Bit Help Please

[AmyMay]

Thumper saw the dentist on Tuesday. It went very well, and there was no concerns over his teeth or the condition of his gums. So he seems to have been well taken care of previously in the teeth department.

However, EDT did comment that he was very sensative on his left hand side. This could account for the 'unhappiness' I observed in his mouth when I tried him.

Now I have only been quietly hacking him out since I had him - and am riding him in a KK ultra. He seems happy in it and will work in to the contact nicely. However, I haven't been asking for any true work on the bit as he has a slightly sore back, and I don't want to put any undue pressure on anything until he starts his physio.

So - given that he appears to have a sensative side to his mouth would you be inclined to drop the metal bit and try a rubber or nathe bit instead????

Comments and thoughts appreciated. (Just don't mention Mylers - as they are not my bag in any shape or form).

Thanks

 

[fairhill]

If he's happy in the metal bit and working into a contact despite a sore back, then I'd be inclined to continue with it.

 

[Shipley]

I would stick with the bit for now as changing more than one thing at a time is a nightmare. Wait till his back improves and if he is still sentitive then try then

 

[sfward]

My 5 year old mare has a tendency to hang on to the left rein and consequently was really one-sided. I'd been riding her in a neue schule lozenge snaffle (v similar to KK ultra) until I discovered it was rubbing the corner of her mouth on the left side, no doubt causing oversensitivity on that side and exacerbating her one-sidedness (is that a word?!) Recently I changed her into a single-link rubber snaffle with cheeks (happy mouth or similar) and she is a different horse, now even on both reins and much happier.
Depends where your horse's sensitivity is but I certainly found a rubber bit works better for mine...