Bit suggestions please? (or schooling exercises!)

[QueenDee_]

Hoping someone can suggest a bit to try for schooling this mare. She's fairly green in the school, has a lovely light mouth but can has a tendency to 'fix' her neck behind the bit, even if on a loose rein (wondering if she's had draw-reins on in the past as its that type of shape) so looking to encourage her to relax down into the contact. Has had teeth/back checked. She's currently in a full cheek copper roller snaffle which she is quite mouthy in until she settles into the schooling.

Grateful for any suggestions, or even any schooling/lunging exercises that you have found to be effective for this type of horse

 

[georgie256]

Rubber straight bar or jointed? My 4yr old likes to look pretty with his neck in rather than ride into the bridle, so a rubber type will help

 

[QueenDee_]

Rubber straight bar or jointed? My 4yr old likes to look pretty with his neck in rather than ride into the bridle, so a rubber type will help

Did you find it made a lot of difference changing to the rubber?

 

[georgie256]

I haven't changed any of mine over recently but that's what trainers have always told me when trying to get them to accept the contact. Other exercises I would say your usual transitions, lots of walking circles and then getting them going forward into your hand

 

[Tnavas]

Definitely not a good idea to use a rubber bit, they are notorious for making mouths sore. If the horse doesn't keep the mouth moist the rubber grabs at the skin.

I find a single jointed Fulmer, with keepers, this bit is good to encourage confidence.

 

[QueenDee_]

I find a single jointed Fulmer, with keepers, this bit is good to encourage confidence.

Do you not find the nut cracker action discourages them from stretching down?

 

[saddlesore]

Id look at something fixed that will sit still in the mouth and encourage your horse to stretch. A Mullen mouth snaffle would be ideal IMO. I like the myler ones.

 

[QueenDee_]

Id look at something fixed that will sit still in the mouth and encourage your horse to stretch. A Mullen mouth snaffle would be ideal IMO. I like the myler ones.

Had a quick google and the majority seem to be of different materials (happymouth/vulcanite etc) from the post above suggesting against rubber ones as they can make the mouth sore, would you be suggesting a metal one?

 

[Sol]

My lad who generally likes mullen mouths works nicely in a Billy Allen D-ring (a western brand I think but v. similar to myler in the mouthpiece style & a lot cheaper ) he generally prefers this style of mouthpiece, in a double/single joint he can back off the bit & is overly-mouthy. Now he has his Billy Allen (for every day work) a Myler bradoon (for when he eventually goes in a double, perhaps, but he's schooled in this fine on it's own) and jumps in a PeeWee - when he holds the bit far too much!!
Ultimately though, learning how to do flexions with him (in-hand) have made all the difference to his confidence in the bridle & his reactions to it also.

 

[saddlesore]

Had a quick google and the majority seem to be of different materials (happymouth/vulcanite etc) from the post above suggesting against rubber ones as they can make the mouth sore, would you be suggesting a metal one?

Yes just a metal one most of the ones made of other materials are loose ring and a fixed mouthpiece is better.

http://www.thehorsebitshop.co.uk/product.php?xProd=245

 

[PorkChop]

I've had success with using a straight plain nathe bit for horses that need encouragement to accept the bit, with a loose ring for a bit of play. I have never found the material that they use for nathe bits to make the mouth sore.

 

[QueenDee_]

Do you find that effective aids can still be given with a mullen mouth bit or does it dull them down a bit?

 

[Tnavas]

Do you not find the nut cracker action discourages them from stretching down?

Absolutely not! It is the only bit I have used on every young horse and horses I've had to re educate including TB's off the track for over 40 years.

It is such a quiet, still bit that it truly encourages bit acceptance.

Double jointed bits have been a fashion bit for sometime, many horses dislike them, especially if the centre part is large, as the bit joints then bruise the bars of the mouth, it also puts increased pressure on the tongue which many horses dislike.

 

[Tnavas]

Do you find that effective aids can still be given with a mullen mouth bit or does it dull them down a bit?

All you lose is the nutcracker effect on the sides of the mouth. A friend regularly schools her GP dressage horse in a Mullen mouth.

 

[QueenDee_]

All you lose is the nutcracker effect on the sides of the mouth. A friend regularly schools her GP dressage horse in a Mullen mouth.

Double jointed bits have been a fashion bit for sometime, many horses dislike them, especially if the centre part is large, as the bit joints then bruise the bars of the mouth, it also puts increased pressure on the tongue which many horses dislike.

Aah ok, thank you!

 

[QueenDee_]

Someone also suggested to me that myler bits are good ones to try for these types of horses, does anyone here recommend them?

 

[Tnavas]

Someone also suggested to me that myler bits are good ones to try for these types of horses, does anyone here recommend them?

Many horses like the shaped mouthpiece.

 

[Moomin1]

Def would try a mullen mouth as suggested already.

 

[QueenDee_]

Ok thank you guys! Mullen mouth will be the first to try