Bit advice for fussie Connie needed....

[Fiona]

It shows Ireland on the Europe map, and mentions Northern Ireland and Ireland in the news section. I’d definitely give them a call!

Ohh I missed that... Will contact them, thanks x

Fiona

 

[oldie48]

I've used bit fit and the woman who came to me was great. It's all about the conformation of the mouth so a bit that is good for one horse may not be suitable for another. Bisto was tricky to bit and the bit she suggested made a huge difference to the contact. Rose is pretty straightforward but it's good to know she's in a bit that fits her.
As an aside, my friend bought her connie to the bootcamp and looking at your video I thought there were some similarities. She has problems with the contact, but it improved hugely when she got him more in front of the leg and starting to use his back end, which he finds difficult ATM. He got ridden by the trainer and it was amazing to see that once he was in front of the leg and tracking up how much it improved the contact.

 

[Fiona]

I've used bit fit and the woman who came to me was great. It's all about the conformation of the mouth so a bit that is good for one horse may not be suitable for another. Bisto was tricky to bit and the bit she suggested made a huge difference to the contact. Rose is pretty straightforward but it's good to know she's in a bit that fits her.
As an aside, my friend bought her connie to the bootcamp and looking at your video I thought there were some similarities. She has problems with the contact, but it improved hugely when she got him more in front of the leg and starting to use his back end, which he finds difficult ATM. He got ridden by the trainer and it was amazing to see that once he was in front of the leg and tracking up how much it improved the contact.

Yrs he definitely much better, when he's really in front of the leg 😊

I'd just love a bit that I didn't have to replace every two months 😱

Fiona

 

[Charlie31]

I’m a bit late to this but I just wanted to say that my Connie absolutely hated the Bombers bit but goes quite nicely in a Myler eggbutt. So I wouldn’t necessarily write the Mylers off without trying one first. I think mine does like the thinner mouthpiece even though he didn’t get on with the Bombers bit. In fact if I ever try a slightly thicker bit now I always think it just looks far too chunky for his mouth.

If you can get one of the bit fit people out I’m sure you’d find it helpful. My lad’s different reactions to the various bits we tried were really very interesting. He certainly told me what he liked and didn’t like!

I’ve also ended up with one of their bridles as he was fussy about that too. They’re nice and simple and reasonably priced as well.

 

[AnShanDan]

I agree with the bit fitting idea, you get to try loads of different bits and it is an eye opener because it isn't the ones you'd necessarily think would work that do.

My little mare is connxTB and she is fussy, her problem is that she has a long "smile" so the bit travels right back when you take up the contact and she has a kind of step on her tongue (common in natives apparently) so when the bit comes back it hits this step and her instinctive reaction is to chew.

We didn't come up with a perfect answer but she went best in a sprenger turnado, at least I know now too that it isn't me that is causing her to chomp and lean (well not all me )

 

[Fiona]

UPDATE..............

With thanks to all the lovely people who helped me...

I took Fionn to the saddlers last week, and he thought his saddle was 95% OK, but a tiny bit narrow. Fortunately as it was a one year old saddle, he was able to widen the tree enough to give a better fit, and since then he has been pinging over his fences so I'm guessing he approves.

Was offered various bits as a result of a fb post too, but as they were nearly new prices, I decided to bite the bullet and buy from a saddlery, and I've just ordered an inno sense trust ported snaffle in medium.

Also liked the beris, but the innosense port curve looked smoother.

https://www.equiport.co.uk/products/horse/bits/inno-sense-ported-loose-ring-snaffle-tr44/

I also picked up some latex bit tape in the saddlers in case this bit doesn't work and I need to repair my nathe....

I also need to report that as we were at a show at the weekend, I used his 'normal' snaffle bridle in the flat class, and he absolutely hated it and wouldn't stand at all, being so much better once I put him back in his Micklem for the WH classes. He stood sooo much better...

I'll keep updating once the bit arrives in case anyone is interested....

Fiona

 

[Wheels]

Thanks for the update, glad you got your saddle sorted and let us know how the new bit goes

 

[maya2008]

Just to add, as a result of today's attempt at a dressage test with my jumping mare... sometimes it works best if you just ride from seat and leg for the dressage, and stuff the hand/reins other than to keep a gentle consistent contact.

My mare only likes one bit, which isn't dressage legal. So we put a snaffle in, her ears go back, back tenses, tail swishes. Every time I use the thing she reacts like that (and we have tried pretty much every version of a snaffle there is, she just hates them!). I have to take up a gentle contact, let her head go down, then keep my hands completely still and just ride from my seat and legs. She's fine then! I have a friend who's gone through countless snaffle bits in an attempt to find one her horse likes. Sometimes there just isn't a perfect solution, but you can ride differently, in a way that your horse prefers, and the bit doesn't matter any more.

 

[Sprat]

Just to add, as a result of today's attempt at a dressage test with my jumping mare... sometimes it works best if you just ride from seat and leg for the dressage, and stuff the hand/reins other than to keep a gentle consistent contact.

My mare only likes one bit, which isn't dressage legal. So we put a snaffle in, her ears go back, back tenses, tail swishes. Every time I use the thing she reacts like that (and we have tried pretty much every version of a snaffle there is, she just hates them!). I have to take up a gentle contact, let her head go down, then keep my hands completely still and just ride from my seat and legs. She's fine then! I have a friend who's gone through countless snaffle bits in an attempt to find one her horse likes. Sometimes there just isn't a perfect solution, but you can ride differently, in a way that your horse prefers, and the bit doesn't matter any more.

Interesting you say that, I have similar issues with my mare. She doesn't quite do the ears back and swishing, but she just doesn't seem to settle nicely in many of the snaffles I have tried. Agree completely that working from the seat gets a better reaction but we still need a contact of some sort.

I've booked a bitting consultant out for Monday so hoping for miracles...

Glad to hear you didn't end up having to buy a new saddle Fiona!

 

[Fiona]

Interesting you say that, I have similar issues with my mare. She doesn't quite do the ears back and swishing, but she just doesn't seem to settle nicely in many of the snaffles I have tried. Agree completely that working from the seat gets a better reaction but we still need a contact of some sort.

I've booked a bitting consultant out for Monday so hoping for miracles...

Glad to hear you didn't end up having to buy a new saddle Fiona!

Thank you, and good luck on Monday.....

FIona

 

[Fiona]

I'm pleased to repirt that our first ride in the Inno sense trust ported svaffle went really well, it was a jumping lesson but not too high powered and he settled very quickly in it.

Fingers crossed this continues...

Fiona

 

[Sprat]

I'm pleased to repirt that our first ride in the Inno sense trust ported svaffle went really well, it was a jumping lesson but not too high powered and he settled very quickly in it.

Fingers crossed this continues...

Fiona

Pleased to hear it's going well so far!