Bit advice

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Vicki1986

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What would be the best bit for my mare? she has seemd to go ok in what she has - bit fidgety in the mouth and inconsistent (but she is green in terms of flatwork/submission anyway) - however on closer inspection its probably not the best fit for her - her tongue was quite imprinted and her lip was nicked at the side, she currently has a happy mouth loose ring snaffle with a peanut roller type lozenge.

She has a tendency to take hold / lean although is much improved, and is quite strong/on the forehand.

She has very fleshy lips which often get cut/chapped in the corners/edges, a big tongue and i think quite a low port.

she is also a pain in the A size of 4.75" !

oh and need it BD legal too
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I thought about a myler of some sort but have no experience in these so need help!
 
I take it you have had her back, saddle fit and teeth checked? To stop her from leaning on your hands you need to ride with a stronger leg but also give with your hands as a reward when she does put her head down. It took me a long time to get the hang of it when it was explained to me. Last night I forgot again and rode my horse and held him back to much (in a desperate attempt to get him into a 'collected' outline). He ended up with his head in the air saying 'get stuffed' to me! I stopped, took five, relaxed, walked him around before trying once more but with a longer rein. It dawned on me that I hadn't been rewarding him with a longer rein, nor had I been giving with the rein as a reward for him reaching down. No wonder he was so p**sed with me! He ended up doing really nice work, and I was very pleased.

As for general bit advice why not go on the internet or ring the bit bank for advice?
 
yes,yes,yes plus regular bowen checks. Yes and have lessons with 2 diff dressage trainers regularly.
Hard for me to ring bit bank as so busy at work was hoping as everyone here knows everything under the sun someone would have the answer!! I also dont want biased advice from a brands website etc.
 
I had a similar problem with George, he is quite unbalanced and often leans on the forehand, he also has a large fleshy tongue and lips. He always goes nicely in the dreaded dutch gag with a revolving ball joint, but of course no good for dressage. My tack drawer is a testement to all the bits I've tried but I've recently discovered that he goes really nicely in a hanging cheek mullen mouth myler:

http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/41_32-(525).aspx

Hope that is of some help.
 
Happy mouths are a no no for fleshy moths as they take up lots of space, and can also pinch
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Try a slimmer bit, Neue schule do down to a 12mm, or a myler comfort snaffle may work if she has a low palate, but can cause leaning....
 
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