Bit for strong youngster

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Soxy_2010

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My 3 year old gelding is very strong. He's currently in a sweet iron loose ring snaffle with a lozenge French link. Does anyone have any suggestions on what bits I can try? He's not in pain and has had everything check
 
Sigh.

Schooling. Not a bit issue. At 3 he'll still have teeth all over the shot and caps. Get his teeth done and then wait if needed. Go back to ground work and getting him soft and long lining. Then proceed to quiet ridden work and repeat. Athis age there shouldn't be any work that requires him to be 'strong' [I'm guessing it's green, not strong anyway].
 
Sometimes the lozenge isn't the best starter bit as it pinches the tongue and squashes it against the teeth. Have you checked for wolf teeth?
 
Needs training not a "bigger" bit and checking for teething , lampas etc three year old often go through periods of sore mouths i just give them a break till their mouths settle .
 
Agree with needs training but if uncomfortable in the mouth, hard to train.
 
Teeth checked and sorted.

Start again. What are you doing with him at 3? Are you trying to make sure he's going in an outline that he's probably not capable of doing as he lacks the musco-skeletal sysyem being a baby and all.

Terri
 
Hi purchased a lovely connie x last year who was rising three, I starting using a NS eggbutt frenchlink snaffle for day one, I had a few issues I.e not physically had the muscle to work and sore mouth with teeth coming through. I took a step back lots of hacking and bits of schooling, as my mare is sensitive i needed to give her the time for the horse develop as the horses have to get used to the balance as they will go rump high, my mare use to get sore in the back area. I had the dentist out twice every four mouths, as we found out my mare has probably never had dentist before. 10months on she is schooling beautifully, and I am last week took her to dressage at my scores was 67% in prelim. Take your time with your baby and it will all come together, the baby's just need time to come into there own and you won't need stronger bits, I use to ride my 16.3 in a loose ring snaffle all the time.
 
Have just been finding the right bit for a similar youngster. Agree with previous posts that the issue is 'green' not 'strong', but the right choice of bit can help.

Started in loose ring snaffle. Went OK, but tense and signs of discomfort if he got excited and I applied brakes.

Wanted to go down rather than up (school, not control), so tried very gentle lozenge snaffle, but seemed a bit big in his mouth (very dainty nose), and he wasn't softening onto it.

Finally settled on a loose ring sweet iron french link, with copper rings in the centre. This has a thinner mouthpiece, so combined with the shape of the link and rollers is a slightly stronger bit, but he immediately mouths it happily, and settles softly into a contact, and comes back underneath me much more easily when I need him to - Cracked it!
 
pennyturner said:
Have just been finding the right bit for a similar youngster. Agree with previous posts that the issue is 'green' not 'strong', but the right choice of bit can help.

Started in loose ring snaffle. Went OK, but tense and signs of discomfort if he got excited and I applied brakes.

Wanted to go down rather than up (school, not control), so tried very gentle lozenge snaffle, but seemed a bit big in his mouth (very dainty nose), and he wasn't softening onto it.

Finally settled on a loose ring sweet iron french link, with copper rings in the centre. This has a thinner mouthpiece, so combined with the shape of the link and rollers is a slightly stronger bit, but he immediately mouths it happily, and settles softly into a contact, and comes back underneath me much more easily when I need him to - Cracked it!
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Exactly, get everything comfy first. You wouldn't train in a saddle that doesn't fit so why do it in a bit?

Completely agree btw that a "stronger" bit is not needed, but if the baby is uncomfortable in the mouth, it needs sorting out or else you won't get far with the ol' education.
 
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