Matafleur
Well-Known Member
Ok, I don't normally ask for bit suggestions as usually my mare is strictly snaffle mouthed but we have an unusual problem at the moment and the combination that I thought would work brilliantly failed quite badly today!
My mare had a sarcoid removed from her mouth last year and as a result the skin around the corner of her mouth became very thickened and quite papery. It was inclined to split very easily but I managed it through the season by riding her in a Dr Cooks (bitless) wherever possible and resting it when it got sore. She had not had a bit in for over 6 weeks and the mouth is totally healed but still a bit weak I suspect. As I am not brave or stupid enough to hunt with no bit I have combined a Tom Thumb with her Dr cooks so that I could just touch it lightly if I was struggling and the mouth would not be pulled or stretched.
This worked very nicely the last two outings but today was opening meet with the bloodhounds and I could not get her head off the floor when we were cantering/galloping. I just had nothing at all even if I took a firm pull on the Tom Thumb which I've only even touched 3 times in the last 2 outings and never pulled. Jumping is fine, she sees the fence and sets herself up beautifully, listening to me when I ask her to shorten even with the bitless. It's the bits in between that are unpleasant!
Can someone please suggest something that may help us that I can use in conjunction with the bitless?
I should stress that her mouth is not sore in any way but I want the absolute minimum of pulling on it hence wanting something strong that I can just pick up when I'm desperate. She is fine to do everything else in just the bitless but Bloodhounding is a step too far!
Thanks in advance!
My mare had a sarcoid removed from her mouth last year and as a result the skin around the corner of her mouth became very thickened and quite papery. It was inclined to split very easily but I managed it through the season by riding her in a Dr Cooks (bitless) wherever possible and resting it when it got sore. She had not had a bit in for over 6 weeks and the mouth is totally healed but still a bit weak I suspect. As I am not brave or stupid enough to hunt with no bit I have combined a Tom Thumb with her Dr cooks so that I could just touch it lightly if I was struggling and the mouth would not be pulled or stretched.
This worked very nicely the last two outings but today was opening meet with the bloodhounds and I could not get her head off the floor when we were cantering/galloping. I just had nothing at all even if I took a firm pull on the Tom Thumb which I've only even touched 3 times in the last 2 outings and never pulled. Jumping is fine, she sees the fence and sets herself up beautifully, listening to me when I ask her to shorten even with the bitless. It's the bits in between that are unpleasant!
Can someone please suggest something that may help us that I can use in conjunction with the bitless?
I should stress that her mouth is not sore in any way but I want the absolute minimum of pulling on it hence wanting something strong that I can just pick up when I'm desperate. She is fine to do everything else in just the bitless but Bloodhounding is a step too far!
Thanks in advance!