Bit suggestions

[Wagtail]

One of my clients as a lovely 17 hh Dutch WB who has a problem with his bits and we are running out of options, so any suggestions welcome. He has been evented at intermediate in the past by a very heavy handed man, ended up being overfaced and rearing/falling over backwards etc. He's a sensitive soul and so doesn't respond well to overly firm riding/handling. His current owner is a real softy and they are well matched. I teach her several times a week and she has one of the most elegant positions I have seen, is extremely fast learning and athletic. But he is really 'gobby' and opens his mouth wide with his tongue lolling about even though he is working in a nice outline, has a huge overtrack etc. But obviously, he is unhappy in his bit and needs a lot of strength to get him back on his hocks and working through. We would love him to be lighter. Owner has resorted to occasionally riding him in draw reins as he has a massive spook in him and just so she is not constantly wrestling with him. But I HATE the things. We have tried him in a sprenger KK ultra first of all. His tongue was awful. We changed the bit to a nue schule demi anki (single jointed but crved around the tongue) and he was noticably better for a while but has now started all the tongue business again. He is now also ridden in a drop noseband but still does it and we don't want to make it any tighter. Obviously there is tongue discomfort causing it. Any bit suggestions as would like to lose the drop noseband if possible - hate strapping mouths shut.

 

[be positive]

If it does not have to be dressage legal something with a port, a myler possibly. A double would also be worth trying.
I have a similar issue with a livery, without the gobby part, he has a very large tongue and we are working our way through bits but finding a legal one he likes is proving difficult.

 

[Wagtail]

If it does not have to be dressage legal something with a port, a myler possibly. A double would also be worth trying.
I have a similar issue with a livery, without the gobby part, he has a very large tongue and we are working our way through bits but finding a legal one he likes is proving difficult.

Yeah, it has to be dressage legal. I have to admit, I have been thinking about using a double bridle. But then there would probably still be the problem due to the bradoon. I think he is the kind of horse that would go nicely in a pelham, but obviously, that's not dressage legal. I will have a look at the dressage legal Mylers. I really think that the dressage bitting rules are rather too out dated now.

 

[touchstone]

I'd try schooling in a steel mullen mouth pelham anyway, I find it can really help to lighten them up and once you go back to a snaffle they are more responsive. Personally I rate the single jointed John Patterson snaffles for horses with fleshy mouths and big tongues, there is little tongue pressure and no risk of the palate being hit and no french link to press on the tongue.

 

[ihatework]

There is probably a bigger picture to this than just bitting.

Big strong horse, soft lady rider, history of possibly expedited training/training to suit male event rider.

So while changing the bit short term may help, alongside that other things could be done too. Bitting wise double bridle would be the obvious choice.

Longer term the horse need to learn to work for a different rider and it is most likely a case of deconstructing and reconstructing whilst keeping a close eye on the horse physically.

Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but an issue in the mouth is often a by product of an issue elsewhere.

 

[Wagtail]

I'd try schooling in a steel mullen mouth pelham anyway, I find it can really help to lighten them up and once you go back to a snaffle they are more responsive. Personally I rate the single jointed John Patterson snaffles for horses with fleshy mouths and big tongues, there is little tongue pressure and no risk of the palate being hit and no french link to press on the tongue.

Thanks. I will suggest that to her as I really do think he would work well in one. We have another horse who rides very similar who goes beautifully in the pelham. We just change her over to a hanging cheek for dressage tests.

 

[Wagtail]

There is probably a bigger picture to this than just bitting.

Big strong horse, soft lady rider, history of possibly expedited training/training to suit male event rider.

So while changing the bit short term may help, alongside that other things could be done too. Bitting wise double bridle would be the obvious choice.

Longer term the horse need to learn to work for a different rider and it is most likely a case of deconstructing and reconstructing whilst keeping a close eye on the horse physically.

Sorry if I'm teaching you to suck eggs, but an issue in the mouth is often a by product of an issue elsewhere.

I think that a lot of the problem is what you say. It has taken her a long time to realise just how strong she has to be with him. She had been allowing him to go along poking his nose and on the forehand through fear of hurting him. Now she realises how strong she has to be because he is a huge athletic horse, but he is saying 'hang on, why should I? You never used to be this demanding!'