Bit advice please

[Nic]

I'm after a different bit for jumping Dubh, he hacks fine in his kangaroo snaffle but I need brakes for jumping!

He normally jumps in a 3 ring gag on the 2nd ring and seems ok in it but recently I've noticed he seems to have trouble swallowing with it in (teeth are fine) I think it's due to it only having one joint, ideally I would move on to a french link 3 ring but he won't settle with a french link (fuss pot)

So, I was thinking of something like a myler combo, better shaped to his mouth and a bit of nose pressure too.

What are everyones experiences of them?

 

[mat]

They are great if used moderately, you will need soft hands to get the most out of these bits though.

I used one to jump a horse in, and found it great, but someone else used the same bit on the same horse and she really reacted negitively to it...

I'm sure the 3 rings come with plenty of mouthpieces you could try?

 

[Nic]

You'd think so wouldn't you but I can't find anything!

 

[fairhill]

Have you tried a waterford mouthpiece?

 

[Nic]

No, I don't know if it would suit him, he doesn't try to hold on to the bit at all.

 

[fairhill]

I was more thinking that if he doesn't settle with a the french link, then the fluidity of the waterford would mean the bit would sit nicely in his mouth. If you have one with 3 rings you can adjust it for brakes as well then.
Mine is normally in a snaffle, again doesn't hold onto the bit, but is fussy and chomps on it. The french link, and lozenge were both terrible for her snatching, whereas she's really accepting the waterford at the moment.

 

[Nic]

Ooh thanks, hadn't thought of it like that, will give one a bash then.

 

[katiejaye]

Hi I agree with bbmat, the myler combination can be great if you ride with very soft hands but in my experiences with Louis, he really dissliked this bit. Louis pulls quite a bit jumping/XC and any pressure I put on his mouth with this bit he objected and either tucked behind the vertical, started jogging or tensed up. If you have a horse who is sensitive (like mine) then I wouldn't really recommend it. I have found the only bit that has really worked for us has been a loose ring waterford.

 

[Noodlejaffa]

Go for a waterford. I've never looked back since changing wee grey horse into one of them.

 

[Nic]

Waterford it is, Noodlejaffa i expect you to scrape me of the floor at Strathallan if it doesn't work!

 

[Noodlejaffa]

Eek!