Bit trouble

0

0310Star

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 October 2010
Messages
1,228
Visit site
I have emailed a few bit banks for advice but thought I may as well ask on here too!

I have a 16.3hh, 15yo TB mare. Great in all ways, bar one- finding a bit she is comfortable in is an impossible task!! :( She came in a normal loose ring snaffle but I had to change due to her dislike of the nut cracker action. Next was a loose ring snaffle with lozenge that was split down the centre and each side moved independantly. This one worked well for a while but I had to change due to her learning a rather annoying habit of opening her mouth and spinning so the whole bit, down to the leather, went through her mouth and I had no control whatsoever.
I changed a couple of months ago to a hanging cheek snaffle with sweet iron lozenge which was fine for about a week then she decided she also does not like this one.

She constantly hangs off my hands, throws her head around, yanks her head, grinds her teeth on it. People I ride with have started to comment on how much she fusses with her head and its getting worse, she doesn't keep it still for more than a few seconds, so I think I have persisted enough! I don't really know what to look at next as she doesn't need anything stronger in respect of brakes and other than the spinning she is no trouble to stop, but as you could probably tell from above she has a very hard mouth. If I stand on the ground holding her with her bridle on she just leans on the bit. She also will not accept a contact unless she is leaning completely on my hands and it feels like I am holding her whole weight in my hands!

Any advice would be much appreciated :o
 
Have you tried her bitless? I don't mean as a long term solution, but it'll show you if the issue is with the bit or possibly with bridle comfort or pain elsewhere that is causing to fuss so much with her head. What noseband does she have? I have a fussy youngster and he likes a sprenger duo or Mullen nathe or more recently has progressed into a Mullen myler that has very little movement. He seems settled in this. My older youngster doesn't like these rigid bits and prefers a spreger dynamic or neue Schule type.

I am guessing she has seen a dentist recently so issue could not be with teeth? Have you had a look in her mouth to see her mouth conformation? Give you an idea of what bit might be best?
 
I'm no expert but assuming that her teeth are fine and been rasped regularly and recently, I'd probably suggest going back to the loose ring snaffle with lozenge teamed up with a flash noseband.

It seems odd that she is beginning to reject bits and show these symptoms at 15 years old - could the problem be more complex than a dislike of bits? - Like I said, I'm no expert but I would probably be looking at other likely causes too.

Good luck :)
 
Have you tried bitless at all? My TB ex racer was exactly the same as yours in a bit. I took the plunge and borrowed a bitless bridle then bought my own Dr Cooks bridle. My girl goes like a dream in it, no more resistance, fussing, giraffe neck! She schools in it a treat and I have full control out hacking. Could be an option for you?
 
Completely agree that it could be all manner of issues causing this.

My pony was very similar to yours. I too have tried LOADS of different bits with no lasting difference. Last time the dentist came I timed it with the vet and had them check teeth, jaw etc thoroughly. It turned out he had a blind wolf tooth so that was removed. I have also gotten through 3 different saddles in the last year and personally kept my saddle fitter in business! An adjustment 2 weeks ago and a new Jeffries Precision bit have seen a complete turn around in my pony.

I'd go down the full route of physio, dentist, saddler etc and all being well go back to a simple snaffle with lozenge. Also consider (and by no means take this personally OP) the way you ride as it might be a reaction to your hands.
 
Everything is completely up to date, teeth done about a month ago and the dentist is back out to another a horse on the yard Friday so going to have another look then just in case there is something!
I've only had her 3 and a half years out of the 15 and the issue seems to have arrisen since she has began working properly, well attemped! She also had a few leg issues which have been diagnosed and treated within the last year and a half which would have made her uncomfortable overall so I wonder if it has arrisen now she is paying attention to her mouth instead of her other issues.

I did think bitless, but I mainly hack and I worry about brakes? Also can you compete unaff dressage in a bitless bridle?

Thanks for the replies!!
 
HaffiesRock said:
Completely agree that it could be all manner of issues causing this.

My pony was very similar to yours. I too have tried LOADS of different bits with no lasting difference. Last time the dentist came I timed it with the vet and had them check teeth, jaw etc thoroughly. It turned out he had a blind wolf tooth so that was removed. I have also gotten through 3 different saddles in the last year and personally kept my saddle fitter in business! An adjustment 2 weeks ago and a new Jeffries Precision bit have seen a complete turn around in my pony.

I'd go down the full route of physio, dentist, saddler etc and all being well go back to a simple snaffle with lozenge. Also consider (and by no means take this personally OP) the way you ride as it might be a reaction to your hands.
Click to expand...

