Bit advice

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LouiseG

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I’ve recently changed my horse’s bit from a 16mm Sprenger KK Ultra to a 14mm, purely for the smaller rings as he has quite a small head and the larger rings were touching his noseband. He occasionally shook his head in the 16mm but that was down to me and my hands to be honest and I could pin point when he did it coincided with me doing something wrong with my hands! However in the 14mm he is really resistant and is shaking his head a lot! He’s not keen to seek any contact, in fact if I put pressure on the inside rein he puts his head up and goes faster, like he is trying to get away from the bit. We also seem to have no steering at all now. I have persevered for a week now and he’s still no better. Should I give it longer? Or should I go back into the 16mm straight away? He’s only 5 and had really started going lovely in the 16mm and seeking a contact, but I think perhaps the 14mm is just a bit too precise. Any suggestions would be appreciated! My feeling is just to put him back in his previous bit asap. Thank you!
 
I'm assuming you mean that you're now using a smaller mouth size bit? If that's the case, it could be that the bit is pinching your horse as it is too small. If it was me, I would keep my horse in a bit he is comfortable with, even if it was a bit unsightly. Have a look at other makes to see if you can get something the same mouth length but with smaller rings. However, as he's only 5 and you say that he was starting to go well and seek a contact in the original bit, having a bit that is making him uncomfortable could undo all your good work
 
The bit size is still the same, it's 5.75, the lozenge however is 2mm thinner therefore making it more precise, so length wise across his mouth it fits fine, I think it's the thin-ness of the bit that he is not liking.
 
The finer mouthpiece will probably feel sharper to him; so if you are using the same amount of contact they he might find it a bit uncomfortable - which is why he isn't seeking contact so readily.

Could you switch back to the 16mm bit, and move the noseband up a hole - or take the noseband off all together?
 
Ah ok yes I'd agree with you, the thinner the bit the sharper it will be. That's probably what he doesn't like then, I like to ride youngsters in quite fat loose ring snaffles with some sort of lozenge in the middle so they can play a little with the bit. As I said in the previous post, shop around for other makes that have a smaller ring size if you're concerned about it catching on the bridle. If the 16mm wasn't catching then just switch back to this
 
I think I will switch back today, there's no point persevering with something he finds uncomfortable as it will probably ruin all our hard work. Thanks for the replies! You wouldn't think 2mm would make that much difference but it obviously makes a world of difference. He has a really low palate so finding something that's not too cumbersome but not too sharp in his mouth will be a challenge! Would anyone be able to recommend anything? Was looking at mylers and NS bits but he has been going nicely in the 16mm sprenger with the occasional head tossing when he is getting more tired. Thanks again!
 
My cob was very difficult to bit, and I even went bitless for a year (not entirely successful); however he is now very happy in a NS verbindend loose ring.

He's had several NS bits before, but he really likes the shape of the verbindend, and has a much steadier head carriage.
 
If its just smaller bit rings you need, could you perhaps find an identical mouthpiece to the 16mm, but in a bridoon? Bridoons are usually thinner I know, but it might be worth a look just incase.
 
Try avoiding anything that is single jointed....I would avoid a French Link as well as these can be quite sharp with horses with not much room in their mouth. Try looking at bits with a lozenge in the middle, preferably one made of warm metal such as copper as they have a nice taste to them for horses. Shires do a lot of choice in inexpensive copper and brass alloy bits with different thicknesses as well as sweet iron bits with a copper lozenge. Try using the Bit Bank so you can try different ones until you find one that suits both you and your horse
 
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