But advice - dutch gag vs wilkie

[HebeJeeby]

Bought a 13hh New Forest Pony last year and was advised to keep her in a Dutch gag. We tried her in a snaffle and she’s fine doing dressage in a snaffle but she is very strong when jumping and a snaffle is no good. She is on the next ring down from the snaffle part of the bit and this seems to work. However, she doesn’ Seem to like the poll pressure and can raise her head when the brakes are applied.

I’ve been looking at alternative bits and have read about a Wilkie. Does anyone have any thoughts/views/experience on these two bits as I’m not very clued up about bits? Would a Wilkie work with a strong pony and what about the poll pressure?

Wilkie has constant pole pressure. Try an NS universal, it's a good half way between a snaffle and a gag.

Don't think Wilkie's are dressage legal though.

Dutch gag isn’t dressage legal either

You know that the action of a Dutch Gag is to raise the head, right?

Try a Pelham.

Depends which ring you have it on

Have you tried a grackle? Its the only thing that works on my two strong ponies. The Dutch gag with plain noseband is fine most of the time, but when they really want to go they will run straight through it (I only have a 2 ring gag - really don't like 3-rings) and a grackle will really slow them down without having to get into a fight with them. I keep it reasonably loose too, as I hate horses being "strapped down" and it is brilliant!

We have a 13.2 pocket rocket
We use a grackle (not overtight) with the Nueu Schule Universal (on top ring most of the time) plus running martingale for hacking and jumping and just a plain Neue Schule loose ring snaffle with lozenge and plain cavesson for dressage. Works well for us. Always have froth (not excessive) and she doesn’t evade by opening her mouth. She has an extremely sensitive mouth and you have to have hands that follow her. To stop, it’s a half-halt followed by release. Not a constant pull, otherwise she’d go up in the air. She’s not easy!