Bit type for horse that goes BTV

[Ragbea]

Currently in a loose ring lozenge snaffle, what bit would be more suitable for a horse that tends to go behind the vertical occasionally? Obviously we are working on getting stronger from behind an straightness etc
Any suggestions
Thanks!

 

[McGrools]

Hi, i’ve just put an eggbut lozenge snaffle on my bridle and my dressage trainer says this will encourage my horse to take the contact more forward. Because the bit will be more still in the mouth and the horse can lean on it more than with a loose ring. She said she used an eggbut on her own mare to help with this issue and it worked!

 

[milliepops]

yes this isn't really a bitting problem but getting a comfortable inviting bit can certainly help the training part.

horses are all different but on the whole something fairly still and stable encourages them to take the bit forward, IME a straight bar nathe is kind of one extreme of that as they are bendy and chewy but the mouthpiece doesn't move a lot, they invite a horse to lean in a good way, but not all horses get on with a straight bar or the thickness of the mouthpiece.

A fixed cheek such as an eggbutt or full cheek also offers good stability, as does a hanging cheek (probably the stillest you can get).

Bits with an action like a myler can be good in the mouth if your horse doesn't like a bit that collapses fully but a straight bar is too blunt.

 

[j1ffy]

Is he behind the vertical or behind the bit? The former is likely a strength issue but the latter is a confidence issue that can be helped by bitting.

E.g. my older PRE and my current loan horse both had a tendency to drop the contact and duck behind the bit (the former due to his conformation, the latter due to being trained in draw reins). Both gained the confidence to go into the contact by dumbing down the bit - for the PRE I used a metal Mullen mouth, for my loan horse a rubber jointed eggbutt. Once they were consistently going into the contact I upgraded to a loose ring and more 'modern' mouthpiece as the original bits felt a bit dead.

The problem was then a strength issue and encouraging them to move outwards towards the bit, developing their core and way of going to be more consistently in front of the vertical. That is still work in progress at times!

 

[Ragbea]

Thank you everyone! Was thinking of an eggbutt as think fixed ring will help! I know its a training issue which we are working on an never even thought of changing the bit until now! But it does make sense that a loose ring wont help the situation! He is behind the vertical (occasionally) x

 

[CanteringCarrot]

My PRE has a tendency to go behind the vertical, his conformation sort of enables this too. He doesn't like loose rings, so goes in an eggbutt (Sprenger RS Dynamic). Finding the right bit is important, but it's mostly a training issue with him. Coincidentally my saddler (also a trainer) gave me some fantastic tips last night and he was actually sticking his nose out!

He also tends to not go behind the vertical in his double, but maybe I also focus more on forwards and upwards in that.

So likely a fixed cheek is best, and the rest is strength and training.

 

[poiuytrewq]

A horse I had on loan was like this. His owner had tried every bit under the sun and like you had decided loose rings made it worse, she settled on a fairly chunky rubber mouth piece as apparently he was happier to take it forward rather than try ducking behind!

 

[YorkshireLady]

I would suggest a fixed cheek as well....with either a single or double joint depending on what the horse likes.

personally I like the sprenger eggbutt rs dynamic