Best bit for young horse

S

Sandstone1

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 July 2010
Messages
8,789
Visit site
5 year old sec. Has been started in a straight bar loose ring snaffle happy mouth.
Feel he's ready for some thing different now. Any ideas?
 
I've found the single link plain fulmer to be fantastic training my young mare but each horse is different - if happy why change?
 
I don't think he is happy in the straight bar anymore. It's been fine for backing etc but he doesn't seem happy in it now. Would something with a lozenge type joint be better?
 
I usually try and stick with either an eggbutt or hanging cheek, to really keep it still in the mouth.

From a straight bar I would certainly try a lozenge, I personally use the Hilary Vernon bits as my horses go well in them, but there are plenty of curved bits on the market now.
 
PorkChop said:
I usually try and stick with either an eggbutt or hanging cheek, to really keep it still in the mouth.

From a straight bar I would certainly try a lozenge, I personally use the Hilary Vernon bits as my horses go well in them, but there are plenty of curved bits on the market now.
Click to expand...

Can I be really stupid and ask why you would want to keep the bit still?

I started horse 1 in a full cheek with losenge (now in loose ring losenge), horse 2 in a loose ring losenge with bit rubbers to help with steering (now in loose ring happy mouth double joint ) and riding horse 3 now in loose ring losenge with bit rubbers. He does enjoy moving it around in his mouth though, is this a bad thing and should I pinch the pony's hanging cheek for him?

Fiona
 
Fiona said:
Can I be really stupid and ask why you would want to keep the bit still?

I started horse 1 in a full cheek with losenge (now in loose ring losenge), horse 2 in a loose ring losenge with bit rubbers to help with steering (now in loose ring happy mouth double joint ) and riding horse 3 now in loose ring losenge with bit rubbers. He does enjoy moving it around in his mouth though, is this a bad thing and should I pinch the pony's hanging cheek for him?

Fiona
Click to expand...

All horses are different, I don't like hanging cheeks because they can give a still, almost dull feeling in the hand and I prefer some movement, a loose ring will enable the horse to move the bit into a slightly more comfortable position if they want, with a youngster I tend to start off with a loose ring french link or lozenge and see how they go before making changes I would rather they did play a little at this stage as long as they are not overly fussing, getting too focused on the bit or trying to get their tongue over.

A lot of it depends on the hands at the end of the reins and how the rider wants to horse to go into the contact, as we all have slightly different ideas on what we are feeling.
 
Fiona said:
Can I be really stupid and ask why you would want to keep the bit still?

I started horse 1 in a full cheek with losenge (now in loose ring losenge), horse 2 in a loose ring losenge with bit rubbers to help with steering (now in loose ring happy mouth double joint ) and riding horse 3 now in loose ring losenge with bit rubbers. He does enjoy moving it around in his mouth though, is this a bad thing and should I pinch the pony's hanging cheek for him?

Fiona
Click to expand...

Maybe its because I have had a couple of horses that have been fussy with the contact, so I start by wanting them to be still in the mouth and then I can add a loose ring if necessary.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top