Best bit for dry mouth and Bomber DC dressage query

[RachaelJC]

Hello!

My lad has always had a mouth on the drier side, and so rather than going through bit butter and other lubricants I decided to trial a Bombers dc dressage swivel (happy mouth blue metal) bit. I'd heard really good reviews about them and it was recommended by a bit bank.

However, he began shaking his head in the school on multiple occasions which he's never done before. We did get a few instances of really nice contact through trot and the walk was really good throughout the whole session, so it wasn't all bad.

My questions are:
1- He did salivate and didn't go straight to guzzle water after schooling, however do you think horses actually like the metallic taste of sweet iron type bits? I tasted it myself and didn't like it! Is there any alternative material that helps a dry mouth?

2- the bit description was supposed to help with headshaking/putting head in the air/general a versions to pressure not start it! Has anyone had a similar experience with the 'swivel' and their horse not liking all the movement? Or similarly, being preoccupied with playing with it and so not really listening? He wasn't crunching or chewing the bit and did have some nice lip licking which I see as a positive as he's not done that before either.

3- does a solid mouthpiece rather than one with a link or lozenge magnify tiny rein aids? I confess I was overthinking the bit because he's never been ridden in a solid mouthpiece before, so this tentative riding may have been picked up by him.

I'm trying him in it again tomorrow and taking a big deep breath before I get on. I have regular instruction and will be riding with someone tomorrow so I'll see what they think.

Honestly, I think sometimes I'm spookier than my horse and it sets him off!

 

[Kaylum]

Sweet iron is quite bitter I think. Have you tired neue schule ones. They are warmer for the mouth and dont taste. Also some horses like the bit further up the mouth than others. It's a real art to get a bit that suits sometimes.

 

[RachaelJC]

Sweet iron is quite bitter I think. Have you tired neue schule ones. They are warmer for the mouth and dont taste. Also some horses like the bit further up the mouth than others. It's a real art to get a bit that suits sometimes.

I tried a NS turtle tactio and he just chewed and chomped on it for as long as I rode, so understood that to mean he wasn't impressed! Perhaps I was too quick to discard that option. I'll try it again tomorrow and if there's no improvement go back to the drawing board!

The bit I'm changing from is a jointed half moon full cheek, and as well as a dry mouth the links on the half moon had a tendency to lock, the long cheek pieces kept getting caught under his noseband and twisting the bit in his mouth.

 

[smiggy]

I use this bit for two ponies and love it. First one, it’s was his first proper bit really and he has liked it from the start. My mare I swopped onto it because she would take hold of the bit and look pretty but not actually take the contact forward. After riding for a week or so she started head chucking, especially in Canter . I tried her old bit back and although not head chucking she felt horrible compared to the bomber. So just ignored the head chucking and sat quietly but rode forward and she stopped doing it after a few weeks. Think it was the combination of the bit moving more and me being hesitant with the contact as I was worried the bit was strong.