Mikmar bits
I have a 6 year old off the track Thoroughbred that I am retraining for the hunter/jumpers. I normally use a slow twist on him but I am always hanging on him because that's how he was taught on the track. He is steadily getting better, but I have heard great things about the mikmars and a trainer friend of mine recommended that I use one on him. I have been looking at the Mikmar pelham for a long time but I'm not sure if that's the one I should get or not. I want something with quite a bit of leverage because frame, roundness, and head carraige is important to me. I also looked at the combination bit, but I'm not sure about the nose rope and all of that. People seem to have alot of luck with the short shank as well. What should I get? Please only answer if you have knowledge or have had experience with the Mikmars. Thanks!
Answers:The big problem I have with your question is that you seem to think simply switching bits will get you roundness. No bit will make your horse engage his hind end, and that's the only way you'll get a proper frame. Too many people in the hunter ring these days put their horses in pelhams, muscle their heads down, and produce animals that travel behind the motion of the vertical and hollow out through their backs.
That being said, I've worked extensively with OTTBs, especially in re-training them for the hunter and jumper rings. I know how difficult it can be to work with them; they're not easy horses. Most of them are very long through the back, and because of this they hang on our hands instead of carrying themselves with their hind end. The only way to fix this is to engage their hocks. Do a lot of circle work and leg yield horse constantly. This will push him on his hind end and force him to use his back legs. You don't even need the reins, just watch him drop his head when he uses his hocks. That being said, I happen to LIKE the pelham bit when used correctly (though not the Mikmar pelham because I find it to be too much hardware for nearly any horse). You just need to be sure you're riding the snaffle rein, not the curb, or you'll jack your horse's face to his chest and he won't be able to use himself.