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Would a sidepull be a could choice?

7K views 26 replies 10 participants last post by  rob 
#1 ·
I own a almost three year old, which I've ridden about the grand total of 5 times. I have a O-ring snaffle for him, which I have ridden him in 4 of the 5 times, and he never has nescessarily repsonded well to it. He chomps on the bit and seems to like it, but I don't believe he understands what I'm asking of him when using the bit.
So today I proposed to my sister, who was helping me with him, that we try a hackamore on him, which we did. He responded EXTREMELY better in it compared to his snaffle. I did some reading up on hackamores once we finished riding (I've only known one person who ever used a hackamore regularly, and really have never used one myself intill now) It sounds like a sidepull would be a good thing to invest in for him? If so, what kind would you suggest, and would I be able to do any local showing or playdays with him in it? Also, would it be a good thing (if I continue with the entire hackamore thing) to eventually move him back up into his snaffle?


Thanks!
 
#2 ·
By O-ring snaffle, do you mean an eggbutt snaffle? That is a good and a standard starting bit for a young horse. In recent years many people put a leather curb strap on a snaffle like this so that the bit won't slip through their mouths when you train. I wouldn't suggest a hackamore. You are the victim of people who think you're hurting a horse's mouth with any kind of bit, so the horse will respond and like you better if you don't use one. A mechanical hackamore will rub the hide of a horse's face if he's green and throws his head around.
You need either a trainer or you need to buy some NH methods so you know what you're doing. The best way to train is hours and hours of ground training for obedience. Since he's been backed, you could back him for about 5 minutes at the end of each session, but I'd go back and teach him to give to the bit ON THE GROUND, until he's soft and responsive.
Training horses isn't rocket science, and I'm sure you could get the job done, but I wouldn't use a mechanical hackamore on a horse that wasn't finished, IMHO.
 
#9 ·
Sorry for the confusion! Yes, by O-ring I ment loose ring, down here that's what everyone calls them, or just general "snaffle" means one aswell. Basically what Sorrelhorse posted, but without the fancy colors. :) (Though I do admit I like them too!)


By O-ring snaffle, do you mean an eggbutt snaffle? That is a good and a standard starting bit for a young horse. In recent years many people put a leather curb strap on a snaffle like this so that the bit won't slip through their mouths when you train. I wouldn't suggest a hackamore. You are the victim of people who think you're hurting a horse's mouth with any kind of bit, so the horse will respond and like you better if you don't use one. A mechanical hackamore will rub the hide of a horse's face if he's green and throws his head around.
You need either a trainer or you need to buy some NH methods so you know what you're doing. The best way to train is hours and hours of ground training for obedience. Since he's been backed, you could back him for about 5 minutes at the end of each session, but I'd go back and teach him to give to the bit ON THE GROUND, until he's soft and responsive.
Training horses isn't rocket science, and I'm sure you could get the job done, but I wouldn't use a mechanical hackamore on a horse that wasn't finished, IMHO.
I think you've misunderstood me on a few things. I did not try him in a hackamore because I believe bits are harsh, I just knew he was responsive to nose pressure on the ground, so I suggested to my sister (my equivalent to a trainer, she trains horses for a living) that we try one just to see how responsive he would be, which he responded tons better to.
I'll probably try backing after each session, like you suggested, and working with him in the snaffle on the ground aswell. I still may try the sidepull (Not a mechanical hackamore) for him to get used to my leg pressure in the saddle, as I imagine that would make it easier if I try to ride him in the snaffle someday.


A sidepull is the equivelent of a snaffle bit in bitless riding. My colt likes one, but I recently switched him to a twisted Myler snaffle (I do NOT suggest doing this with your colt. Mine has had a lot of training on him and is past his baby years.) so I don't use it on him anymore.

What are you looking to do with this colt? Might it be barrel racing (Guessing on your name here) I would suggest possible letting him go in a sidepull, then advancing your way up to a little S hackamore. Some horses just do better without a bit.
All around horse is what I'm thinking for him, if he takes to barrels, he may someday replace my gelding. I do think I'll try a sidepull on him, though. Do you think this would work? Mustang Nylon Side Pull - Horse.com
 
#6 ·
I know that I sometimes don't keep up with new bits, like the Mylar company, which seems to be reinventing them, but does "0-ring" mean, "Loose Ring Snaffle?" ...confused...

