Bit question

[Boughtabay]

I’m looking for my horses next bit. He’s currently in a full cheek snaffle with a copper roller in the middle but I’m not a fan of the full cheek long term. He’s also tried a sweet iron hanging cheek with a lozenge but I’m looking to try an eggbutt really.
I’m trying to decide between a standard eggbutt snaffle with a lozenge or roller vs. something more like the myler comfort or ported eggbutt bomber. I’ve never used anything like the latter two options before so interested to hear how people think they compare/which is considered the “mildest” option, he doesn’t need anything strong at all.

 

[vhf]

Hi, It mostly depends on your horse's mouth conformation. Exactly as with a saddle, it's the wrong one that will be unkind/less mild, rather than a particular type necessarily. Also like saddles, very often despite all the theory, the horse will have the final say!
Hoses with a very low palate and/or fleshy tongue have less space for ports or large knuckles (joints for the lozenges etc.) Some horses dislike pressure on the bars of their mouth, others don't like it on their tongue, and so on. If they are perfectly happy in the mouthpiece you have, there's probably no need to change it. Just about any mouthpiece is available with any cheek, so you should be fine. Get it second hand (if you're confident) if you want to check it works for you before spending big money. Some people like a D ring as a sort of mid-way between a full cheek and an eggbutt cheek. The hanging cheek will have a different action, which they may or may not prefer!

 

[Boughtabay]

Yes I did think I was probably better sticking with what he’s got now mouthpiece wise than trying something new just for the sake of it. Definitely wasn’t a fan of the hanging cheek which I was surprised by as I thought it would be more stable but there we go! I’ll probably try a D and an eggbutt with the roller and go from there

 

[JackFrost]

I currently have young horse in Myler hanging cheek ported comfort snaffle (with the roller joint). I tried as an alternative the bomber ported loose ring with roller, which basically looks a loose ring version of the Myler. I was surprised how different they feel. The bomber feels very direct to the mouth - actually too direct and perhaps an unforgiving contact that needs good hands or it could be harsh, but in the right hands could be a good training aid. The hanging cheek myler feels more forgiving for rider error or horse misundertanding, but less precise in the mouth.

I have found Forelock and Load to be good for purchase on trial and advice.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

What about a hanging cheek one of mine prefers that over a normal eggbutt, I use a barrel type that looks like a myler.

 

[Boughtabay]

What about a hanging cheek one of mine prefers that over a normal eggbutt, I use a barrel type that looks like a myler.

I’ve tried a hanging cheek and he wasn’t a fan for some reason - possibly slightly more tongue pressure than he likes as the headpiece is more stable?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I’ve tried a hanging cheek and he wasn’t a fan for some reason - possibly slightly more tongue pressure than he likes as the headpiece is more stable?

Oh sorry must have missed that

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

A loose ring tends to be milder and less fixed than an eggbutt or hanging cheek, my other horse is better in a loose ring his got such a soft mouth and the hanging cheek or eggbutt makes him over bend sometimes and curl up in the contact.

 

[Bobthecob15]

Google expert bits, they have an free consultation service and are very helpful!!!

 

[Barton Bounty]

I was going to say loose ring snaffle too defo the most soft

 

[Annagain]

Have a look at HP snaffles. They're basically cheaper version of the myler comfort snaffles. As others have said, the best one is the one that suits your horse best and trial and error is normally the best way to find that out. Expert advice can narrow down the options but it's the horse's opinion that matters!

 

[teddy_]

You could try a D-ring? Halfway house between full cheeks and an eggbutt. I have found most of mine seem to accept the D-rings happily (I use the KK / Sprenger offering).

Be sure to ascertain whether your horse has a fleshy / large tongue or not, though - as this will determine what thickness and style of mouthpiece might suit him best. There's lots of good literature on the internet about which mouthpieces tend to work with different conformation.

If you're unsure how to assess his mouth conformation, you probably couldn't go wrong with getting a bit fitter out, or even asking your equine dentist.

In terms of what's 'mildest', this really works on a case by case basis. My warmblood appeared more comfortable and accepting of the bit in a single joint, whereas a lot of horses prefer double jointed bits as these are understood to be more comfortable. However, there are more than a few manufacturers that make single jointed bits that do not create a nutcracker action like the conventional single jointed bit might have done.