Bit for a small mouth TB ex-racer

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Optimissteeq

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Hello all,

I'm hoping someone on here can assist as I don't seem to be making any headway with my 5 year old ex-racer re flat work. Apologies for the length of the post!
Brief history, raced 9 times as a 4 year old (did not race at 2 or 3 due to mainly being accident prone, but was in and out of training). Finished racing last October, turned away for 3 months in a field and was bought back in Jan and sent to a local event rider to bring on and educate.
Took the horse back in early July, and had to sort issues with his back and also had his wolf teeth removed as they were causing him severe discomfort. Not criticizing the event rider in any way here by the way, horse has an extremely short rib cage and needs a 16 inch saddle (he's 16.1) Got the all clear from vet, back person and dentist, all good so far.
Tried various bits as he doesn't seem to settle and was constantly gnashing and trying to avoid the contact in the school and I get conflicting advice from Instructor and yard owner. So far since June/July I have tried:-
French link loose ring snaffle - too fat for his mouth
Rubber eggbutt snaffle
Happy mouth loose ring
KK ultra loose ring snaffle
Myler eggbutt comfort snaffle (level 1)
Happy mouth straight bar

he does have quite a small ish mouth - takes a 5 inch size bit and never seems happy with contact in the school as he is constantly gnashing at the bit but not really mouthing. I am very conscious re constantly changing bits and not giving him chance to settle, but I have been using the Myler bit for around a month now and whereas he seems to be less evasive, he doesn't seem happy with it. My instructor tells me to ride him with quite a loose contact, which is happy with. until I have to take up the contact again and then he starts gnashing - no matter how relaxed I had him before hand. He's been doing plenty of pole work and lunging to get him to stretch over his back and lengthen his stride (something he struggled with at first).
The other instructor tells me to take more of a contact so I can support him, and we do lots of lateral work such as shoulder in, leg yield etc but still he constantly gnashes away at the bit.
He is actually quite a stress head so it does take time for him to settle so we have lots of breaks and walking/stretching when schooling but the minute I take the contact up again, he starts gnashing.
He does not do this out hacking, or when we are jumping by the way.
I am unsure whether to persevere with the Myler and see if he gets used to it or try another bit - but if so, which one?
My other TB's seem perfectly happy in either a KK ultra or a happy mouth, so this one has me stumped a little.

Thanks if you've made it to the end!
 
What are you planning to do with him? I have an arab with a small mouth and he is mostly in a little 'S' hackamore which he loves. I have been through a lot of different bits and so far he seems happiest in a kimblewick with small port. I haven't found anything dressage legal yet as the mullen mouth snaffle I have is too thick, so I'm on the lookout for one with a thinner mouthpiece (size 4 1/2 if anyone's seen one).
 
Having tried a few different bits in ours he is currently in a simple jointed eggbutt with small rings, he has a very narrow jaw and anything double jointed just ends up with the joints on his bars and an unhappy horse, we are using a grackle for stability not to keep his mouth shut, as again it fits his narrow head better than a flash would, a drop would be ideal but we do not have one small enough, need m2m probably.
 
Faracat said:
What are you planning to do with him? I have an arab with a small mouth and he is mostly in a little 'S' hackamore which he loves. I have been through a lot of different bits and so far he seems happiest in a kimblewick with small port. I haven't found anything dressage legal yet as the mullen mouth snaffle I have is too thick, so I'm on the lookout for one with a thinner mouthpiece (size 4 1/2 if anyone's seen one).
Click to expand...

Yours would probably be happy in a cambridge but it is not dressage legal, a quick search found this though which should do the job if he prefers a straight bar.

http://www.tackandturnout.co.uk/epa...ectPath=/Shops/jr29kctxxscu/Products/DBSMLRMS
 
Thanks BP!
i'm having similar issues re nose bands - he does have a narrow head and am just about to order a drop nose band which I found will fit him but its more expensive than the rest of his bridle. The 'cheaper' nose bands just don't seem to fit round his head as they are stiffer than the better quality leather. I did wonder about a grackle.
I may go back to the eggbutt as suggested and try it with the drop
 
I have a loose ring myler comfort snaffle for mine with an ickle mouth (size 4.5 inch, fits as a 5inch), I started with the same version but as an eggbutt so there was less movement. Could also try the NS thinner bits, the starter or the team up?
 
I have a tiny TB ex racer who was always gnashing and throwing her head up, I tried all sorts of different bits but she is now in a 4.5inch KY rotary hanging cheek French link and a Micklem bridle and is now lovely soft and quiet. The bit is really nice and neat and the rotating pieces stop and pinching.
 
Hi,
No I haven't, will see if I can borrow one before splashing out more money :) thanks for the suggestion

N.B - this was in response to the Micklem bridle suggestion...having trouble with my fingers today!
 
If it's any help, one of my TB's went very well in a 4 1/2" eggbutt bridoon, which now nicely fits my 3/4 TB too. All my other TB's were in 5" bits (either eggbutt or loosering) but she needed the smaller bridoon bit as her muzzle was so fine.
Are you sure it is just the bit? I would be concerned about different instructors giving different riding advice.
 
wkiwi said:
If it's any help, one of my TB's went very well in a 4 1/2" eggbutt bridoon, which now nicely fits my 3/4 TB too. All my other TB's were in 5" bits (either eggbutt or loosering) but she needed the smaller bridoon bit as her muzzle was so fine.
Are you sure it is just the bit? I would be concerned about different instructors giving different riding advice.
Click to expand...

Hi - thanks for this. Am I sure it's the bit? to be honest no! When he is tense he gnashes away but he seems more tense when doing flat work so I am unsure whether its the bit he doesn't like or something else causing it. I can't seem to get him to relax when we have a contact
 
Optimissteeq said:
Hi - thanks for this. Am I sure it's the bit? to be honest no! When he is tense he gnashes away but he seems more tense when doing flat work so I am unsure whether its the bit he doesn't like or something else causing it. I can't seem to get him to relax when we have a contact
Click to expand...

Might not be the bit at all. My exracer finds flat work very difficult and gnashes at the bit and has ears back a lot of time because he simply doesn't really understand what is being asked of him. He's totally fine out hacking and jumping in the school. It takes a long time for them to adjust to the new job and flat work takes time.
 
My little TB goes in a happy mouth bit, but a double jointed version. I've ridden her in a nathe straight bar as well, but she definitely prefers the joints. Its a lovely light wee bit, so no tongue pressure...

Hope you find something that suits..

Fiona
 
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