bit for strong, heavy headed tb

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Newly acquired tb is currently ridden in a myler. Not keen on it with him, he is very strong in canter and leans on the bit. Out hacking he just throws his head in the air and tanks off.

I am at a loss as to what bit to try ... Do i go for something milder such as a french link snaffle? As most tb's iv worked with work better in a snaffle as have been retrained in one so go well. Or do i go for something with more brakes? Like the look of the Ns universal but the price tag is a bit off putting when he might not go well in it!

Someone suggested a pelham but always thought they where a pain to jump in? Also his mouth is so dainty i'm sure it would fit! :p :o

So looking for something with a bit more control that i can jump in, but not too harsh as he is very dead to the mouth (improving now he isnt getting jabbed and pulled).

Anybody with experience or suggestions would be great!

Thanks!
 
Well if he is dead in the mouth, stop riding his mouth.

You could try riding with your seat... Controversial but has had a reasonable amount of success.
 
If he's dead in the mouth why not try bitless and has tallyho said ride with your seat.

I have an ex racer, she was a fidget, strong stress head, giraffe neck in any bit, did some retraining and started hacking in a rope halter, found she stopped having tantrums, lowered her head, listened to my seat, I didnt have to use the reins. I now have her in a dr cooks and I cannot tell you enough the difference it has made, she collects so much better than in any bit and I've never had any breaking/steering problems even cantering out in company for example.

Not to mention she's one happy chilled out horse!
 
As stated above, he has improved immensely in his mouth.

I agree a good rider that uses there seat and legs makes a hell of a difference hence the reason he has improved. But when a horse has been ridden in the mouth for years its not an overnight transformation.
 
Thanks for your reply! Never thought of a bit less, I'll have a look into that. Can they be ridden in for competing etc? Or just for at home use?
:)
 
usernamepending said:
Thanks for your reply! Never thought of a bit less, I'll have a look into that. Can they be ridden in for competing etc? Or just for at home use?
:)
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They are not yet dressage legal, you would have to check regulations but I think most other disciplines accept them no problems. most people dont even notice mine doesn't have a bit as its leather! I ride almost always bitless now but will every now and again pop her back in a snaffle and she is a lot more accepting of the bit after having being ridden bitless as she waits for and concentrates on my seat aids rather than through the bit/mouth :)
 
A hackamore type bit is OK to compete bar dressage, side pulls etc aren't as far as I'm aware. If he has arrived heavy in the hand maybe try a bit with a link, roller or lozenge to try and encourage him to lick and chew and soften. Sweet iron, cherry roller etc. If you are experienced, know what your aim is and have good hands i wouldn't rule out a Waterford loose ring snaffle further down the line for a short period to give him the idea.
 
Oh okay, bit less does seem like it could be a good option, might as well give it a try! As Immy S says for dressage he should then be more responsive with just a snaffle for dressage.

Have looked into getting a cherry roller before as worked wonders on old ID who would grab the bit and tank. Off to the bit bank tomorrow so will have a look at the different sweet irons they have.

thank you!
 
Don't hack him then. You are just undoing all your work. You step forward reschooling and then wipe it all out on a hack.

Maybe work in the school more until you think he is happy with the new ways, then practice out on short excursions so he knows that this new way is THE way and he should be expected to behave out of the school as he does in the school.

I have used a Pelham for strong horses in the past. I like them but I think in your case, the dead mouth thing, would probably just make him even stronger.
 
... Adding to tallyho's comment, I personally wouldn't not hack as I think it's great mental stimulation, but I would school whilst hacking. There's nothing wrong, whilst on quieter roads or tracks, with doing exercises such as rein back, shoulder in, lateral flexions, transitions etc.. My girl is always more responsive and carries her self better once doing this. Or we will often hack to a field where we can school and then apply the schooling session to the hack home, keeping impulsion, collection, responsiveness etc.. :)
 
Ditto Tallyho. Only thing I'd add is that I'd leave out the jumping until the issues with his basic training are resolved.
 
You can actually soften a horse's mouth and retrain your TB to respond to light commands. It takes time. Sometimes you have to take a few steps backwards to progress forwards.

Start again, choose a soft bit eg. a nathe for example; lunge and long rein and teach your horse to respond to voice commands for walk, trot, and canter and whoa. When you think he is ready to be ridden again initially only work at the walk and trot. Keep the rein relaxed to start with, using your body and back and the voice commands if you need to; use lots of circles and spirals etc .

You want to use the lightest, elastic pressure when steering and within a few weeks your horse should revert to a soft mouth. This takes quite a bit more time to actually get horses to soften at the poll.

If at any time your horse tries to hang release the pressure and again use your back and voice to slow him down.

Canter work is not started until a good 2 or 3 months into this training.

You can go back to square one and start over with a bitless bridle, this will let his mouth rest and he can learn to respond to light external facial pressure.

Make sure you keep the sessions short and allow plenty of breaks where you bring your horse to a halt and let him rest for a minute of two in between exercises.
 
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Like Texel said, you can soften it again. I had a heavy on the hand horse and she went best of all in a lightweight mullen mouth bit which had a rotating joint in the middle, not a lozenge, the actual joint turned inside the bit itself. Never seen one before or since but it made a nice job of my horse as it gave her nothing to lean on and plenty to play with.
 
Agree with Texel regarding retraining.

As for a good bit, the NS Verbindend wad an overnight miracle for my ex hurdler. She has a tiny mouth but huge fat tongue, so all other bits caused issues. The Verbindend makes it much more comfortable, the lozenge is great and horses don't tend to lean against them.

What I will say however is that in ex racers, very often, leaning or difficulty in maintaining contact comes from tension through the muscles over the SI joint. Have seen it so many times in ex racers I cannot tell you. Worth getting that checked by a physio as well as looking at bitting. Sometimes this tension is made worse by the saddle fit too. Ex racers need a fair bit of room at the shoulder so a saddle that seems to fit, might not feel so great for the horse when.working x
 
I had a tb mare from the blue cross in October. She had been rehomed prior to coming to me. They rode her in a dutch gag after she had been rebroken to a loose ring snaffle with a lozenge...in theory no need to revert. When she first came to me she was unsure and uncertain, but I have only ridden her with a harmony bit (double link lozenge, loose ring, angled mouthpiece) and she is gently softening again. She has a tendency to get a little heavy, but put the leg on gently and she carries herself again. It's taking some time, but we're getting there.
 
Ride with your seat, do not lean forward and give the rein when horse is not pulling, only pulling to get away from the pressure, a pelham is good but does the horse have a fat tongue or thin as the pelham is quite thick, things riders need to think of befo putting bits in horses mouths.

If you have just got him i assume he has recently come off the track then do not even canter for a few months, he has to learn ground rules on and off his back.
 
Have to agree, many moons ago (we are talking years), had a mare that needed a very strong bit but we found moving direction to the seat helped loads, it took a lot of time mind, but the results in the end were worth it.
 
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