Bit advice for a young connie

J_sarahd

J_sarahd

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I just need a bit of help with Shadow’s bit. I have tried a few and he is currently in an eggbutt verbindend but watching the videos from my lesson the other day, he doesn’t look happy in it - head up, resistant, mouth open and he was tilting his head slightly (the head tilting got better so I worked on keeping him straight through his head and neck). He did soften into the contact a bit better by the end of the session. Also worth noting that he is undermuscled and never really been schooled so I’m not expecting a miracle bit that will instantly make him work in an outline, I am just after a relaxed front end so I can work better on pushing him into the contact without him fighting so much against me.

I am thinking about going back to the NS team up I originally tried with him. He was better in the contact but I found he was chewing it a lot, which is why I swapped it. And I was told by every bit company I spoke to that I should be riding him in a more fixed bit.

We have also tried a hanging cheek french link (not a fan of french links but a friend offered for me to try it for the hanging cheek aspect). He was good in this but very heavy in my hands compared to the other two.

Is there anything else people would recommend? Or do I switch back to the team up? Or just get better at riding? 😂 Sadly, the bit fitter I had out for Nova no longer does it, else I’d have got her out right at the beginning.

His teeth were done in December and his saddle was checked just before Christmas. He is now in Nova’s saddle as the shape is better for his back and his old saddle was XW compared to this one being MW.
 
If he was quieter in the hanging cheek, perhaps a hanging cheek peanut link? Although it might have the same issue as the french link, depending on why he was leaning on the bit before.
How much was he chewing on the old one? Sometimes as they mature they settle in their mouths a bit more (perhaps the novelty wears off?), it certainly couldn't hurt to try it again if you still have it to hand.
 
SpeedyPony said:
If he was quieter in the hanging cheek, perhaps a hanging cheek peanut link? Although it might have the same issue as the french link, depending on why he was leaning on the bit before.
How much was he chewing on the old one? Sometimes as they mature they settle in their mouths a bit more (perhaps the novelty wears off?), it certainly couldn't hurt to try it again if you still have it to hand.
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Yeah not sure if it was the hanging cheek or the french link part that was making him so heavy.

It was immediately after putting it in and then whenever we were stood. Occasionally in walk when we were hacking too
 
What area are you? Maybe someone has a recommendation for a bit fitter.

I know that Joe Midgley and Emma Lonie are working with NS bits now so there are probably more.

If it's NS you like might be worth contacting them directly to ask about their bit fitters
 
Thanks! I’m Leicestershire area

Not particularly bothered about brand - I just happened to have two NS bits from previous horses 😂 His comfort is my main priority
 
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Obviously they're all different but my now retired Connie didn't like any of the NS bits I tried him in and preferred the Myler low port comfort snaffle. I did have a bit fitter out at one point and she said he had a bog tongue and low palate so basically no room in there for a bit. I presume the Myler took up less room in his mouth than other brands and the low port gave him some tongue relied. It did look better in his mouth thna some of the other bits I tried.

A Sprenger Novocontact was another one we tried during the session that he didn't seem to mind but they're much more expensive!
 
HelenBack said:
Obviously they're all different but my now retired Connie didn't like any of the NS bits I tried him in and preferred the Myler low port comfort snaffle. I did have a bit fitter out at one point and she said he had a bog tongue and low palate so basically no room in there for a bit. I presume the Myler took up less room in his mouth than other brands and the low port gave him some tongue relied. It did look better in his mouth thna some of the other bits I tried.

A Sprenger Novocontact was another one we tried during the session that he didn't seem to mind but they're much more expensive!
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I tried a bit similar to a myler but without a port and he hated it. But maybe it’s worth trying the myler low port (or a ported bit in general) to see if that’s a goer.
 
Mine has been tricky to bit. I backed him myself so have taken time and care to see what he felt most comfortable in. Apart from regular dental and saddle checks (also ask the dentist about his palate and tongue size if you don't have access to a bit fitter - my dentist had a great deal of expertise in that as well), I have tried a variety of bits. He is most comfortable in a Bomber Happy Tongue loose ring snaffle (https://www.equiport.co.uk/products/bombers-bits-happy-tongue-loose-ring-snaffle). It is ported.
What I also found really helped was looking at the bridle, in particular getting an XL browband and a headpiece cut away from the ears.
It is very much a trial and see process and can work out being very expensive unless you have friends who will lend you bits to try out :)
 
J_sarahd said:
I tried a bit similar to a myler but without a port and he hated it. But maybe it’s worth trying the myler low port (or a ported bit in general) to see if that’s a goer.
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I think it's worth a go just to see if the port makes a difference, and/or maybe try something like a Happy Tongue as per GreyDot's suggestion as he might like something with a solid mouthpiece. Trust do a nice ported mouthpiece too and you can hire those from the Horse Bit Shop.

I think it is just trial and error though, my Connie hated most bits and it wasn't unknown for me to get one on trial and then have to get off after about 20 minutes of the first trial session because he demanaed I get it out of his mouth! I did try a Happy Tongue but he just ran through that so that was no good either.

