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 Career in Looney Tune Land
Posts: 1717
  
Location: the high desert | If you have a horse that works well at home in a smooth mouth with chain in the middle bit (carol goostree simplicity bit) but gets a bit strong when you take them to a competition to where they are clearly not listening to the bit, would you get a longer shank or a bit that has some twist to it or a little of both? She is not hard mouthed by any means but the faster she goes on the pattern the stronger she gets. So im thinking I need something that has just a bit of bite to it as a reminder. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| if you don't have the curb on it, I would add that and see how she responds then. Adding a curb chain, or leather, will give you a little extra bite. |
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Career in Looney Tune Land
Posts: 1717
Location: the high desert | Yep it does have a curd strap to it. I want her to stay nice and soft mouthed but at the same time I need to be able to have total control. She is normally not overly forward but the last race she was at she was very forward and was just not minding the bit. She loves the barrels and she thinks she is ready to rock and roll but she is only loping the pattern right now lol. I think I will stick with the same bit for now and see how she continues to do with it when I take her to races. Like I said, she is great in it at home and when I haul her to the arena to just ride at, but she knows the difference between going to the arena to just ride versus going to the arena for competition...even though she is just doing time onlys lol. So I was thinking maybe I need just a "competition" bit. |
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Expert
Posts: 1857
| Iwish - 2014-11-17 3:31 PM
Yep it does have a curd strap to it. I want her to stay nice and soft mouthed but at the same time I need to be able to have total control. She is normally not overly forward but the last race she was at she was very forward and was just not minding the bit. She loves the barrels and she thinks she is ready to rock and roll but she is only loping the pattern right now lol. I think I will stick with the same bit for now and see how she continues to do with it when I take her to races. Like I said, she is great in it at home and when I haul her to the arena to just ride at, but she knows the difference between going to the arena to just ride versus going to the arena for competition...even though she is just doing time onlys lol. So I was thinking maybe I need just a "competition" bit.
try just tightening the strap a little when your ready to run, or you could try the dr Bristol short shank if you like the goosetree bits. It'll give you that little bit of gag action but if she is really heavy it'll give you more control when 100% engaged. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| I would probably go to a cervi diamond lifter |
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Career in Looney Tune Land
Posts: 1717
Location: the high desert | Cheryl are you talking about the one cervi bit that has the square mouth piece or one with a twist? I think I want something with a slight twist or a wide twist, not a thin twist as I think she just needs just a little bite to remind her to listen to me. Otherwise I want to keep her in a smooth mouth as much as possible. Thanks guys! Are there any bits that have a slight twist that also have a roller? How are enlo trammell bits?
Edited by Iwish 2014-11-17 8:54 PM
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | goostree has a cg bit (same mouth piece just with shanks) that I like. Sounds like you need a bit of leverage. I run my good horse in a simplicity like you have and my daughter runs him in the cg since she wants to be able to slow him down anywhere anytime. The cervi bits are heavy and my horse does not tolerate them at all. Maybe even the delight would be good......read the descriptions that might help??
http://forums.barrelhorseworld.com/forum/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=440812 |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | I'm really liking the Brittany Pozzi lifter series. I have the long shank in both the smooth and twisted mouth, but you can get them in a shorter shanked version. |
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Impressive!!
Posts: 1954
Location: Idaho | Article from Troy Flaharty and Les Vogt
People think that their horses are so light and ride in light bits, but then you see them wrestling with their horses and pulling on their mouths—that’s what makes hard mouths,” he says. “They get numb to it. In my opinion, if you would use a bit that gets the response you’re looking for immediately so you can release pressure—that’s what keeps the mouth soft.”
Attempting to save a horse’s mouth by under bridling is “hogwash,” says veteran horseman and reined cowhorse hall of famer Les Vogt of Arroyo Grande, Calif. Trying to save a mouth by using bits that the horse can push on and ignore just programs him to become evasive.
“You always want to use enough bridle,” he says. “By enough bridle, I mean right below the fear zone. That preserves the mouth because it commands respect.”
And on my note, I would actually stop riding in that bit daily you compete in and start riding in something like mentioned above at home, to keep them super light and responsive and leave the bit that does a good job in the barrel pen. I am always switching up my bridles and keeping my horses mouth soft and so when I put on something light for the barrels that maybe has a little more shoulder control, etc... I never get in a pulling match.
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Iwish - 2014-11-17 8:52 PM
Cheryl are you talking about the one cervi bit that has the square mouth piece or one with a twist? I think I want something with a slight twist or a wide twist, not a thin twist as I think she just needs just a little bite to remind her to listen to me. Otherwise I want to keep her in a smooth mouth as much as possible. Thanks guys! Are there any bits that have a slight twist that also have a roller? How are enlo trammell bits?
I use the three piece twisted mouth.
I do like the weight of the Cervi as I don't have to pull/use the reins much and I get a response.
As someone posted a horse is not light in the bridle/face if they are pushing on you.
With more bit comes more responsibility from the rider, as you have to consciously ride lighter then before. You cannot hang on the bit, this is how horses become unresponsive, dull, or hard mouthed.
It's not the bit that makes the horse, it is the hands working the bit. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 324
| Try backing her off at home and working in strictly a smooth o-ring snaffle bit and make the simplicity bit her show bit if she works well in it. Once she becomes responsive to the o-ring, the simplicity should provide all the "bite" she needs.
Edited by **Cowgirl Up** 2014-11-18 2:41 PM
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Career in Looney Tune Land
Posts: 1717
Location: the high desert | Thanks everyone for the advice! I completely agree with what les vogt says, makes since. I LOVE that video with carol, very informative.
Edited by Iwish 2014-11-19 12:19 AM
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Location: where ever my horse is | I ride my horses in a Gordy Alderson heavy O-ring with a larger slow square twist mouthpiece. My horses love that bit and then I run them in an Ed Wright bit for competition with a curb chain. I love my Gordy bits as they are handmade and balanced. I asked him to make my o-ring heavier than normal and he did. |
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