Bit for Thoroughbred Ex Racer...Advice please?

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HollyJ

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Hi – I am looking for some advice please if there is anyone who has been in the same situation

I have had my thoroughbread ex racer for the past 6 weeks. He is working nicely despite the fact that he appears to hate his bit. I wondered if you could advise on what you generally have used with success? I have him in a fixed ring French link snaffle at the moment. He prefers this to a loose ring lozenge bit that I had him in first of all. He grinds his jaw a lot – which I have read is fairly common. He is a little more relaxed in the French link but still not entirely happy. I would be really grateful of any tried and tested advice.
 
It's probably just a case of trial and error- I'd try a soft rubber snaffle next. I usually have a lot of sucess with low ported mylers if they dont like a joint but theyre quite pricey.
 
Hi,

have you had his teeth checked? I ride mine in a french link fulmer and a flash nose band. No more teeth grinding for him! The fulmer really helped my boy with his turning too.

HTH
 
i had the same problem with my exracer - i tried a couple of bits and he seems happiest in this one

http://www.triequestrian.ie/our-pro...e=youjoomla.tpl&product_id=717&category_id=25

he didn't seem to like how the french link moved in his mouth and he kept trying to get his tongue over it, he wasn't happy with the size of the happy bits at all either. he loves this one and the rolling parts seem to keep him settled a bit more, plus he also prefers the taste of copper bits.
 
Teeth haven't been done yet no... thats next on my list!

I just wondered whether people have more or less success with joints / no joints etc.

I have had a straight bar suggested to me but can't say i have ever used one of these before.
 
TBs generally have little room in their mouths, so I'd try something anatomically designed - mine goes much better in a NS team up than anything else I've tried.
 
Nocturnal said:
TBs generally have little room in their mouths, so I'd try something anatomically designed - mine goes much better in a NS team up than anything else I've tried.
Click to expand...

The NS team up was recommended to me by the NS people for my ex-racer.
They do seem to like these.
 
I know a number of ex racers who are going very happily bitless, the majority are in hackamores so if you've no experience I'd get someone who know's what they are doing to show you how to ride in them, but I do know 1 who's in a Dr Cooks and another who's in a cheap and cheerful webbed one (Libby's I think).

Might be worth a try?
 
does anyone have a link for a NS team bit? i've never heard of them before, unless under a different name?
 
Here's a link to the NS bit:
http://www.nsbits.com/index.php/dressage-legal/team-up.html

I think you can get them on trial from the horsebitbank before you shell out for one you may not like.

I have a Happy Mouth eggbutt snaffle which my ex racers all like - I don't like Happy Mouth bits per say but when I dig it out for the fussy mouthed, teeth grinding, leaning, head sideways boys they all really like it so I keep it!
 
My ex racer arrived in a single joint eggbutt snaffle with a flash and he loathed it. through trial and error we have now arrived at a straight bar happy mouth loose ring and he loves it. often you need to go more gentle with the racers rather than stronger and they relax into the bit. I also have removed the flash as that caused him to throw his head and a martingale is a no no. I also had his teeth done and they were horrendous, seriously sharp, bad hooks and locked up so he had a lot of work done over a 6 month period. I now find he only grinds when his teeth need doing - and he has to be done every 6 months. he is a total pratt to do his teeth so sedation is necessary. i now use my happy Mouth straight bar for everything, Eventing, hacking schooling etc. he is extremely light in the mouth and while he will take a contact - any one heavy handed on him will result in a camel impression and trying to grab the bit.
 
I know ex who goes very sweetly in Myler & cavasson noseband. Strapping chops shut with noseband just made her resent it & fuss. Also went reasonably in german hackamore, but did tend to put head down & pull.
 
Mine seems to be happy enough in a happy mouth snaffle, he hated a normal metal snaffle :)

It's always worth trying before you buy!
 
Another vote here for the straight rubber mouthpiece.

I have always been told that the general palate of a TB's lends them to prefer the shape of the straight mouthpiece.

My TBxConnie has a very TB head and she hated single joints and french links but loves her straight bar.
 
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