Bit advice

[Undecided]

Would anybody be able to offer me some advice regarding bitting my 7 year old? I have emailed The Horse Bit Bank and The Horse Bit Shop with no replies in 5 days. We mainly compete in unaffiliated dressage at prelim, hack out, lunge and pop the odd jump, nothing huge or advanced. When I bought him at 3 we put him in a Happy Mouth Loose Ring single jointed snaffle which he chewed through within a couple of months, I then bought him a NS Starter Bit which he has used for all activities up until now, but I know he has never been fully comfortable. He chomps excessively particularly on the left side and seems to grab that side if he is bored, he doesn't concentrate very well and it takes me a while to get him to settle. He is a naturally nervous and worried horse but I know he does have the ability to produce some lovely work when he isn't concentrating on chewing through his bit. I think of myself as a quiet handed rider and make sure he is going forwards and relaxed before asking for an outline so do not feel that this affects the action of the bit. He has excellent brakes and doesn't bear down or lean on the bit, steering is ok once he is working around my*legs properly. I have also tried a French link full cheek snaffle, a regular loose ring snaffle with a lozenge, a single jointed eggbutt snaffle and a NS Team Up. He wears a plain cavesson noseband and detests flashes to the point where he sticks his head between his legs and broncs and rubs to get it off, no matter how loose it is done up. Soooo any suggestions from you lovely people?
Oh and on a doggy note, Frida the dachshund who underwent spinal surgery at Leahurst (see previous threads) is now nearly back to her normal self! She walks for up to 2 hours a day in addition to pottering around the house and is happier than ever

 

[Circe]

Hi
Is he comfortable in his back / neck. The chomping on the bit can be due to tension.
My boy chewed his NS team up really badly when I first tried that, and we found that he had a blind wolf tooth. Once that was removed, he was a lot better.
Otherwise, can you try a different mouth piece, maybe he doesn't like the jointed mouthpiece?
Kx

 

[cob&onion]

I agree with Circe, perhaps he doesn't like the jointed mouthpiece?

My 5yr old does the leaning thing and really hangs on to the left rein plus she is always opening her mouth. I tried her in a ported show pelham with 2 reins (okay shoot me now) but am a firm believer of the bit being only as strong as the riders hands. Instantly she was much better and very relaxed, and no leaning!. I have a myler hanging cheek on order from the bit bank which has a wrapping action rather than a nutcracker (dressage legal) Hoping she will go as aswell in it as she does the pelham. She doesnt like the jointed (lozenge NS she was in) and its very clear how much she didnt like it going by the difference in her way of going in the port.