Bit suggestions for very sensitive horse

[Charlie31]

I know the answer to this will be that it’s all trial and error but I thought I’d put my question out there and see if anybody has any suggestions.

My horse is very sensitive in his mouth and doesn’t really like any bits I’ve tried him in. I can get him happy enough for hacking, although I largely go along with loose reins anyway then, but I need something he can get on with for dressage.

He is very tentative into the contact and can be quite tense about it all. In an eggbutt he can tend to set his neck but in a loose ring he fusses and can start to snatch. Hanging cheeks are a big no-no.

I’ve tried loads of bits and through a process of elimination I’ve worked out that a lozenge doesn’t really suit him and he’s quite tense in a straight bar or Mullen mouth. He doesn’t seem to get on with the rubber bits like Nathes or a Sprenger Duo and I think this is because he hasn’t really got any room in his mouth and they’re just too chunky for him.

So I think I’m looking for a single jointed bit that is not too obtrusive in his mouth and is gentle for him. This should narrow it down quite a bit but there’s still loads of choice and I don’t know where to start and whether to go for a loose ring or fixed cheek. So does anybody have any suggestions please?

Just to add that I’m currently trying a Sprenger Novocontact and on paper this should be perfect. He’s slightly less tense in it but is by no means what I’d call relaxed and I’ve noticed he’s also quite chompy with it.

I should also add that back, saddle and teeth have all been done very recently and all are fine. I’ve been told by several people now that the horse moves really well behind and through his back. Unfortunately the front end doesn’t seem to want to play!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I expect the answer is probably 'yes'' but have you tried NS? Their bits come in a choice of thicknesses

 

[PapaverFollis]

I don't really know. I think you've just got to keep trying but also give a bit that he's most ok with a good bit of time for him to settle with it. It's taken The Beast a few weeks to adjust between two almost identical bits when we had to go up a size. She's back to being happy now but there was a definite not being quite sure at first despite them essentially being the same bit. I'm sure you are but just male sure you give your current best option a good chance.

Also Granny hated all bits until I tried a metal Mullen mouth Pelham of all things. Instant love. Strange mare.

 

[Griffin]

I would get a bit expert out. After trying several bits without success, I used Bit Fit and it was worth every penny. I now have a mare who is so much happier and activities working herself properly. You try out lots of different bits at different price points, so it's time effective too.

 

[Cortez]

Also Granny hated all bits until I tried a metal Mullen mouth Pelham of all things. Instant love. Strange mare.

Not at all strange; many, many horses are happier in a curb action bit. A snaffle is not in the least "mild" and the pinching action combined with an unforgiving hand can be pure torture for many horses.

 

[splashgirl45]

have you tried a sweet iron bit? it seemed to work for my old mare, not sure why as it was the same shape as the normal bit.....my loan mare didnt like lozenge bits, she was ok in a mullen mouth snaffle but a little hard to stop in the winter, i tried a dr bristol and she was much better and that is what i kept her in, is there a dressage legal bit similar as i dont think dr bristols are allowed...

 

[Tihamandturkey]

My sensitive small mouth big tongued mare was very hard to bit - tried every variety of traditional snaffle with no luck - had a hunch & I was right - it turns out she is happiest in a port mouth Pelham or a port mouth slotted Kimblewick.

Have lately found she will tolerate a slim curved mouth loose ring snaffle for flatwork but goes way better in the Pelham so we vary between the two & use the Kimblewick for hacking & exciting stuff - very soft mouth & never takes a hold so only use the top slot 😊

 

[PapaverFollis]

Not at all strange; many, many horses are happier in a curb action bit. A snaffle is not in the least "mild" and the pinching action combined with an unforgiving hand can be pure torture for many horses.

I have to admit that the switch to the Pelham probably caused or coincided with a vast improvement in my hands. Being worried about having harsh hands in the "harsh" (I know, but that was my thinking at the time) bit really made me blimmin concentrate. So it might have been the bit she liked or it might have been that "mum" had finally figured out how to ride a bit better. 😂

 

[YorksG]

Have you tried a Myler comfort snaffle? The old appy preferred a ported myler pelham but didn't object to the comfort snaffle. It is quite stable,without any nutcracker action and is also quite slim

 

[Ben2684]

I had been through about a Bazillion bits with BBear and have tried most cominbations.

