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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
  
Location: Idaho | I have a 4 year old colt that I have owned since he was 11 months old. I had a friend of mine put 60 days on him to get him started as a late 3 year old, and then I started to put the bells and whistles on him. He is my first baby so I am not exactly a pro, but I think I have a good idea on how things are supposed to go. He is a very willing boy, ground works nice, lunges, walks, trot, lopes, ponies, circles, lateral and vertical flexion, leg, body and voice cues. We are starting to learn how to side pass, slide stop, flying lead changes and engaging his hind quarters/hips and getting under himself when he moves. I started him in a halter and he has since been moved to an eggbutt snaffle with a french link, and is now being ridden in an O ring with a Twisted wire. He works good in it, but I think it is time for him to move up a little bit more to something else. But being this is my first time starting a horse myself, I am not sure what would be best or what the next step is.
Wondering if anyone has any recommendations? Or knowledge they would be willing to share on this topic?
Edited by DashNDustem 2015-07-17 1:09 PM
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | I like to move from a snaffle to loomis gag. Then a goosetree simplicity or short shank ed wright. Dena has a good video on youtube of bits. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| Same as linds, I move mine to a Loomis gag. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
Location: Idaho | I have thought about buying a loomis and have read a lot about it, would another Draw bit be satisfactory? I have read that you need to be experienced with a Loomis to work it properly or it can do more damage than good, and I unfortunately have never used one before. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 883
Location: Southern Indiana | DashNDustem - 2015-07-17 1:19 PM
I have thought about buying a loomis and have read a lot about it, would another Draw bit be satisfactory? I have read that you need to be experienced with a Loomis to work it properly or it can do more damage than good, and I unfortunately have never used one before.
I agree a draw gag is the next step. You can use a loomis or one of the d ring ones. I find more horses like the loomis better. As long as you have good hands and know when to release pressure you will be fine in a loomis. Basically if you are always hanging on to them and are constantly in their mouth then yeah your gonna do damage. With a draw gag you want to bump and release, not a steady pull. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
Location: Idaho | TheDutchMan01 - 2015-07-18 11:31 AM
DashNDustem - 2015-07-17 1:19 PM
I have thought about buying a loomis and have read a lot about it, would another Draw bit be satisfactory? I have read that you need to be experienced with a Loomis to work it properly or it can do more damage than good, and I unfortunately have never used one before.
I agree a draw gag is the next step. You can use a loomis or one of the d ring ones. I find more horses like the loomis better. As long as you have good hands and know when to release pressure you will be fine in a loomis. Basically if you are always hanging on to them and are constantly in their mouth then yeah your gonna do damage. With a draw gag you want to bump and release, not a steady pull.
Alright, awesome thank you. I just got done re-reading the Loomis gag article by Dena Kirkpatrick. It sounds like I would be able to handle it, just keep attentive :) I do the bumping thing a lot with my colt, he seems to respond better at it when it comes to softening up and giving to the pressure. Thanks! |
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Expert
Posts: 1857
| lets back up a moment. What are you wanting to transition him to, are you wanting to move him into a fixed shanked bit? What is your end goal?
If your looking to have him finished in a fixed shank bit, I would transition him out of the snaffle to something like an argentine snaffle or an Easy 5, with whatever mouthpiece you like.(I use lots of chain mouths but everyone is different and every horse is different. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 475
Location: Alabama | I really like the Martha Josey Start to Finish as a transition bit. |
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| I've had good luck with a short shanked tender touch with a loose leather chin strap. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 899
Location: Idaho | FlyingJT - 2015-07-18 12:15 PM
lets back up a moment. What are you wanting to transition him to, are you wanting to move him into a fixed shanked bit? What is your end goal?
If your looking to have him finished in a fixed shank bit, I would transition him out of the snaffle to something like an argentine snaffle or an Easy 5, with whatever mouthpiece you like.(I use lots of chain mouths but everyone is different and every horse is different.
FlyingJT,
I guess my next big goal is to get him ready to start him on barrels next year. He is already showing great promise as he hunts barrels/poles on his own and is turning very nicely. Of course I know there is a lot more to barrels than turning, but it is nice to know that he is interested.
I just feel like he's not getting all that he needs from the snaffle. I am really not a fan of fixed bits, I've only have one horse that worked well in them but I always liked the option of a gag so that you can always cue the horse before applying more pressure. But of course, I am always open to thoughts or suggestions because like I said, this is my first baby and I really want to get it right. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I usually step up to either a loose tear drop shank or I clip the reins onto the "snaffle ring" on a shanked bit like a Pelham or Loomis shank. Sometimes I wrap the chain in vet wrap, depends on the horse. The goal is to get them used to curb action. I have a Loomis gag and I use it some to accomplish certain things, but it's not something I use regularly on most horses because it doesn't really fit my style--I like to get horses in the bridle. |
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 The BHW Book Worm
Posts: 1768
| My mare has an awesome foundation and I almost never have to touch her mouth. People are shocked with how hard she runs and she stops her self at the end I just let her have her face. I ride in a smooth d ring BUT as she gets faster and faster in her turns she needs a little help staying round so I bought a draw gag loomis knock off to transition to and I LOVE it . I can see how some one could made it an extremely harsh bit or a very mild so if you have good hands and your horse isn't a run away it's pretty cool bit. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | I think I read about the Loomis that you can't pull back with both hands at the same time with both hands to stop. (Like a O ring), it doesn't work that way. That would be something to really keep in mind. |
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