To me they are one in the same. Though I'm no expert. I use loose ring/o-ring and eggbutt snaffles exclusively so that's about all I could tell ya
 
#5 ·
A sidepull is the equivelent of a snaffle bit in bitless riding. My colt likes one, but I recently switched him to a twisted Myler snaffle (I do NOT suggest doing this with your colt. Mine has had a lot of training on him and is past his baby years.) so I don't use it on him anymore.

What are you looking to do with this colt? Might it be barrel racing (Guessing on your name here) I would suggest possible letting him go in a sidepull, then advancing your way up to a little S hackamore. Some horses just do better without a bit.

EDIT: Corporal, an O ring snaffle would be a loose ring snaffle.

This mouthpieces here aren't relevent, I just loveeeee color on bits o.o Plus I'm on school internet and everything else more relevent is blocked for some strange reason I can't comprehend.

 
#10 ·
pros of snaffle: if he's going to be ridden in a bit long term, he might as well learn early.
cons of snaffle: being an inexperienced horse he's more apt to play up than others, combined with the fact that he doesn't understand how to respond to the snaffle means that it could possibly take a lot of pressure to control him if he's doing something dangerously wrong. which could damage his mouth.

pros of sidepull: he probably already knows what nose pressure means from his handling on the ground. so you'll have more effective "buttons" on him and if anything were to go wrong he'll be more likely to understand those and come back under control.
cons of sidepull: if he's going to be ridden in a bit long term, every hour you ride in a sidepull is an hour he couldve been learning to be soft & give to the bit.
 
#12 ·
hi 3 barrels and welcome to the forum.i train professionally for a living too,and some colts i start in a sidepull,and move them on to a copper mouth o-ring or d-ring when i have a little more of a handle on them.
 
#13 ·
3barrels, one question I had; when is the last time that his teeth were checked? Even 3 is not too young to need a visit by the dentist to have his bite corrected. Also, there are some horses that really don't like the single jointed bit and prefer something like a double jointed (french link) or a myler type of snaffle with the barrel over the joint. Others do well with some kind of ported bit. That's one of the reasons why it's never a bad idea to have a wide selection of different types of bits :D.

I rode a pony that acted much like your horse sounds. He was in a regular loose ring snaffle and he was always fussing with it; fighting to get his tongue over it then fighting to get his tongue back under it then fighting to get his tongue over it, etc, etc, etc constantly. After 4 or 5 rides with him doing that, I bumped him up to a ported bit (using the snaffle rings) and after the first few minutes, he was much happier and much more responsive.

All that being said, there is absolutely nothing wrong with riding him in a sidepull, it would be a good choice for someone with the desire to go bitless. I would go with either a double rope noseband or a leather noseband as the single rope ones can be rather harsh.
 
#18 ·
My coming 3yo HATED the single joint loose ring snaffle I had him in at first. He'd play with it, wouldn't respond very well to it and was constantly trying to evade it.

So, I changed to a loose ring french link (three piece) snaffle. The difference was night and day. He stopped playing with the bit, started responding really well and didn't try to evade anymore.

When he outgrew the loose ring french link (as in literally got too big for it lol), I found a nice eggbutt french link in the size he needed to try out. He's even better in the eggbutt french link than he was in the loose ring!

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is maybe it's just the single joint on the snaffle you have that he doesn't like. Honestly, I'd try him in a french link before I put him in a sidepull. Like christopher said, if he's going to be in a bit long-term, every hour spent using a sidepull is an hour he could have been learning to be nice and supple in a bit.
 
#23 ·
To be honest, I don't know if his teeth have ever been checked. I'm taking my gelding to get his done sometime soon, I may take him with aswell.
I do see the reasoning with using a sidepull takes away time from becoming responsive with the bit, but I'm not in a "hurry" to completely finish him, so I think I will try the sidepull and work with him in the snaffle on the ground, like was suggested. I've seen the douple roped ones here and there at tack stores, so I'll see if I can find one.
 
#26 ·
I've seen the douple roped ones here and there at tack stores, so I'll see if I can find one.
I've got a single rope side pull that I'll sell you.
 
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