Bit question

My bigger mare has been in a jointed kimberwick for about 6 months now. I got a nice d-ring french link to transition her into and I feel a difference .. In the kimb. She's always stretching down and going on the bit much better and always happy to collect and nice and foward and easy to transition into and down from gaits. In the d I find her more resistant to it and not stretching for it as much and ruffer with her transitions. Could she just like the kimberwick better ? I never had a horse that was more partial to one bit than the other, not like this anyway. I had her in a full cheek for a while and she hated it and we used the elevator as well and she hated that even more. The kimb seems to be the only bit she goes awesome with . She wears a 5 1.2 and not every bit makes that size. We tried a loose ring and a eggbutt and she didn't apprechiate those either lol. I wanted to get her out of a curb just because I thought it would be better using a nice snaffle. Nothings wrong with her mouth/teeth. Maybe she dosen't like the french link ? Any one have any ideas or suggestions haha. Im curious to see what others think of this.

Hmm. In general a kimberwick is more severe then a french link.

Are you using two reins/a curb chain?

I had a tb who went much better in a pelham, because it was a little harsher and I had to apply less force. I didnt use the pelham more than a few times, because its not allowed in dressage. He had a hard time bending and getting on the bit, usually.

Why did you choose the kimberwick?

I use only one rein , on the lower hole and a semi tight curb. I chose it because she gets pretty uppity when we jump and I didn't want something too severe. I wanted something mellow but that had some stronger cues. She respects it much better than anything i've used, I just figured it was b.c its a harder type of bit. I don't fight with her as much in this bit than I do in any others. But she searches for the contact with this one, and she goes very well in it. As I said in my earlier post, I wanted to change to get something less harsh in her mouth , wich is why I chose the D ring. I guess we'll see . Once spring is here i'll be able to work her more so i'll be able to get videos in both bits and see what any one else may be able to catch.

I believe a kimberwick is suposed to be a two rein bit.

I think its just because the a french link is less harsh. You have to give yourself and your mare time to adjust to a different bit. You will probably need to do more work to get her on the bit. IF she works alot nicer in the kimberwick, and you have a hard time with the d, it might be causing her to have an artificial headset, and she just might be yielding to you because it is so harsh.

Is it ported or a straight bar/mullen? Ported bits relieve the tounge but I would hesistate to use one because of the pressure on the roof. I would probably switch to a full cheek, maybe some type of happy mouth.

No its a jointed. And your only supposed to use one rein on a kimb.. its not like a pelham.

If your horse works well in a bit then for hell sake leave her in it!! You don't have to change because some people on the internet think that every horse in the world should be ridden in a french link. Ignore the crap that spews from your computer and listen to your horse. You are getting what you want out of your horse so why would you change?

Most humbly agreed^^^^.

It is a two rein bit. See how you have two rein spots on it?? I've never seen a jointed kimberwick. I wouldnt be to worried with it.

I've never met an english bit with a curb that was ment for one rein. By using the lower rein alone you are turning it into more of a leverage bit.

Actually the kimberwicke IS a one rein bit, not a two rein bit. The proper use of it as described here:

The Bit Gallery - Uxeter Kimberwick

That said, the idea is you use the upper slot for less leverage and the lower slot for more leverage. Overall the kimberwicke is more severe than the french link, but if your horse goes better in the kimberwicke, then keep her in it (however that is not a dressage-legal bit). Without pics/vids there's no way to judge if she is engaging properly or simply lowering her head/poll and false framing. If you/your trainer have sufficient dressage experience to know the difference and she is moving properly, then I see no need to change the bit for your OF work. However as a rule of thumb I always make sure I can flat in a dressage legal bit as even for jumpers I want a horse that is properly engaging and moving correctly whether on the flat or over fences.

That said - my jumper prefers his mullen pelham to any simple snaffle. He will flat in a french link when I need be it for dressage or just for riding (such as coming back to work with a broken pinkie when I couldn't use double reins), but he always likes the pelham better b/c the mullen mouth and the fact that I use 99% snaffle rein making it one of the most mild bits out there.

Good luck with your horse in finding a bit that works for the both of you!

Wow. Haha thank you for that. I wanted to change her because I kept getting heat about having her in a curb lool. I'll get videos as soon as the ground isnt a slippery mushy mess =] .

Thank you every one =D