He has a relatively narrow mouth but needs room for a big tongue and originally thought I had found **the one** with a bombers happy mouth loose ring but he continued at certain times to be quite fussy. Had a consult with a bitting consultant and they said to try the same mouthpiece but with a hanging cheek style as it was more stable. Cue an improvement and I thought I was there. We continued with this for quite a while and then I read a piece of research about nosebands and their effect on facial pressure etc. I swapped from a cavesson to a grackle as it (if not tightened ridiculously-ie I can easily fit 2 fingers round the whole thing) can help to further stabilise the bit. I have no idea if I could prove this scientifically or not but this is our golden combination. He has gone from fussy/chomping/snatching to being quiet in the mouth and seeking the contact more and more. Lessons have also helped me as I am also certain my hands had a part to play in helping him accept a light even contact.

Not much help as you said your horse hates a straight bar but just goes to show there is no bit for this or bit for that issue. You need to look at the whole picture and assess at each stage what works and what doesn’t. A big fit consultant really did start me and my horse on the path to harmony though so would highly recommend

 

[Peregrine Falcon]

I have a version of the comfort snaffle. My mare has accepted this better than most but after finding a different instructor I have discovered that I was more of a problem than the bit!

 

[Mule]

Not at all strange; many, many horses are happier in a curb action bit. A snaffle is not in the least "mild" and the pinching action combined with an unforgiving hand can be pure torture for many horses.

They can definitely facilitate strident see sawing

 

[Abi90]

I would get a bit expert out. After trying several bits without success, I used Bit Fit and it was worth every penny. I now have a mare who is so much happier and activities working herself properly. You try out lots of different bits at different price points, so it's time effective too.

I second this. Did this for my mare, cost me £55 and I’ve found a bit and bridle combination that she goes so much better in! Swapped the expensive NS bit for something half the price and she’s much better! Saves you continuously buying bits until you find one that works

 

[rextherobber]

My horseis very similar to yours, I took HorseKaren's advice, (Thanks, HK!), and tried a Bombers lock up snaffle, the difference is amazing! I have the loose ring Ultra comfy, got it on eBay.

 

[vmac66]

I had horse bit fit to look at my mare . She was in a ns team up but would head toss and shake every so often. Turned out She had a low palette and the lozenge was putting pressure on it. On their advice I tried a ns turtle top. She's much happier in it, no more head shaking.

 

[TotalMadgeness]

I eventually used horse bit fit for my horse and now have a bit he is happy with! Inexpensive one at that. You could also look at the Harmony range of bits too.

 

[ihatework]

It will be quicker & cheaper to get a bitting consultant out to try a range.
I’d make sure they carry bombers and mylers as I really do rate these makes.

 

[paddi22]

get a biting consultant. it will save you so much time and money in the long run. I had looked up all the sceince for one of mine, and couldn't figure out why he was still a bit unsettled in transitions. biting expert saw straight away his teeth were in a slightly weird place in his mouth, so he had to adjust bit and also my bridle settings to suit. I would automatically get a biting expert out now immediately whenever i get a new horse. the difference it has made to them is amazing

 

[Fiona]

I would have described my pony as very similar a few months ago, but the magic combination for us was a micklem bridle, and in that, he will go in an ultra simple nathe snaffle (which he wouldn't tolerate on a normal bridle).

Fiona

 

[Akkalia1]

My mare is exactly the same. She's mouthy and chomps on the bit a lot. I've tried many types of bits but still haven't found the perfect one. She was in a loose ring but I think that was encouraging her to chop and play more and she too was becoming prone to snatching it. She has a small mouth and I think she has a low palate. For a while she seemed to be going ok in a NS demi-anky and this may be one worth trying if you haven't. It's single jointed but without the nutcracker action.

However my mare had become very unsettled in her mouth again so have been trying bits again. Seemed happiest in a Sprenger KK ultra, didn't like the myler comfort snaffle low port (I thought her tongue was quite large in a small mouth hence trying a port but I think this was very uncomfortable on her palate, lots of raising her head and refusing to go forwards). Ive kept the eggbutt KK ultra although I still don't think this is her perfect bit. I feel like maybe a straight bar might suit her as she did chomp less on the myler mullen barrel but unfortunately the one I tried had full cheeks and they were pressing quite tight on her face which she didn't like. But I may try a straight bar again at some point.

