Bit help please!

[mememe]

Am having major bitting issues atm! Buster is very strong and is currently in a tom thumb. its absolutly fantastic, i have brakes and steering and he respects it but it rubs the side of his mouth really badly!

I have tried him in a myler, kimblewick and various copper rollers but he has learnt to grab hold of the all!

I need something fairly strong but with a eggbutt type joining form the side of the bit to the mouthpiece. I am thinking that the rugby pinchless pelham looks quite good and dont know if anyone as any views on this??

Have also seen the american gag comes in a happy mouth but think this might be a bit to severe! And just to make the choice even harder i dont really want him in a gag as i have had some bad experiances with them!

Any one have any advice?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Bossanova]

Have you tried bit guards?

 

[mememe]

Yep and they dont work! neither does tonnes of vasaline!

 

[Tangaroo]

What bad experiences have you had with a gag? My coloured boy is very strong and leans on the bit . I have tried everything like you and i now ride him in a Cheltenham gag. It is brilliant! He knows i can stop him so he doesnt even pull in it, therefore i can ride him on a lighter contact and only use it when i need it.

 

[mememe]

Had a dutch gag in one and he went really stiff thorugh his neck, jumped really hollow and used just stop dead and rear! as soon as i put him in a snaffle he was fine but i vowed never again! normally i would think oh its just that particular horse but this one was a saint! plus im not sure even that would be enough for buster!

a cheltnam gag dosent look to bad though!

 

[kerilli]

well, my mare kept ripping her mouth, in desperation on saturday and sunday i tried a big fat old vulcanite pelham i've had for ages, with loads of cream on the bit and the sides of her mouth, and it worked fine... because it's so big, it wasn't sharp. might be worth a try. mine has rubber bit guards on too.
happy mouth would be the last thing i'd try, the plastic can snag the corners of the mouth.
good luck.

 

[Tangaroo]

My boy wont go in a dutch gag. I had no steering and he threatened to rear in it which is unheard of for him.
The cheltenham gag didnt have this affect at all. I tried him in it first with two reins in case it was a disaster so i could at least just pull on the snaffle, but i now just use one rein cos its more direct when i do need to take a pull. BUt like i said he doesnt take off any more! (Famous last words)!!