A question for tb owners/riders

shoo

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This has probably been ask many times before but, what bits do you use with your tb's?? Yes I do realise this does depend on the individual horse . Thanks
 
brought her back to work 7 years ago with a myler ported comfort snaffle as she was really frightened with anything in her mouth. She goes between that now and an eggbut french link. Mainly the latter. I wouldn't use a single jointed snaffle because of the nutcracker action.
 
Loose ring straight bar happy mouth. I have found that the more gentle the bit the more sane the horse. Mine came in a single jointed eggbutt, he hated it. So i tried a lozenge snaffle, a hanging cheek, a metal straight bar and finally came down to the straigh bar happy mouth. He loved it immediately.
 
We use a Myler low port comfort snaffle, we tried just about everything on the market (I now have an extensive selection of bits) but all he would do is stick his head up in the air and fix against your hands. He is really happy in the Myler, we don't use the hooks, just fix the reins on the rings.
 
Thank you all for your repiles, I was wondering as my girl started when I first got her in an eggbut snaffle but as she wasn't happy in that I changed it to a loose ring snaffle which has been alright for about 80% of the time but brakes are an issue, and she spends most of the time snatching at the bit, and hauling her head down or turning her head sideways. Shes had her teeth and back checked so there is no problems there, but this has been going on for about five years now, and I have put up with it thinking maybe its just her but is it??? any ideas???
 
Maisies in a rubber mullen mouth. But shes only in this as ive just started schooling her and at the moment it seems to be suiting her. Im going to try keep her in it, but it also depends on how she is when she relises her own strength. I wouldnt go galloping around in it though as I don't think she'd like to stop lol.

:)
 
Depends what we're doing- either a flexible rubber mullen mouth, a hackamore or a loose ring lozenge.

there are alot of TB's on my yard- what they use varies from one that goes in Micklem bridle to another that has a Pelham for everything.
 
Used to be in a loose ring french link snaffle, then changed to a french link egg butt snaffle with full cheeks and he seems to go better in the eggbutt so think I'm going to get him one without cheeks as I only need them for jumping.
 
NS loose ring with losenge

Brakes only start to fail when we get in to a pulling fight - as soon as I let go of his head calmness is restored!
 
french link eggbutt for hacking and schooling with out a flash... tried a loose ring but my mare hated it. Took the flash off as my girl kept chucking her head about.... thought this was just her, but one day I just thought I would take it off.

For Jumping and XC I use a french link tom thumb, as other wise I have no brakes
 
This has probably been ask many times before but, what bits do you use with your tb's?? Yes I do realise this does depend on the individual horse . Thanks

99% in racing yards are exercised and raced in snaffles - usually loose ringed. Very strong horses in their races often have dexter ring bits - but the nose bands are usually more effective - flash or cross - sometimes a Kineton (but only in extreme cases.....)

If you have a young TB out of racing - then (especially in a small yard, less **** riders...) their mouths are often still lovely - often horses are over bitted because they are keen - rather than strong.
My strong TB, who is difficult to settle in his races - hated the Dexter - and jumped badly in it - did better in a two ring gag, just a little poll pressure and he was much more manageable.
 
NS loose ring with losenge

Brakes only start to fail when we get in to a pulling fight - as soon as I let go of his head calmness is restored!

Mine too - I think mine is a Neue Schule Team Up. I've been really pleased with this bit. It was recommended by my RI after Bit Bank did a clinic for our riding club and my horse seems to really like it, he mouths, is soft and doesn't open his mouth. This I might say, may well be down to the horse as opposed to the bit but so far it seems to be working.

Are you having lessons on your TB? My instructor has been fantastic with the re-schooling of my exracer. She is happy to get on him and experience what I'm feeling and if I am having problems we work through it together. It's lovely to have the support of another, particularly a very experienced rider. If you have an instructor, it might be worth asking them who they use for back and teeth. A second opinion can be very enlightening! Best of luck K x
 
My old boy had 3 bits: copper roller for hacking and some XC, full cheek french link for dressage, SJ and sometimes XC, and cheltenham gag for fast work/ hunting.

My sister's horse is in a lozenge happy mouth loose ring snaffle thing, and loves it.
 
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