably the opposite of what more horses are like with a Simplicity BUT every horse is different. You might also try having no curb pressure with this bit either if he likes the bit but acts like this going fast. Random idea, but maybe also try a Sweet 6 type of bit on him. You might be able to use your hands more since you mentioned that he will *most likely* still turn even if you don't touch his face but it scares you. It would scare me too lol.

OldSchoolCowgirl - 2016-06-08 6:55 PM

My 11 year old gelding is a pretty sensitive guy overall with a fairly sensitive mouth.
I started him on barrels when he was 6 and have been sporadic with his training, so he truly probably only has 2+ years of experience or so.
When he "graduated" to real barrel racing headgear, I wanted something pretty light so I put him in a Carol Goostree Simplicity bit. Smooth mouth snaffle mouthpiece. Loose parachute cord chinstrap and bit guards. Every once in awhile while going into or coming out of a turn, if I happened to hang on him just a little, he would react by humping up and crow hopping for about 4 - 5 strides. But that was it. Nothing else. It was always controllable.
I was off of him for a season, and am now bringing him back, and he is doing the same thing, only in a much more reactionary, violent fashion. I tried him in the same bit with a smooth snaffle with a lifesaver mouthpiece and he does the same thing. A couple of days ago is the first time I let him run a little bit to breeze through a run, and coming out of the first barrel I got behind him a little, grabbed his mouth (but not hard), and he came undone. Humped, crow hopped, and was really thinking about unloading me. All the way over to the second barrel. I breezed him through again and did not touch the reins at all throughout the entire turn and he was level and fine. However, he is very quick and powerful and I absolutely do not feel comfortable running a horse that I have to go through the entire turn without even touching his mouth or using an inside rein at all. It feels like riding a runaway freight train with no control - even though I'm pretty sure he won't run by a barrel.
He is not a counterfeit horse or mean at all - he is acting like he is scared.
His teeth are done on a regular basis and were just done about a month ago so they are good. My vet just looked at them a couple of weeks ago.
Has anyone else ever had this happen in a Simplicity bit? Honestly I don't have super heavy hands so this is surprising to me. I am using bit guards.
Any other suggestions of bits? No bit - maybe a hackamore? I'm lost and need some help.

BARRELHORSE USA - 2016-06-10 10:35 PM Let's talk about this bit first ... it is horribly designed. Take note the bit will slide all the way to the rein ring when in the horses mouth. This changes your pressure zone because the metal portion is now a purchase with no shank and it will apply pressure to the poll of the horse. You can decrease this poll pressure by going to a headstall with a wider poll strap. http://www.equibrand.com/Goostree-Simplicity-Bit-p281/ The curve in the metal part will never allow this bit to be a gag bit... the curve will not allow the bit to slide upwards due to the curve and it being too rigid ... the only true gags are the ones made of sliding rope/curtain twine. The cheap S clips should have been welded shut to prevent them from gigging the horse in the corner of the mouth ... if you insist on using this bit I would have them welded shut. Snaffle bits work in two ways ... pressure over the tongue and pressure in the corner lips of the mouth ... (pressure on the bars is a myth) ... look at how your snaffle sits in the mouth .. it does not bend across the bars... it is pulled straight up higher in the corner of the mouth when pressure is applied .. The only time pressure can be placed on the bars .. is if you are using some type of martingale or you have him over bent at the poll .. which is not the way a horse runs .. The more links in a snaffle bit .. like a chain mouth piece... the more pressure applied to the tongue vs a 2 piece snaffle ... Get rid of your rope chin strap .. they are worthless on a snaffle... you can put you a bit curb from the two rein rings to keep the bit from sliding thru the horses mouth or rings getting hung up on a rope ... I would try him with a pellum bit or a low port curb with grazing shanks on it ... leather chin strap with one finger tightness .. horse and rider needs the chin strap to be against his chin for feel and not flopping all over nowhere .. do these try outs in the same bit for 3-4 days of standing with it in his mouth to just riding him out across the pasture at different times while you work in the barn all day long to get him used to it ... The low port curb will take the pressure off of his tongue and will be tuffer for him to get his tongue over it versus the bit you are using. Even if you have to growl at your vet ... get xrays done on each side to make sure there are no broken roots left from a wolf tooth .. If your horse has a narrow face or short tongue ... he may be getting his tongue over the bit since it has a lot of slack and could be pretty sloppy ... It could be as simple as you stated ..... leave him alone and let him work .. watch what you do with your hands... you may be hanging on him more than you think. Watch Cervi's hands and how she switches to riding two handed at her rates and shortens the inside rein leaving slack in the outside rein ... she holds the inside straight up holding Stingray off the barrel ... her cue to turn is when Cervi releases that small amount of rein pressure ... now watch the slack in the inside rein ... Cervi will bump her just a few times to keep on track and then throw the reins to Stingray to gather and switch to two hands during the run to the next barrel ...... Cervi is the master at little to no rein control and no neck reining .. https://youtu.be/FqGi3WfY74w