Bit advice please tense pony, small mouth, big tongue ....

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minigal

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As title, pony has spent 5 years in Waterford gags, 3 ring gags on the bottom hole and Pelhams plus a grackle noseband. He's not strong but is very tense and nervous of the contact (understandably!). I have a "schooling" plan in place - loads of fun and hacking and relaxing but I need to find the best bit for him.
My standard is a full cheek French link but he occasionally sticks his tongue out and I think his mouth is too small and tongue too big for that mouthpiece. I just have a cavesson noseband on.
Was thinking about one of these http://www.horsebitb...naffle-43.phtml
Anyone have any other ideas? Must be dressage legal and "mild" as like I said he isn't particularly strong and I would rather sort our issues out schooling.
 
You could be describing our pony! She came to us in a rubber pelham although she chomped constantly on it and was so tense. We tried a waterford but she was worse in that so changed her to a roller bit with full cheeks which she was better in but not dressage legal. We had a lesson with an amazing dressage instructor - Alice Beasley whp took one look at her and said she wasn't happy in her mouth and so tense. She has a big tongue too. She told me to try her in a Hillary Vernon Mullen loose ring which is a sort of square shape mouth piece. Well it has transformed her, she has stopped chomping, she works in an outline and we can jump, gallop and do everything in it! We also have her in my mare's micklem bridle which also seems to suit her!
 
Have you tried bitless? Mine hasn't been badly bitted but has always been resistant in bits, and will head shake even with reins on the buckle. Now ride her in a sidepull and she's wonderful
 
try a thin mullen mouth - this is an issue we had with my sister's cob and my girl. The curve of the mullen mouth accomodates the tongue and the lack of joint means it doesn't bash the roof of the mouth
 
Simialr to an old pony of mine. She went best in a high hanging cheek french link initially, then i found a cheapy JP curved single joint snaffle and she was fab! She just needed stability in her mouth and both bits gave her that. The key was a bit that was very stable and still in her mouth and yours sounds the same :)
 
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