One other thing that I think has helped my mare - at the weekend I tried taking her cavesson off as several things had made me think she didn't really like it. She was instantly a bit more settled in her head carriage. So may be something to try.

I think in the new year I'll try a bit fit consultation as I definitely haven't got it quite right and a specialist will hopefully help get the right combination of bridle and bit. Sounds like it could be worth you trying too.

 

[PapaverFollis]

Oh yeah that reminds me. We ditched the noseband with Granny Horse too. Another thing that got a thumbs up from her.

 

[twiggy2]

My first action would be to remove the browband and noseband, combine with a mullen mouth or a lozenge sweet iron or a miler starter bit.
My mare could not tolerate a noseband or brown band until I tried a micklem bridle with the browband removed-she was much happier.
Also ask your dentist what they would recommend, y mare had a very fleshy mouth with a low roof so she found very narrow bits much more acceptable.

 

[Charlie31]

Thank you for the suggestions. There are too many for me to comment on them all but there are some common themes coming up and I have a few ideas of things to try. The problem is that the bit has to be dressage legal, which limits thing a bit. His hacking bit that he likes is a Myler but not a dressage legal one and he doesn't like the dressage legal versions of the same mouthpiece (the low port comfort snaffle). I have a feeling he would have liked the old comfort snaffles without the port but they've stopped selling those in the UK now, which is annoying. So I think I will investigate other Myler options and possibly some of the Bomber ones too and see where we go from there.

I did have a bitting consultant out a while back and she was great and gave me some good suggestions. I do feel that she's helped me get to where I am now, which is that I have a good understanding of the problems even if I don't yet have the solution! The consultant I tried didn't quite have as wide a range of bits to try as I would have liked so maybe I need to look at that again.

I do also intend to play about with the bridle a bit. He's just in a very loose cavesson and I thought this was a kind thing but coincidentally I did take it off recently just to see if it made any difference and he did seem happier. So I can school him without a noseband at home and I also plan on trying one of the curved browbands but what do I do about a noseband when I'm at competitions and have to use one? I borrowed a friend's Micklem bridle and it just didn't fit him very well so I don't think that would be an option. Can anybody recommend a good alternative style of bridle that might help? Or might a drop on his current bridle work? He isn't keen on flashes or grackles so they're out.

It's all a bit annoying really. If the dressage rules could be changed to allow other things than plain snaffles and to let you ride without a noseband I don't think we'd be in this situation!

 

[zola89]

Thank you for the suggestions. There are too many for me to comment on them all but there are some common themes coming up and I have a few ideas of things to try. The problem is that the bit has to be dressage legal, which limits thing a bit. His hacking bit that he likes is a Myler but not a dressage legal one and he doesn't like the dressage legal versions of the same mouthpiece (the low port comfort snaffle). I have a feeling he would have liked the old comfort snaffles without the port but they've stopped selling those in the UK now, which is annoying. So I think I will investigate other Myler options and possibly some of the Bomber ones too and see where we go from there.

I did have a bitting consultant out a while back and she was great and gave me some good suggestions. I do feel that she's helped me get to where I am now, which is that I have a good understanding of the problems even if I don't yet have the solution! The consultant I tried didn't quite have as wide a range of bits to try as I would have liked so maybe I need to look at that again.

I do also intend to play about with the bridle a bit. He's just in a very loose cavesson and I thought this was a kind thing but coincidentally I did take it off recently just to see if it made any difference and he did seem happier. So I can school him without a noseband at home and I also plan on trying one of the curved browbands but what do I do about a noseband when I'm at competitions and have to use one? I borrowed a friend's Micklem bridle and it just didn't fit him very well so I don't think that would be an option. Can anybody recommend a good alternative style of bridle that might help? Or might a drop on his current bridle work? He isn't keen on flashes or grackles so they're out.

It's all a bit annoying really. If the dressage rules could be changed to allow other things than plain snaffles and to let you ride without a noseband I don't think we'd be in this situation!

