|
|
 Expert
Posts: 1631
   
Location: Somewhere around here | In your opinion and past experiences, what bits have you had luck with on horses that push against a bit? |
|
| |
|
 Total Germophobe
Posts: 6443
Location: Montana | Personally, I really like a Jr. cow horse or similar bit, but mine mainly ride in a snaffle the rest of the time. |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 974
Location: USA | cecollins0811 - 2017-10-30 9:18 PM
In your opinion and past experiences, what bits have you had luck with on horses that push against a bit?
Something with a port like the petska or Lynn McKenzie yes ma’am. Molly Powell has a long shank chain mouth that will get them to back off. Also Paul Humphrey’s new ported bit is good |
|
| |
|
Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Just have to experiment, that’s why I have a bit wall.
First I would make sure we aren’t dealing with a dental issue or other soreness issue. A poorly fitted saddle for example could make one want to stay hollow and not give his nose and round his back.
Then I would go back to basics with a snaffle and probably German Martingale to soften him up again, using the martingale for 3 or 4 rides and then taking it off to gauge progress and not become dependent on it. Lots of circles, push him into the bridle, transitions, etc.
Once that done, start experimenting with mouth pieces. We have a couple who don’t care for tongue pressure and will feel heavy in a dog bone, put them in a ported chain (same shanks - I probably have 5 or 6 different jr cowhorse bits all with different mouths) and they’re a different horse. I’ve seen some hate a 3 piece with a ring center, but get along great in a dogbone, and vice versa.
We keep a Molly Powell rate and turn pretzel on the wall for ones that become truly pushy, maybe a heel horse who wants to walk through the stop instead of planting his butt because he’s learned we rarely dally at home - changes their tude after a half dozen steers or so and we go back to their normal bit. We find it’s generally too much for ours to go in daily. |
|
| |
|
Expert
Posts: 1280
Location: Texas | Ed Wright Pretzel |
|
| |
|
 Owner of a ratting catting machine
Posts: 2258
| Too many variables.
A general rule of thumb is the more shank, the smaller diameter the mouth piece, the more twists in the wire, and the smaller and tighter the curb, the more whoah.
Keep in mind that instead of ramping up on the bit, it's usually better to go lesser and spend some time getting horse really broke and responsive. Make sure an equine dentist, lameness vet, and chiropractor see your horse.
I have one that pushes the bit when he's sore somewhere. Another that pushes when his teeth are a little unbalanced. One that pushes because she has such a huge motor, she gets a Goosetree lifter or a Charmayne Waterford and stays honest. Small twisted o ring with a martingale for everyday work on all three. |
|
| |
|
 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 460
| Lots of good advice =] Agreed with above, I always go snaffle and back to the basics...but if your horse has a bad past and is really pushy and run off type, I would try a hackamore! My real racey, run-off type I always take the bit out if need be =] It helps! Good luck =] |
|
| |
|
 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | cecollins0811 - 2017-10-30 9:18 PM In your opinion and past experiences, what bits have you had luck with on horses that push against a bit?
Depends exactly what you mean by one that pushes against the bit.
I'd say in most cases, re-training is in order. You can bump up the bit, but if nothing else changes, often the horse will learn to push in the new bit too.
Yes, there is something to be said about using a bit that the horse likes and/or prefers for them to be the happiest, but you have to consider the training too.
|
|
| |
|
 Reaching for the stars....
Posts: 12708
| Are you talking about during flat work or during a run?
My rocket mare would push against anything in flat work until you let go of her. Then she was super soft and respectful in any bit or hack.
During a run tho she was a fire-breathing-dragon and I went with a combo with a copper roller (for her to play with) and some lift and purchase. Even if she got the bit in her teeth I'd still have her nose and no matter how hard she ran I would have control of her as needed. |
|
| |
|
 Elite Veteran
Posts: 966
Location: Loco,Ok | Â Because a horse is an animal of flight. You pull they push. Then add more headgear and you brace up they brace up against you. When you hurt,scare,surprise them they have a tendency to run. You trap them. Put in a bind they will have to do something to get out of the trap. Use your feet more than your hands. Don't pull so much. |
|
| |
|
Elite Veteran
Posts: 747
| I had a mare doing that and Ryan Lovendahl had me put her in a ported bit and it worked really well. I wasn't sure why it worked at the time, just knew that it did. Recently on Facebook there's a video with Dena Kirkpatrick and Casey Deary and they talk about the Jim Edwards bits. Casey does a nice job of explaining that horses "go to pressure" so when the mouthpiece is putting pressure on their tongue, they're going to lean into it, it's just natural for them. Kind of like how when you push on them and they lean into your hand, they go to pressure. So when you put a low port in that alleviates that pressure on the tongue, they stop pushing against it. It essentially gives the tongue somewhere to go.
I'm not sure if this makes sense the was I explained it, but the video was really helpful for me! |
|
| |
Folks on-line