MissTyc
Well-Known Member
Is anyone familiar with this bit? https://www.oldmillsaddlery.com/en/gb/Acavallo-Mullen-D-Sensitive-Bit/m-49419.aspx
Background: I have a youngster who is very playful with his mouth. Always has been been, but he loves to twist things, turn things, put his tongue in places it shouldn't be. We've recently bitted him, which is thinks is a great new game that requires as much interaction as possible. I don't want to close his mouth with a noseband as I'd rather find something he genuinely is comfortable with at this stage. He's a super relaxed sports horse who has been slowly grown up at home, now 4.5 years old and ready to start a little bit of conventional work. We recently had some success with a plastic mullen mouth D-ring (after a couple of super fails with the bits I normally use for young horses e.g. NS soft lozenge designs), and he was super quiet on it until he realised he could slide it about on D rings and get his tongue over. I secured the bit in place with baling twine (don't ask!!) and that settled him for a few days until he realised he could still get his tongue over. The potential for pinching is a bit high too!
He's not yet ridden so this is for aid introduction, long reining, etc. I have no interests in young horse classes but the goal for him is eventing. So no rush but I do want to find something he can settle with.
So. The bit in my link seems to address the main points of contention - sliding about on the d ring and tongue over the top ... Any thoughts or other recommendations very welcome!
Also, he's 5.5 inches but that bit comes in half smaller and half bigger. Would you go up or down?
Background: I have a youngster who is very playful with his mouth. Always has been been, but he loves to twist things, turn things, put his tongue in places it shouldn't be. We've recently bitted him, which is thinks is a great new game that requires as much interaction as possible. I don't want to close his mouth with a noseband as I'd rather find something he genuinely is comfortable with at this stage. He's a super relaxed sports horse who has been slowly grown up at home, now 4.5 years old and ready to start a little bit of conventional work. We recently had some success with a plastic mullen mouth D-ring (after a couple of super fails with the bits I normally use for young horses e.g. NS soft lozenge designs), and he was super quiet on it until he realised he could slide it about on D rings and get his tongue over. I secured the bit in place with baling twine (don't ask!!) and that settled him for a few days until he realised he could still get his tongue over. The potential for pinching is a bit high too!
He's not yet ridden so this is for aid introduction, long reining, etc. I have no interests in young horse classes but the goal for him is eventing. So no rush but I do want to find something he can settle with.
So. The bit in my link seems to address the main points of contention - sliding about on the d ring and tongue over the top ... Any thoughts or other recommendations very welcome!
Also, he's 5.5 inches but that bit comes in half smaller and half bigger. Would you go up or down?