You can use the myler low port comfort snaffle for dressage, so long as it doesn't have the hooks/slots. I use this for dressage and then use the one with hooks for hacking and jumping. I don't find it makes a huge difference but the one with the hooks provides a more direct action/message as the reins can't move. Having said this I don't find the reins move that much on the standard mouthpiece as the metal is chunkier than a standard bit I find.

I also have an Evo Equine bridle which is fully adjustable both sides, comfort mono-headpiece and removable throatlash (just need it on for competitions).

 

[Annagain]

The biggest change in my horse was when I tried a micklem bridle. I thought they were just a gimic and avoided them for ages and then felt very guilty when he loved it! My instructor has a theory that the 'anatomical' design isn't that big a deal but micklems hold the bit incredibly still and this is what suits horses who like them and why they have little effect on others. I'm pretty sure this is the case with my boy as he was very fussy in his mouth and the best bit for him is a mullen mouth hanging cheek which also holds the bit very still.

 

[Fiona]

The biggest change in my horse was when I tried a micklem bridle. I thought they were just a gimic and avoided them for ages and then felt very guilty when he loved it! My instructor has a theory that the 'anatomical' design isn't that big a deal but micklems hold the bit incredibly still and this is what suits horses who like them and why they have little effect on others. I'm pretty sure this is the case with my boy as he was very fussy in his mouth and the best bit for him is a mullen mouth hanging cheek which also holds the bit very still.

That makes a lot of sense, and could explain why my horse likes him micklem so much, and also why when using a normal bridle, the only type of bit he will tolerate is a hanging cheek one.

Fiona

 

[tallyho!]

Hey sorry late the party but the thing with snaffles is that they are a great bit and of course nowadays no one knows or is taught how to use such a simple bit... trick is you need to lift your hands not ride with low hands which is wrong in any case. Low hands cause any bit to hurt.

The hand which causes pain for the horse, not the bit.

 

[Cortez]

Hey sorry late the party but the thing with snaffles is that they are a great bit and of course nowadays no one knows or is taught how to use such a simple bit... trick is you need to lift your hands not ride with low hands which is wrong in any case. Low hands cause any bit to hurt.

The hand which causes pain for the horse, not the bit.

I agree with what you say, but the main problem is that people do not ever release the pressure - riding "on a contact" seems to be the modern idea of being on the bit, which you can sort of get away with on a snaffle, and absolutely cannot on a curb. Being "on the aids" (rather than on the bit) means holding the horse with the seat, once he is properly collected and sitting over the haunches. Just dragging around on the forehand and hanging on the reins will not ever result in the horse (or rider) advancing, and means constant pressure and pain in the horse's mouth.

Is anybody ever taught to LET GO?

 

[tallyho!]

I agree with what you say, but the main problem is that people do not ever release the pressure - riding "on a contact" seems to be the modern idea of being on the bit, which you can sort of get away with on a snaffle, and absolutely cannot on a curb. Being "on the aids" (rather than on the bit) means holding the horse with the seat, once he is properly collected and sitting over the haunches. Just dragging around on the forehand and hanging on the reins will not ever result in the horse (or rider) advancing, and means constant pressure and pain in the horse's mouth.

Is anybody ever taught to LET GO?

Actually, a snaffle is not that forgiving, it results in a hollow horse that develops in an upside down manner due to the horse evading the pressure. The snaffle should teach a rider HOW to give but maybe not many teachers know how to do this themselves... I myself did not find anyone who could teach me until around 5 years ago!!! The curb is added later - for the reason you mention.

On the bit, to me, means being on the aids, listening to me and between hand and seat at all gaits - not just in collected work. Not just moving along at any pace, in any manner with a nose tucked in. This is how terms such as "sawing" and "fiddling" come about, with no give whatsoever! No LETTING GO, NO RELEASE!!. Once you start adding in draw reins and other auxilliaries, you can tell the rider cannot possibly be riding with a holistic goal in mind. It's all about the head only - forgotten what to do with the body.

 

[Noble]

A bombers lock up ultra comfy snaffle helped me in a similar situation, I believe it has already been suggested. Slim, single jointed and due to the action a fairly kind bit that this horse is now happy to take up the contact in. My horse also disliked a lozenge and was sensitive with a small mouth.