Bit assistance

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Mavis

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Following a major physio session this evening, the physio mentioned that my horse has a very short mouth in that the corners of his mouth are very low, resulting in bruised bars. I usually ride in either a french link snaffle or a myler low port comfort snaffle. If I have the bit at a comfortable height, it makes the cheekpieces gape (which I do) but it obviously still bruises his mouth.

Aside from a bitless bridle, does anyone have any suggesions for a bit which will be more comfortable for my horse? Im unsure of where to go - obviously a rubber/happy mouth is less likely to bruise but Im unsure as to what shape to go for, for optimum comfort. Im a bit of a numpty when it comes to bitting - I only need a mild snaffle, but Im unsure what to go for, aside from trial and error which could prove expensive.

Any help gratefully received.
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Bar pressure is dependant on more than the length of the mouth. You need to have a look and see how fat his tongue is. A Horse with a thinner tongue will inevitably feel more pressure on the bars. A straight bar bit will put pressure on the tongue mainly, a single jointed pinches the bars and puts pressure on the tongue, whereas a french link relieves some tongue pressure thus will put pressure on the bars . A lozenge however can be quite different depending on how it's set on. My own Horse finds a Sprenger KK too much on the tongue but fine in a french link. I actually tried putting my finger between the link on a french and a KK and his tongue and pulled the reins, there is a HUGE difference in how the pressure is applied!! French is hardly any, KK is a lot.

Is your Horse resenting his bit and are you feeling or seeing damage to the bars? The whole myler system tends to work towards bar pressure as you go up the levels, freeing the toungue. A level 1 is mainly tongue pressure, 2 is bar and tongue, 3 is bar pressure. Anything with a port (or a mullen mouth) will reduce tongue pressure and increase bar pressure. I don't believe happy mouths cushion at all (try make a dent in one......they are very hard....but also can cause drag as they don't slide like metal does). What can help a lot is wrapping latex bit wrap round the bit.

Options would be one of those black really bendy (but thick) rubber ones, straight bar (not mullen) snaffle or a lozenge. I hate to say it but trial and error is the only way. The Mylers are quite thin so would need to be a level 1.

That said, I wouldn't have said a short mouth automatically meant sore bars. Mine has a short mouth and the problem I have with him is fleshy lips!!

Bitless can be good as well.
 
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