Mis-use of the double bridle

I really wish the double bridle wasn't allowed at PC. At the competition just gone, there was a guy in my age group who was on a big bay TB - Quite a nice horse, and he rode in all the classes in a double, except when he had to use a snaffle - Pleasure, Hunter. And OMG! Most of the time the curb was parrallel to the ground... The poor horse had his mouth open in a grimace the whole time and was brodering on hyper-flexion sometimes. And yet he was still placed highly - Sometimes I think a double blinds the judge! He freaked out in a flying change and cantered about 6 steps sideways - Wouldn't stop - Wouldn't keep his body straight when he got excited. When he HAD to use a snaffle, he went beautifully! Maintaining his frame nicely.

And then what really irked me - He jumped AND did the sporting (gaming events) in the double! The horse just about had a fit in one race - His way to deal wth it was to haul on the already over-used curb rein while booting it with his spurs - The horse was making noises of distress and rolling his eyes around/trembling. After a similar situation in another race the horses nose started bleeding. Aargh! And a parent who was timing even told him it was well ridden!

It is so frustrating.

Wow. Sounds like a YouTube nightmare.

What kind of show was this? Fun show? Sanction?

im just wondering, what does that have to do with the bit or bridle? (i don't ride! Lol) where im from that's EIPH- exercise induced pulmonary hemorrhage- the blood capillaries rupture and bleed into the lungs- sometimes theres epistaxis-when its bad horses bleed out their nose, and sometimes- at the worst- even out their eyes. (ive only seen that once though)

Amalgron, I saw it more as a result of the immense stress the horse was under than the bit itself - Although the bit was the main cause of the stress.

Sunny, it was a PC show - Our zone's yearly jamboree.

Ooh.. That sounds terrible! The poor thing... I wonder why in the world the thought of riding in a double even came to mind? If the horse performed better with a snaffle, keep him in a snaffle. It doesn't require that much common sense.

I would have said something to him about it. Its just pony club, around here its not a big high class show. I would have talked to the person who was running the show or organizing it.

I use my double all the time at PC- but geez he sounds harsh on it!!!!! I don't see the issue in the right hands- its just unfortunate the right hands often aren't the ones using the harsh bits- also my double it false- its only a pelham with a rein on the curb ring and one on the snaffle

Here was a 5 yr ottb (off for 10 months) Pi about 2 weeks ago

I agree that they have their place in the right hands - I just don't think PC is the place for them. Just personal opinion though - It is very frustrating when it appears people are being placed in classes simply because they have a double on - The person I mentioned above and another in a double placed 3rd and 4th in the rider class, and both horses had huge tantrums in the simple workout, while other combinations did lovely quiet, correct workouts and didn't place.

Not sure what everyone considered a double bridle. I ride dressage, so to me a double bridle means two bits on one bridle. What you might be talking about is a more harsh (leverage) bit, with two reins?

Oh no - as I mentioned mine was a FALSE double- there are people out there who ride in a double (weymouth) I personally just find the pelham easier (and cheaper) with the same *blinding* affect --- I use mine at events like that- purely for that reason- its ridiculous trying to place againts ppl on typey spatic tbs and a double bridle with a bling browband