A 'BIT'of advice needed

[Justy]

I need to get a new bit for the Heavy Weight Cob I am riding, but really not sure what to go for as my local tack shops all seem to offer different opinions!!

He is a 13yo heavy weight cob, 15.2. His current bit is a Fulmer Snaffle.

He is a lazy git, but once he gets going he likes to pull, when I go right he likes to pull his head to the left... and when I go left he tries to turn to the right.

His previous loaner used to pull him this way and that and kick him and keep there legs on all the time so he is a bit dead in the leg so I am trying to get him back to basics so he understands my leg and that I am not his previous loaner!

To an extent his listens to my leg more now, but he is still pulling on the bit. From what I understand the fulmer snaffle is for younger horses.

I don't want something too harsh as his mouth would probably not benefit from this.

My knowledge on bits is well... to be honest.. rubbish, so any advice would be gladly appreciated!!

 

[emma_molly]

dutch gag maybe? i found this really useful on my pully cob

 

[eventgirl]

not an expert, but would maybe try a loose ring snaffle of some sort? will make it more difficult for him to lean on your hands. Also if you try a bit with a lozenge or link of some sort then he will not be able to "hold on" to the bit so easily and therefore wont be able to pull as much. As I say im not an expert but that would be what I would try in your situation. You will probably find he improves with schooling as well.

 

[1275gta]

If he leans and is strong you could try a waterfor hanging cheak. I used it quite sucessfully with my old cob.

 

[Ezme]

Fulmer isnt ness for young horses. Just moves some pressure from the mouth to the side of the face to "push" them over which they understand from groundwork going away from pressure. it also stops the bit being pulled through the mouth. Often used on dopy types, but like i said it takes away pressure from the mouth which (depending on the mouthpiece and hands obv) a milder bit.

 

[Angela_Jackson]

I would go for the waterford fulmer snaffle, this way he cant lean on the bit as it is loads of links, and you still have the steering with the full cheeks.
You may find smaller cheeks as in just rings go right throu his mouth when you are trying to turn one way and he is putting his head to the other.

 

[lauraanddolly]

IMO he doesn't sound like you would need to go quite as far as the waterford just yet. I'd try a change of cheek design before changing the mouth piece.
Something like a loose ring with the same mouth piece as you have now but if he is likely to pull away from you maybe try some rubber bit rings to stop him getting pinched by the cheeks.
Another snaffle type bit I really like is the hanging cheek has the addition of slight poll pressure.
Waterfords can be fairly harsh IMO
Can you tell I'm a big snaffle fan!

 

[Kallibear]

I wouldn't be changing to anything more 'severe' as he'll quickly become insensitive to that too, if he's that kind of horse.

The old saying 'it takes two to pull' (or tango, but not in this case

) really is very true. He can't pull if he has nothing to pull against. So schooling really is the key in this case.

What happens if to stop pulling? I bet he'll most drop so far on the forehand his nose will hit the ground and he either steams on or grinds to a halt. Which basically measn that by pulling and holding him up, you're just masking all his schooling issues. Which means schooling schooling then a bit more schooling. Doing it out on hacks would make it more fun for him though.

It also sounds like he lacks understanding when it comes to giving to pressure, if he fights against turning. Teaching him to give to pressure first is essential. It applies to all actions you do with him (backwards, sideways, picking feet up, leading etc) but you can be more specific in training and teach him to yeild his head.

I would try swapping about within the 'mild' mouthpeices to see what he's happiest and comfiest in. Try a french link as heavy cobs often like them. Also have a look at low ports (cambridge) - a pelham with no curb or curb rein is just a hanging cheek, so you could try that (can't get them as snaffle expect the tiny ringed Magic bits). I'd stick with a full cheek for now, but a full cheek rather than a fulmar (which is fixed).