bit chomping

T

Tim's Girl

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 July 2010
Messages
196
Location
Essex
Visit site
need abit of advice so as i know what to look for. My horse is chomping on his bit so much that he is concentrating on that and not the rider. he is currently ridden in a loose ring french link and flash noseband. does anyone have any ideas what/if i should change the tack. have had suggestions of using grackle noseband, micklem bridle and changing bit to a cherry roller. He is soft in the mouth so i dont need a harsh bit. thanks in advance
 
he might not like the movement of the bit, I love loose ring FL but my new horse was like yours always chomping madly

I changed her to a mullen mouth myler hanging cheek and she is so much happier in it
 
My rising 5 year old started this recently, along with snatching the bit and trying to yank the reins out of my hands. A quick look in her mouth showed she didn't have much room in her mouth and so I swapped her fairly thick kk ultra to a myler low port comfort snaffle, she is very happy in this bit. It may be worth considering a bit with more tongue room and a more ergonomic design than the French link.
 
A loose ring bit will encourage them to play with the bit. I would swap to an eggbutt or a hanging cheek snaffle.

I would take off the flash until he is used to the bit being stiller in the mouth, and it won't change overnight because I suspect it will be partly habit as well.
 
my youngers has been doing to same with his full cheek French link snaffle, my instructor moved it up a hole on each side yesterday and he seemed much happier today, a lot less playing with it! but going to try him in a loose ring
 
Is it a single joint or french link ? sometimes they dont like the nutcracker action of a single jointed ?
 
always think teeth, but also the height/length of bit my old lad was like this, he went away to be schooled and the lady tried bit wrap around his bit, and it pretty much stopped it, its dressage legal etc, and can be bought from most tack shops.
 
I would try putting the bit up a hole on each side before spending money on what may be unnecessary new bits. Please don't be tempted to fasten his mouth shut with a noseband, he is trying to tell you that he is uncomfortable in his mouth.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I would try putting the bit up a hole on each side before spending money on what may be unnecessary new bits. Please don't be tempted to fasten his mouth shut with a noseband, he is trying to tell you that he is uncomfortable in his mouth.
Click to expand...

Ditto - if that doesn't work agree with trying a more stable bit with an egbutt or hanging cheek. All my lot are in myler comfort snaffles apart from one who is in a myler mullen mouth.
 
Magicmillbrook said:
Ditto - if that doesn't work agree with trying a more stable bit with an egbutt or hanging cheek. All my lot are in myler comfort snaffles apart from one who is in a myler mullen mouth.
Click to expand...

i need to get a new bridle as well. i cant go up a hole as its on the smallest size. i wasnt told that the bridles come up big (hes between cob and full) so i just got full and was too late to take it back! the flash strap isnt done up tight i do like him to be able to breath. i was looking at the myler comfort snaffles. found a website that lets you try for a month. will look at my saddlers at weekend.

his teeth are done annually so not too concerned there. Am waiting to arrange an appointment to get his back checked as well. my back lady competes at eventing so have to work around her
 
Agree with the other suggestions that an eggbutt might be useful as it is more stable in the mouth. or try a different mouthpiece such as a single jointed or mullen to reduce movement.

You could also have a look at neue schule - they are really helpful so you could probably give them a ring and see what they advise? My horse is in a neue schule bit and it really helped him with his problem of being over active in his mouth
 
If the bridle is as small as it will go you can get a leather punch to put holes in it to make it smaller. Don't go spending lots on a horsey one - Hobbycraft do them for half the price...

Edit - I find that horses that play with the bit excessively seem to go better in a hanging cheek
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top