Bit advice please :)

A

allthatjazz

Active Member
Joined
7 June 2011
Messages
42
Location
West Midlands
Visit site
Hello everyone

I need some advice on what bit my horse may need. Hes a 14.2 13 year old chunky cob and hes currently ridden in an eggbutt snaffle. Hes a bit of a lazy boy and isnt generally the kind of horse to try and tank off or anything however I've only had a few strides of canter out of him in our current schooling area as its not the biggest space to work in and hes somewhat unbalanced and lacking in confidence in there as its a grass menage and its uneven at mo. What I basically want to do is take him for a canter (up hill!) in a local park as I feel this would be good for both of us and that he would cope better in a bigger space however due to the fact I've not really had much cantering experience with him Im just wondering if he needs to be ridden in a stronger bit?? I know he has the potential to be strong and his old owner has told me 'he had brakes when he wanted to' :( he is also a ride and drive horse but hasn't had much work before I had him as last owner lost interest. Ive had him for 10 months, Im very much a happy hacker so that is pretty much all we have done!

Id be very greatful for other peoples thoughts and opinions, and any words of wisdom to boost my confidence! as im getting older I am more nervous about tackling these things and worry about the horse not stopping :eek:

Thanks in advance :)
 
I would think that the bit is not really the issue here, especially you've not said he has a problem with the bit he's in now.

Personally I'd ride out with a trusted friend, who can give you a lead in canter, and basically get them to ride in front of you up the hill. Try your best to keep calm (I sing myself a little song or hum sometimes :)), and definately dont race the other horse.

Also your pony is probably not 'canter fit', and going up hill in canter after 10 months of not cantering will poop him right out after a couple of hundred yards!

Good luck and enjoy!
 
If it aint broke dont fix it !!! Any horse or pony can tank off whatever bit you have in its mouth . At some stage move from a snaffle to something that removes the pressure that a snaffle puts on your horses tongue. When you use the reins it pushes the joint down into your horses tongue .... very uncomfortable ...Most are happy in a french link or a mullenmouth type that removes most of the pressure off the tongue but if you need control go for something like a Kimblewick ( with a cambridge mouth piece ( port)) and slots so you can use some poll pressure and curb pressure rather than pressure within your horses mouth. But you can only change when you know your horse well in all situations .
 
downshacker said:
I would think that the bit is not really the issue here, especially you've not said he has a problem with the bit he's in now.

Personally I'd ride out with a trusted friend, who can give you a lead in canter, and basically get them to ride in front of you up the hill. Try your best to keep calm (I sing myself a little song or hum sometimes :)), and definately dont race the other horse.

Also your pony is probably not 'canter fit', and going up hill in canter after 10 months of not cantering will poop him right out after a couple of hundred yards!

Good luck and enjoy!
Click to expand...

Thank you for your advice and kind words its much appreciated! Being pooped out half way up the hill is definately what Im hoping for :D hes a good lad but as I say our experiences together are small and my confidence is getting less as I get older, being told too many horror stories I think :( oh to be 16 again and have no sense of fear LOL
 
bj666 said:
If it aint broke dont fix it !!! Any horse or pony can tank off whatever bit you have in its mouth . At some stage move from a snaffle to something that removes the pressure that a snaffle puts on your horses tongue. When you use the reins it pushes the joint down into your horses tongue .... very uncomfortable ...Most are happy in a french link or a mullenmouth type that removes most of the pressure off the tongue but if you need control go for something like a Kimblewick ( with a cambridge mouth piece ( port)) and slots so you can use some poll pressure and curb pressure rather than pressure within your horses mouth. But you can only change when you know your horse well in all situations .
Click to expand...

Thank you for your advice, yes had thought about changing to a french link to make my horses mouth a happier place :) Im sure once I know him better I will be able to see which bit would be better for him its just taking those initial steps of cantering in an open space and not knowing whether I have breaks :eek: guess theres only one way to find out......
 
I think the advice about going with a friend is really good. Your horse doesn't sound that fit so is probably going to get tired fairly quickly and should be willing to stay behind the other horse. Also, as long as your friend is in control when she stops your horse will stop to stay with his friend. I don't think you have anything to worry about - go for it, you'll have a really good time!
 
unbalanced said:
I think the advice about going with a friend is really good. Your horse doesn't sound that fit so is probably going to get tired fairly quickly and should be willing to stay behind the other horse. Also, as long as your friend is in control when she stops your horse will stop to stay with his friend. I don't think you have anything to worry about - go for it, you'll have a really good time!
Click to expand...

