bit of bit advice please

[summertoots]

I ride my horse in a french link eggbut. He is a bit of a worrier and tends to chomp a great deal on his bit, pushing his tounge around and generaly acting a wee bit stressed , especialy if there is others riding with us. He is green , and even though he is nearly eight he rides more like a four/ five year old as till I got him he had never been near a School.
Its just this chomping I am not happy with, he just disapears when he is doing this and I cant feel him at the end of my reins, so he falls behind the bit, making him look tight.
His teath are fine as his back, tack and everything else that could be upsetting him, I am fussy about these things being right and I dont have hard hands that are making him back off.
What I was thinking is a bit made from a warmer metal that he will want to move forward into and soften on so he mouths rather than chomps. I have been looking at the sprenger KK loose ring and wondered if you guys thought this bit was any good for my problem. I so want to take him out and do a bit dressage, but nto till we sort this out.

 

[djb]

Maybe try a straight bar happy mouth to encourage him to take the contact forwards, or an eggbut so the bit is more fixed in his mouth.

I have the same problem with my horse who is nearly 5 - I gave him the benefit of the doubt until he had had his teeth done and he was still messy with his tongue. He is much better with a flash and hope it might just be a baby thing. I might try a myler without the tongue pressure though.

 

[Frankstown]

I would think something with a port to give his tongue some room.
Myler make nice ones.

Have you had his teeth looked at?

 

[summertoots]

Yes teeth are ok, first thing I had looked at. Only a few Myler bits are dressage legal though aren't they?

 

[Nari]

I've got a mullen mouth Myler with full cheeks that my ID likes. He doesn't seem to like anything too moveable in his mouth & acted in just the way you describe when he was in a french link while single joints are a big no for him as he just doesn't have the room in his mouth.

I prefer the Myler mullen to most mullens as it has independent side action which I find useful on him, I do dislike the "handlebar" feel of normal mullen/straight bar bits.

Full cheeks used with keepers are good for keeping the bit steady in the mouth & some horses prefer this. When I first used it on Jim I used keepers & because the bit was then very still he was much more confident in seeking the contact. I know ride without keepers as eventually he started leaning a little & it's easier to stop that if I have a little more play in the bit.

I won't have Jim in nathe etc as a) they are usually bulkier than he's happy with & b) he can be a hot horse to ride & I'm afraid there are times when I need the strength of a metal bit. If your horse is safe in a milder bit then nathe may be worth a try as it is warm & very soft.

I also find that the rider has a lot to do with how well Jim takes a contact. If someone is even slightly set in the hand or carries their hand very low then he opens his mouth against them, overbends & totally evades the contact. I can't say I blame him! I'm not talking novices here, rather the occassional experienced rider who other horses seem to find perfectly acceptable so it's him being a bit intolerant. It has, however, worked wonders for my hands & riding

 

[the watcher]

I would also recommend a look at Myler bits, not all are dressage legal, but there enough to give you a choice. They have made a dramatic improvement to my horses.

 

[Dotilas]

I have a myler dressage legal snaffle... Came with my horse... He goes nicely in it, but it's an eggbutt and I don't like riding in it!

It gets passed around the yard and everyone who uses it then goes on to buy a myler of their own

Expensive though.

 

[Nari]

Forgot to add the mullen mouth full cheek Myler is dressage legal.

 

[summertoots]

Thanks for the info. My lad can get a bit hot as well, especialy in company. He needs a good 40 to 50 mins to settle down in lots of company and if I dont School before I hack he is a nightmare, so like you I dont want to go down the nathe or happymouth route. Will contact myler then and perhaps a bit bank and try before I buy, its a lot of money to get it wrong. I know for a fact though that if I walk into the yard with a myler they will all want to try it on their horse!!!!!!