Everything is up to date withing the last 2 months, and a new saddle in the last 4 months. My first reaction was something other than the bit but EVERYTHING has been checked so this is the last thing I can think being the issue!
 
baker190 said:
Everything is completely up to date, teeth done about a month ago and the dentist is back out to another a horse on the yard Friday so going to have another look then just in case there is something!
I've only had her 3 and a half years out of the 15 and the issue seems to have arrisen since she has began working properly, well attemped! She also had a few leg issues which have been diagnosed and treated within the last year and a half which would have made her uncomfortable overall so I wonder if it has arrisen now she is paying attention to her mouth instead of her other issues.

I did think bitless, but I mainly hack and I worry about brakes? Also can you compete unaff dressage in a bitless bridle?

Thanks for the replies!!
Click to expand...

I never have any issues with brakes bitless, I found my mare listened to me a lot more once I switched to bitless as she wasn't so busy fussing with her mouth. You can't compete in dressage bitless I don't think, however I often switch from bitless back to a bit for schooling sessions and the breaks between being bitted have really helped her acceptance of the bit.
 
ImmyS said:
I never have any issues with brakes bitless, I found my mare listened to me a lot more once I switched to bitless as she wasn't so busy fussing with her mouth. You can't compete in dressage bitless I don't think, however I often switch from bitless back to a bit for schooling sessions and the breaks between being bitted have really helped her acceptance of the bit.
Click to expand...

Oh right I see! I dont know anybody with a bitless bridle I can borrow, so would just trying her in a headcollar/bridle with no bit work for a tester do you think?
That could be a really ridiculous question but I have no idea about bitless lol
 
baker190 said:
Oh right I see! I dont know anybody with a bitless bridle I can borrow, so would just trying her in a headcollar/bridle with no bit work for a tester do you think?
That could be a really ridiculous question but I have no idea about bitless lol
Click to expand...

It is difficult because there are different types of bitless which suit different horses. By putting reins on either side of a head collar you would be creating a simple side pull which would be a fine tester to get a feel for how your horse would react without a bit. My mare has a cross under bitless bridle which is a different action again, I also ride her in a rope halter, which again is different. But a basic side pull is a good place to start. If you feel it may be for you - barefoot do a matrix bridle which can be used as a side pull/cross under so you can experiment.
 
All you can do is try and see. She might like a very flexible nathe/sprenger duo or maybe a plain old metal Mullen or a Mullen barrel myler, which has independant side movement but no flexibility from the centre
 
bitless seems like a good idea , if you need breaks you could use a hackamore (but with sheepskin so it isnt too harsh) but definatly not a strait bar bit as they put a lot of pressure on the tounge and the horse cant swallow (try pushing down on your tounge and swallowing, doesnt work) so the horse will take to putting her tounge over the bit in order to escape the discomfort. (i had a long talk with an old saddler i know about this)
 
The thing about a Mullen mouth bit is that some horses like the lack of movement they provide. The newer ones like mylers and sprenger duos are curved so allow room for the tongue and swallowing
 
Haven't read all the replies but you have described my horse! Tried every bit and noseband combo possible and eventually *touches wood* found a micklem bridle to be my answer with a NS veriband snaffle!
 
Thanks everyone, I tried her old loose ring snaffle with lozenge tonight with a flash and she seemed much better with regards to leaning on it but was still reluctant to take a contact so maybe I will visit the bit bank and try a few of these suggestions :)
 
I haven't read all the replies, so someone else may have suggested this.
I would try a PeeWee, most horse like the sweet iron, the mullen mouthpiece can't jab them anywhere like a single-jointed bit can and best of all in your case the side pieces keep them on the straight and narrow. I seriously defy any horse to spin if the rider doesn't want it to. It isn't dressage legal but I lent mine to a friend who events to train her horse to turn when asked and then she went back to her usual bit successfully.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
I haven't read all the replies, so someone else may have suggested this.
I would try a PeeWee, most horse like the sweet iron, the mullen mouthpiece can't jab them anywhere like a single-jointed bit can and best of all in your case the side pieces keep them on the straight and narrow. I seriously defy any horse to spin if the rider doesn't want it to. It isn't dressage legal but I lent mine to a friend who events to train her horse to turn when asked and then she went back to her usual bit successfully.
Click to expand...
I was just about to reply to this post to suggest the Peewee. It is a lovely bit for sensitive horses and they seem to accept them well, but light hands are a must.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top