I think if you can get a bit fitter or somebody to advise you on his mouth confirmation, plus just try as many options as you can get your hands on, that will hopefully give you some clues about his likes and dislikes. My lad also really liked a hackamore but I guess that's not what you're ideally after at this point.
 
My Connie has never really settled in any bit I tried various. We had a bitting consultation but she still didn’t agree much with having the bit in her mouth. I recently purchased a bitless bridle - a sidepull - from practical horse company and she instantly is so much easier to school. Is he still young then obviously he also still needs to build strength to work in an outline. But my pony was tilting her head and fighting the bit I thought over time this would improve but in the bitless she relaxes into a nice shape it’s been an almost instant transformation. Good luck with your Connie what a fabulous breed x
 
I’m going to see if anyone I know has a ported snaffle I can borrow - even if he hates it, at least I’ll know. I think for now I’ll swap back into the team up.

But also if anyone knows of any good bit and bridle fitters in Leicestershire let me know please
 
Connies often have a low palette and a biggish tongue so the verbindend is unikely to suit. Also it is designed for a horse more advanced in their education. I tried it on one of my connies years ago he hated it.
Things to consider?
Does he have a short smile?
Is their much room in his mouth - connies often have a small mouth and a big tongue. This means they can't accomodate a thick bit.

I would go back to the team up first and see how he goes.
One of my connie's goes in an informed designs harmony loose ring. It is actually the snaffle off his double bridle so only 12 mm and suits his mouth well.
The other wears a turtle top, but he has a very easy mouth and would probably go ok in most bits.
 
First Frost said:
Connies often have a low palette and a biggish tongue so the verbindend is unikely to suit. Also it is designed for a horse more advanced in their education. I tried it on one of my connies years ago he hated it.
Things to consider?
Does he have a short smile?
Is their much room in his mouth - connies often have a small mouth and a big tongue. This means they can't accomodate a thick bit.

I would go back to the team up first and see how he goes.
One of my connie's goes in an informed designs harmony loose ring. It is actually the snaffle off his double bridle so only 12 mm and suits his mouth well.
The other wears a turtle top, but he has a very easy mouth and would probably go ok in most bits.
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This is very interesting thank you. Yes he does have a short smile and no, not a great deal of space in his mouth to be fair
 
My elderly Connie arrived with an ordinary snaffle. He didn't like it. I tried an non brand lozenge, No. I wasn't sure what to choose so I booked a bit fitter. She recommended firstly a verbindend followed by the Myler eggbutt 04. She said he had a low palate and a long smile. The pony was OK ish in both bits and I persevered with the verbindend until friend's said the pony was opening his mouth wide when I took up the contact.
I was looking at bridles and found this by chance. The pony is never going to improve a huge amount as he is far too old but he goes forward happily and stops easily which makes me happy too.

www.horsemanshipsaddlery.uk

Eggbutt Snaffle with Lozenge - HP Oblique

BD Legal
www.horsemanshipsaddlery.uk www.horsemanshipsaddlery.uk
 
J_sarahd said:
I’m going to see if anyone I know has a ported snaffle I can borrow - even if he hates it, at least I’ll know. I think for now I’ll swap back into the team up.

But also if anyone knows of any good bit and bridle fitters in Leicestershire let me know please
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Have you tried an eggbutt mullen mouth ? Many don't like a jointed nutcracker action in their mouths, so the mullen, and also a ported, as others have suggested, would be worth trying.

Is he still getting his tushes through ? Another consideration is if he has wolf teeth. Both can cause problems that you are describing.
 
Andie02 said:
Have you tried an eggbutt mullen mouth ? Many don't like a jointed nutcracker action in their mouths, so the mullen, and also a ported, as others have suggested, would be worth trying.

Is he still getting his tushes through ? Another consideration is if he has wolf teeth. Both can cause problems that you are describing.
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Dentist didn’t say anything about wolf teeth. I have his notes if anyone can decipher dentist-speak and tell me if there are any red flags
 
J_sarahd said:
Dentist didn’t say anything about wolf teeth. I have his notes if anyone can decipher dentist-speak and tell me if there are any red flags
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I always had any wolf teeth out before putting a bit in so to rule out any potential problems with them. You would think that a dentist would have mentioned them to you if there are any. It's easy to check for them.
 
I started with my Connie in the team up which he was a bit fussy with, then into verbindend which he still wasn’t 100%, now he’s a lot more established in terms of strength he is so much more settled back in the team up, which we have returned to. He’s light in the mouth, so also the verbindend I think was just a little too much for him strength wise.
 
Mine was lovely in a loose ring french link but with a slight curve to make it more ergonomic, lozenge rather than a link. Just a generic stainless steel one. He didn't like anything too thick
 
My boy was a nightmare with bits because he has a sensitive mouth. After lots of tooing and throwing, he is now in a NS turtle top and goes amazing in it. He is really relaxed, salivating as he should and no arguing with the reins!!!
I would get a trial on one if you can, this is what i did and then bought one!
 
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