4 year old - bit advice!

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Jessicamcc89

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We have just bought a 4 year old horse, backed 2 month ago from Ireland.

He has worked nicely, we are told, in a rubber eggbutt snaffle. We have put him in a happy mouth with a copper lozange. He works nicely to the bit however when his work is over and he is given a longer rein to cool off and walk, he then constantly tosses his head up and down. If the contact is picked up again and trot him, he stops messing with his head. It also seems to be near the end of the ride he starts doing this, as if it could almost be the sweat bothering him?!

What do you suggest to stop the tossing head at walk and standstill?

Thanks Jessica
 
This head tossing is common with lozenge bits when a horse finds them uncomfortable on their tongue. I have found that many horses dislike them. Why not go back to the rubber snaffle or perhaps try a happy mouth bit without a joint or apple flavour bit? Another excellent bit for horses that don't like the lozenge is the demi anky (nue schule).
 
Tiredness...achey muscles..young horse still needs to build muscle to carry tack and rider and I have found head tossing at the end of work is used as a release and relaxation.....bit change to something more stable in the mouth might also help.
 
Wagtail said:
That looks like a lovely bit. Quite expensive though. Why can't bits like this be dressage legal?
Click to expand...

They are being added, gradually - the mylers with a low port are now dressage legal
http://inside.fei.org/system/files/1_New approved equipment 2016 - DRE.pdf

eta but at that age, OP, I wouldn't be entirely expecting this to be a bit related problem if he is otherwise happy in his work... as someone mentioned above this can be due to tired or tight muscles, or just generally being a bit baby 'gobby'. My horses are tempted to grab at the bit when tired and needing a stretch, similar to how a tired horse will often jog instead of walk out. Quietly asking him to remain polite while stretching would be my preference, provided his other work remains good and happy to the bit.
 
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milliepops said:
They are being added, gradually - the mylers with a low port are now dressage legal
http://inside.fei.org/system/files/1_New approved equipment 2016 - DRE.pdf

eta but at that age, OP, I wouldn't be entirely expecting this to be a bit related problem if he is otherwise happy in his work... as someone mentioned above this can be due to tired or tight muscles, or just generally being a bit baby 'gobby'. My horses are tempted to grab at the bit when tired and needing a stretch, similar to how a tired horse will often jog instead of walk out. Quietly asking him to remain polite while stretching would be my preference, provided his other work remains good and happy to the bit.
Click to expand...

Thanks for that. The bomber bit looks a nice one. I hope they include some other low port snaffles soon as well as the mylers.
 
One of my ponies is not massively happy with a lozenge but surprisingly goes very well in a single joint bit - these have fallen rather out of favour but I am not arguing with him!
 
Have you checked to see if there's a tooth problem?

I personally don't really like bits with too many joints like lozenges, it's too easy to trap the tongue if the horse falls behind the bit. Ports are nice, although I still like plain snaffles. Used correctly, they should never put any pressure on the tongue or bars.

The headshaking, I'm going to agree with the others on young horse, tired. Possibly allow him plenty of opportunity to stretch and flex during the schooling itself, after all, that's how you build top line.
 
Wagtail said:
That looks like a lovely bit. Quite expensive though. Why can't bits like this be dressage legal?
Click to expand...
I don't know ,the other similar lovely bit is the ported loose ringed bomber bit .
Personally I dislike hard plastic bits and avoid using them but there's no reason why simple ported snaffles can't be used except tradition .
The intelligent design curved loose ring snaffle is a very nice dressage legal bit .
 
Some good advice on here, but another cause could be the way he was broken. Unfortunately it is very common here in Ireland to leave horses "tied back", that is with a roller and tight sidereins on, often for hours at a time or even loose in the field. The upshot is horses with very sore necks, backs and mouths and of course contact problems further down the line.

Correct long term training and time should cure the problem if this is the case.
 
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