Best Buy advice

[Estelle1172]

We have recently bought a 10yr old driven, broken to ride mare.
she’s great and learning slowly, but she is a nightmare chomping on her bit. We were told to use a plain snaffle, but she constantly flapping her lips, chomping and foaming. Any advice with be appreciated!

 

[Equi]

What kind of snaffle is it and how thick?

 

[Estelle1172]

Hi there. Not 100% other than it’s 5 1/2 In length. It’s just a plain one. I’m using a flash nose band too, but she hates it !

 

[Equi]

I’d be inclined firstly to take the flash off and try her in a different snaffle eg one with a lozenge and a 14mm or 16mm circumference. Many dislike the single jointed bits and some find the thickness towards the lips to be too much on the 18mm bits. If she’s broken to drive and that was her first job she may just be used to a straight bar bit and they’re never as thick as the generic snaffles you can get but she could just not be used to the bit moving too. Bit of trial and error here but thankfully 5.5 is a pretty easy size to come across so ask anyone you know if they have one!

 

[Estelle1172]

Ah thanks for that, she was broken to ride back in May, always chomped on the bit apparently. I’ve looked at a Happy mouth bit, that’s straight and soft. I’ll be going to our local shop tomorrow and get something else for her, also I’ll try with the flash too!
thanks so much x

 

[dixie]

You could hire a bit from the bit bank.
try looking at Bomber Happy Tongue. That would be a fixed bit with a Port for tongue comfort which many people find useful.