A Bit for My Cob

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lucyloo7

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Can anybody help please. My 15.2 medium weight cob has a very fleshy mouth and quite a large tongue. I have found he is very uncomfortable in a single jointed snaffle. Just spent quite a lot of money on a Sprenger hanging cheek with a lozenge. Seems to prefer the action of that bit but very little respect and leaning on my hands. We're coming back to having regular schooling sessions and lessons after nearly a year without a school. Always used to ride him in a lozenge snaffle in the school and as he was so forward seemed to work in a reasonable contact. Unfortunately at the moment he is very lazy. This is due to him being on a diet and also very put out we now have a school at the bottom of the garden. Today rummaging around in my bit box and found a loose ring waterford snaffle and decided to try it when I had a lesson. He was amazing. No more leaning or falling out and a lot softer in his contact. Worked beautifully. BUT I have always been against using strong bits on horses and would rather sort any problems out with schooling. I do wonder because there is no joint in a waterford he had more tongue room and was more comfortable. Can anybody suggest a bit that has a similar action to a waterford and be comfortable for his tongue. Thanks everybody.javascript:void(0)
 
Maybe a myler comfort snaffle? Lots of tounge room and quite thin while being double jointed, I know thats not as many links as a waterford but might be worth an try. I have known a couple horses though (with owners who are on the same wave length as you) that go in a "normal" snaffle most of the time but just have a "refresher session" in a stronger bit to keep them soft so it might be worth trying him back in his posh bit after a few go's in the waterford. Otherwise I'd say bit bank is your friend! lol
 
I have the same problem. My mare can only go in waterfords or straight bars. She goes lovely in her waterford snaffle but I can't use it for dressage. She is too strong in a plain staight bar so I got her a Myler 32, but she started to lean on it. I then got her a loose ring lozenge bit. But the lozenge is a certain way round. She hates bits with the lozenge the other way round. I think the lozenge must hit the roof of her mouth.
This is her bit.
 
Forgot to mention I have also tried him in one of the Myler bits. Not sure which one it is but it has rollers. Made the mistake of using it to hack out. No brakes at all! Now gathering dust in my bit box! My instructor thinks the waterford is the way forward, at least for a while. Thank you both for your help.
 
I'm another fan of the Myler for my cob - but just an ordinary one; no rollers.

I have brakes but he has tongue space.
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Oh sorry! Someone else has already suggested the comfort snaffles - being blind!
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I've just bought one for my ned and he's touch wood going quite well in it . Just need to sort myself out!!
 
I find that whatever I put my heavy cob in after approx 3-4 hacks he finds a way to lean on it!.
I have tried waterford, Dutch gag, rubber Pelham, Rugby Pelham, straight bar Pelham with roundings and English hackamore.
I had the most success with the English hackamore and have just bought a new one with the leather pad on the nose and under the chin in favour of the one with sheepskin and a more traditional curb chain.This is purely for hacking as he does not trip in it (?) Heaven knows if this will work for long and be kinder too. I always school in a loose ring snaffle and a schooling whip but the hackamore helps to build him up behind over a few months to help lift the forehand.

I am beginning to think that if I do not want a horse that moves heavily and may I say naturally on the forehand, that perhaps I should have a horse with a bit of TB, Spanish or Arab in it!!
the more uphill a cob is to start with the better chance you have but if like mine his "see saw" is naturally tilted forward and down, you will always be fighting it.
 
i used to show my cob in a hanovarian pelham!!! It looks evil but for the hr i am riding at the show its great the rest of the time he was in a dutch gag on the big loop but the knowledge the 2nd and 3rd where there was good xx
 
I've had the exact same problem and have tried various bits over the past year.
Just like you I found the waterford to be like magic, but didn't want to use it all the time as it is harsh, not to mention not dressage legal.
However, I am now lucky enough to have found a second hand loose ring myler (level 1 I think) in the local tack emporium. The mouthpiece diameter is quite narrow, about 10-12mm so there is plenty of room for giggles' tongue. She is like a different horse, still tries it on a bit but is much more responsive, works softer and rounder and also turns better in it. She also seems happier to work up into the bridle.
 
Thank you everybody so much for your help. I think I'll make a call to the Myler bit bank and see what they advise. Might keep him in his wateford for a week or two just to remind him what he should be doing!
 
Little Cob and Big Cob both go well in ported Pelhams (we have brakes if necessary!
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). Also in hanging cheek boulchers (sp!). Definately more brakes in the pelhams though. We always use two reins with the pelhams.

The Waterfords are only harsh if your hands are rough/heavy. Ride light and sensitive and they are fine
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