Bit advice Please

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LadyLuck1

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I have a TB x Arab who is very sensitive in his mouth. I have tried various snaffles, happy mouths he chews, myler comfort snaffle is ok but still not right, I then tried a hanging cheek neue schule which helped a wee bit. I then went to a bitting clinic and paid a fortune for the assessment and another myler with a port to provide room for his tongue which doesn't seem to have helped.

He had 6 months off for depression and seems to have become worse with head shaking, bit chewing etc. since I brought him back into work. Has anyone got any ideas?

I have done the obvious checked back, teeth, saddle etc... I ride him in a flash nose band...would a bitless bridle help? I don't have any experience of these.

HELP
 
have you tried a drop noseband rather than the flash? my pony really hated a flash and shook his head/messed about alot when i put him in one though if you've always ridden your boy in a flash then that change might not help.

what about a bit with a roller joint/peanut? tb that i ride has been changed into one due to leaning on the bit and snatching the reins and we notice a big difference in her with it.
 
Yeah he is worse without the flash sticks his head in the air and open his mouth then I have no steering although always have brakes.

I may try a dropped nose band.

If he is a bit chewer will he not just play more with a bit with a roller??

Thanks for the help.
 
he might play with the roller with his tongue so then not actually chew or bite it, the tb i mentioned now plays with the roller rather than grabbing and snatching at the bit.

dont know the reasoning behind it but it seems that horses who dont like flash nosebands tend to go quite well in a drop, be interesting to see what your boy thinks of one!
 
Ok...I'll try one with a roller and a dropped nose band. Anything is worth a try...feel like I am hitting my head off a brick wall
 
does he have a bad history with bits? maybe a previous owner was a bit abusive and he is just remembering it everytime he has a bit in his mouth. i think it is unlikely though because you have obviously tried so hard to fix it and he isn't getting any better, but its possible.
 
That cannot be the case I have had him since he was a yearling.

Why are things never simple?
confused.gif
 
Sounds like you have tried pretty much every sort of bit there is. I would be tempted to try bitless. If it is the bit that's causing your issues then you'llknow straight away. You do have to be soft with them as they can be severe (English/German types) or, you could try a Dr Cook bitless bridle. They have a free 30 day trial so at least you wouldn't be wasting your time. I very much doubt that a noseband is going to help.
 
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