Biting a young horses?

[Camillieo]

Hey there,
I am currently working with a 19month Gypsy Vanner and am planning on getting a bit (happy mouth straight bar snaffle, i have been told theses are good and are fairly bendy) and letting him play with it in the stable, when i'm grooming him. Any good tips for getting him to take it and enjoy it?

THANKS x x

 

[CrazyMare]

I don't use straight bars - I think they have a sort of dummy effect, and I don't like riding in them.

Mine start in a loose ring happy mouth with a lozenge in the middle, then move to a Neue Schule Tranz lozenge snaffle to start ridden work.

 

[Blitzen]

When I bitted my youngster I used a loose ring straight bar rubber bit, and smeared a bit of mild childrens toothpaste on it (he loves polos, so minty toothpaste worked a treat!). Some people use honey, I know someone who puts jam on the bit to make it taste nice the first few times a youngster has it in.
I don't use a bridle until they're used to having the bit in, I just put the bit in and tie it to their headcollar with baler twine. Tie one side on first, and have the twine looped through the ring on the other side ready to tie on when he has accepted the bit. It makes it easy to adjust how high its sitting in his mouth once its in. It just takes a bit of patience and practice. x

 

[classicalfan]

I always use straight bars and often don't move away from that. All youngsters are different but most are very happy to have a bit in their mouth. Often start ours with head collar and bit links.