Another thread.. snaffle advice

Hormonal Filly

Hormonal Filly

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I’m really struggling with bits for my 6yo mare. She has a fleshy mouth, low palate.

Originally she was in a Neue Schule verbindend (loose ring) but wasn’t happy, thought it was because there wasn’t any stability.

I swapped to a Neue Schule lozenge hanging cheek September last year, seemed to like it, was going well but has learnt to lean on it especially through the left rein and can over bend in it.

A friend sent me an Expert bits Comfy Barrel Eggbut but she just felt evasive (nose pokey) and fighty against it, maybe I should have tried it for longer.

I thought she liked the hanging cheek because she preferred the tongue relief, but maybe it’s the fact she can try and lean on it.

Instructor hasn’t given much advice.

Any thoughts? There is a local biting person but a long wait list. Pulling my hair out. I know it’s a schooling issue but just want something she’s happy with in her mouth, she froffs in every bit I’ve tried.
Which would you persevere with?
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
The Bomber bits are quite often used on animals with low palate, fleshy mouth, big tongue.
Worth trying the Bit Bank

Types that might suit here: https://www.horsebitbank.com/brands/bombers-bits/happy-tongue
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Upthecreek said:
Bombers happy tongue or ported barrel. Loose ring to discourage leaning.
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Thank you both! I forgot to add I had her in a Bombers happy tongue loose ring previously but she didn’t seem happy or consistent.

I might try the Expert Bits Comfy barrel eggbut again, she just felt evasive in it at times but looking at video looks happy in the mouth.
 
I may get shot down for this, but as long as you have stable/kind hands, I like waterfords. Rarely do I find a horse that doesn't go well in one, and (most of the time) bits are only as harsh as the hands on the end of the reins.
 
I use a neue schule team up snaffle my horse has a huge tongue and fleshy mouth, she likes it. She hated the verbindend
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
I may get shot down for this, but as long as you have stable/kind hands, I like waterfords. Rarely do I find a horse that doesn't go well in one, and (most of the time) bits are only as harsh as the hands on the end of the reins.
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Thank you for the recommendation, I’ve only heard awful things about waterfords. Might be worth a try if I can find one to borrow!
 
Fin has been pretty weird about bits and has a fleshy mouth. The Fager Maria has been a game-changer.

www.horsebitbank.com

Fager - Maria Products - HorseBitBank.com

Horse bits from Neue Schule, Myler bits, Sprenger bits, Abbey bits, and more, with 30 day trial from HorseBitBank.com, plus bit accessories and bitting advice.
www.horsebitbank.com www.horsebitbank.com

You can have many different cheekpieces. He's in the baby fulmer, but you can get any cheekpiece you like.
 
My late, quite tall wb had a similar mouth, he came to me in a Myler comfort snaffle. He was also a big horse but with a small and narrow mouth, so had habitually been put in bits that were a little too wide. But after an extensive fitting with an expert trying a number of brands and styles, we ended up with a Bombers Drop Cheek Ported barrel. With me also working extensively on my own hands, and the contact, he ended up much quieter in the mouth and happier.
 
Have you ever tried a myler or similar?

I ordered what looks a bit like a myler as in the mouth piece is thin with a small barrel in the middle and is shaped on the edges, mine is a hanging cheek version and Arabi goes really well in it and they are a third of the price of a myler.

I will try and find it I'm sure I bought it on ebay.
 
Firstly I would swap to a fixed cheek, so eggbutt, fulmer or D ring.
I find a loose ring a nightmare if they're fussy and fleshy mouths can get nipped by the rings.

I love the NS Turtle top for getting a steady contact.
Otherwise I have a Hippus hinged bit which works really well to get them going but then you'll need to swap to a dressage legal one later on.
 
Hormonal Filly said:
Thank you both! I forgot to add I had her in a Bombers happy tongue loose ring previously but she didn’t seem happy or consistent.

I might try the Expert Bits Comfy barrel eggbut again, she just felt evasive in it at times but looking at video looks happy in the mouth.
Click to expand...
I wouldn't use a loose ring, better to keep things more still with a D or eggbut ring.
 
If there is not much room in the mouth, you need something thin - it’s perfectly possibly to just find a thinner version of standard bits. I have a little Welsh pony with the smallest amount of room ever for a bit, and she has a thin curved single jointed snaffle. Shires bit, cost me about £20.

I do feel I should point out though, that what many people experience as being fussy in the mouth/contact very often has absolutely nothing to do with the mouth and everything to do with a problem somewhere else. Reasons can range from rider’s hands or tension in the rider’s body (my kids, always!), to pain in the neck/back/hindquarters.

Most notably, a horse I know who went through fancy bit after fancy bit, at recommendations of trainers and bit specialists. Vet diagnosed hind end issues eventually - she was resisting going in an outline because it hurt. When she gave in, she was tense through her body because of the pain so the rider experienced her being unhappy in the mouth.

I sincerely hope it’s a bit issue for you - but just wanted to mention that if you get stuck, it may be something else.
 
I would get a bit expert out. I have had a couple of sessions and it’s fascinating. I had a few the horse would barely trot in and yet such subtle variations on another bit we had tried and the horse went well in. Ended up in a NS I would never have got to without being able to try so many.
 
 
Have a look at your bridle as well. Having gone through some issues, it was eventually resolved with a larger browband and a soft well cut back (anatomical) headpiece. It's not always the bit that causes the issues.
I would definitely get yourself on the waiting list for a good bit and bridle fitter. Worth it!
 
GreyDot said:
Have a look at your bridle as well. Having gone through some issues, it was eventually resolved with a larger browband and a soft well cut back (anatomical) headpiece. It's not always the bit that causes the issues.
I would definitely get yourself on the waiting list for a good bit and bridle fitter. Worth it!
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She has a well fitted bridle, Henry James bridle with comfort headpiece and browband has lots of room. Thank you though, definitely a big thing!
 
Hormonal Filly said:
Thanks for the recommendation, won’t she lean on that even more?
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I've not had that problem with Arabi but his fairly light in the hand but when he was young he hated every bit I tried, I was then given a magic snaffle by someone and he instantly accepted the contact in that, I think he just needed to get confidence in a bit and then I tried a few others and he was OK with quite a few then, when I did ridden showing I used a myler Pelham and I ride him everyday in the bit I linked and his fine.
 
May not be helpful but this is the bit we went for after consultation with a bit fitter for my Fell pony:

www.horsemanshipsaddlery.uk

HP Relief loose ring lip saver snaffle bit

The Innovative HP Lip Relief Loose Ring Barrel Bit. BD LEGALFEATURES It has all the benefits of a loose ring action, without the risk of the lips being pinched at the junction between the mouthpiece and rings Although the bit is Loose Ring, the action becomes slightly 'Fixed' when the rein...
www.horsemanshipsaddlery.uk www.horsemanshipsaddlery.uk
 
Just an update as rode today and borrowed a friends Neue Schule Tranz-Angled loose ring. What a difference!

Instantly could feel she accepted it and wasn’t leaning. She did try to lean on the left rein at some points while on a right circle (almost over bends right) but corrected her by dropping the contact and straightening her.

She felt lovely in it, going to borrow it for a couple of weeks and see how she goes. 🙏
 
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