Thank you very much :) hoping to test the water so to speak either this weekend or next! My friends horse is generally very good although my friend herself can be very ditsy and 'blonde' (Im blonde myself so reckon I can get away with saying that lol) so Im hoping she stays in control and remembers that its a new experience for my horse and I. Im looking forward to it but think I will remain a little anxious until we have been out there and done it.....here goes ;)
 
I agree about not upping your bit, although if you're wanting to start with a softer bit id go for lozenge not french link. The downside of a french link is that the link in the middle is a flat plate, so when you put pressure on the mouth the groove on the bit digs into the toungue(not sharply though) and a lozenge does not do this as it is round.
 
Ask around if someone can show you how to bridge your reins, this a a very good way of riding at a pace, and gives you a lot of stability as your fists are almost resting on the neck and yet the horse can't tank off with you, he's not going to anyway.
PS I am 64 and found the best thing I ever learned was relaxed breathing, you can practice this any time, all day every day, "1- 2- 3 deep breath in", 1 2 3 4 5 breath,,,,,, out" breathing is quite easy, we all do it, just try the in then the out, (it is the opposite of panic gasping)
 
Bring a good friend on a well mannered horse, and bring a neckstrap or a flash strap threaded through the D rings on the front of the saddle.
You may not use the neck strap but knowing its there may help you feel more confident :)
You have only had him 10 months, its still all part of the getting to know eachother process.
Its a good idea to go for a canter up hill - he may be nackered by the top so he will stop :D
Personally I would keep him in his normal snaffle. You don't want to put anything stronger in his mouth to find he tanks away from the stronger bit and making you loose your confidence.
If it ain't broke don't fix it as Mrs D said!! :D
 
Hi, have you tried the hill yet? :) Without over bitting a Wilkie or Beval with a lozenge would just give you slight bit of brakes should you feel you need them, put with neck strap for your piece of mind and enjoy!!!
 
Some rather odd comments on this post. Those with lozenges cause more pressure on the tongue than a french link. If you don't believe me try putting your finger under both (between the bit and the tongue) and pull the reins. I have - and trust me there is a big difference. Some lozenges even more so as they are angled. Also, the word snaffle means a bit that uses direct pressure with rings (of various types) either side. You get many mouthpieces including mullen and french link. The french link should lay flat on the tongue. If it doesn't it's an angled Dr Bristol. Again, try looking inside the mouth of a Horse when you apply rein contact. Lozenges do conform to the mouth better but a few hate the tongue pressure, mine included, hence me taking the time to actually look and see what happens.

With few exceptions double jointed bits cause more tongue pressure than single joints. What they do decrease (but not eliminate) is the nutcracker effect. Most cheap single jointed bits however are not symetrical. If you think about it the V caused by a single joint creates tongue room. You get designs like hippus, sprenger conrad, neue schule demi anky and JP that curve the joint to create a port over the tongue.

Mullen mouths vary a lot. They put more of the pressure on the bars, and depending on how shaped the mouthpiece (and how large the tongue is!) some on the tongue as well. Then you get the more western designs (and level 3 mylers) that are solid and very ported so only work only on the bars.

The key thing OP is that you say the Horse is ride and drive. I have a fair bit of experience in these types (I used to do Horse drawn funerals but we also rode the Horses for fitness, and jumped them...amusing!). They all were used to driving bits so we used mullen pelhams with 2 reins. All preferred this as it was the mouthpiece they were used to and had the curb there if you needed it, but not constant. On the softer mouthed ones I would knot the curb rein and barely ever use it. These were very fit driving Horses though.

However, you are going uphill. So for that reason I wouldn't worry as he'll be out of puff anyway. Hillwork is brilliant for fitness, and for failing brakes!! I agree with bridging the reins, and keep your weight in the stirrups, off his back. Strong Horses find it harder to pull if they can't brace against you. Finally, have fun!
 
Yes, you're right about the odd comments!! You're finger is nothing like a horses tongue!! Lol.... the french plate my lay on tongue, the joints either side don't hence the invention of a lozenge which creates a much more rounded outline to the mouthpiece. Could go into angles, bars, sweet spots etc but this is not resolving original post.
 
I agree that the joints don't lay flat but lozenges do apply more pressure on the tongue. I have read the Sprenger book which explains it very clearly, and watched footage of how the different mouthpieces work with radiographs.
Of course a finger is different to the Horses tongue, I'm not stupid. However, I was actually quite surprised at the difference in pressure if you care to try. My horse who hates pressure on his tongue preferred a french link to a lozenge so I wanted to see why. Forgive me for using my own research.
I actually did give the OP some thoughts having ridden ride and drive Horses a lot before. But, I'm only someone who has taken an interest in bits and read up on lots of theory, plus trialled and errored on many Horses, not an expert, so I'll go away.
Sorry.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top