Bitless Bridles - Neue Schule / Myler

G

GermanyJo

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 March 2008
Messages
901
Location
Germany
Visit site
Ok, ... looking for some good feedback again :-)

Not 100% convinced that my horse is happy with his bit at the moment. He is in a full cheek french link/lozenge bit. bought him last year and he was very inclined to go behind the bit and pulled his tongue back alot. This has improved, but not completely gone away. His teeth / back etc are completely checked. I was riding him with a flash - but he is extremely sensitive and a couple of weeks ago, after a couple of heavy days noticed that his chin was sore - so only riding in the cavesson at the moment (not done up tight - the bottom strap was also not tight.. but still made him sore! I am presuming from him 'mouthing' around so much)
It is always worse if he is feeling very well/or is stressed.
maybe just him, but am just thinking about some alternatives.
The bitless bridle would just be for a trial and to give him a week or so break and am simply interested if anyone has any experience with these - esp the 'be kind' bridles or the Dr Cook bridles.
Would also be interested in anyones experience with the Myler / Neue Schule bits - especially with horse who previously dropped behind the bit or had problems putting the tongue over the bit. I currently have to have the bit a hole higher than I would like in order that he does not get the tongue over the bit, but I do not like to do this as am concerned he is doing this due to discomfort and putting it up a hole helps me but not him!
Currently we are working at English Novice dressage level/ starting jumping with him this year (3ft ish currently) and want to progress and start some eventing in the summer.
With regards to the way I am riding him, I am always very concious to keep a steady even contact and ride him up to my hand and my instructor has no concerns regarding my hands.

Any feed back / experience with these bits/bridles would be greatly appreciated :-)

Jo
 
No experience with bitless so can't help there I'm afraid.

I'm a big fan of Myler bits, they really suit my horse & he's far happier in his mouth with them. Which suits is a bit of trial & error - my ID, who has a tendancy to overbend & drop the contact, loves the mullen mouth & happily works forwards into the contact when using it. However in theory this should be totally wrong for his mouth conformation, particularly as he prefers it fitted too low! Fit any bit at the "correct" height & he'll open his mouth, poke his tongue out & drop the contact so I play by his rules :sigh:. www.themylerbitbank.co.uk offer really good advice & listen to the problem first so they may be worth a call.

Re Heather at Neue Schule - the only time I phoned I was horrified at the advice I received. I can only assume she either didn't listen to anything I'd said about the horse in question or wanted to get me killed! She was also very rude when I didn't order - I now wouldn't buy a Neue Schule bit on principle
mad.gif
 
You could try a hanging cheek like this (you'll see in the description that it's recommended for tongue vices)
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/SPRENGER-KK-ULTRA-...1742.m153.l1262
Otherwise, some Horses (but not all) take to a myler and you would be wanting something in the level 2 range as they use a bit less tongue pressure.
Re bitless - the Dr Cooks some horses seem to go very well and others hate them. I tried one once on my old horse and he ran straight through it (and he wasn't strong). However, I had great success in an English hackamore with another Horse. No good for dressage though as they aren't allowed.
I'd try a hanging cheek first to be honest, and make sure it's a slim mouthpiece.
 
Dr Cook bridle cured all my bitting problems for my particular horse and I would never go back to a bit, however as our activities consist of hacking, hunter trials and endurance I do not need to use a bit whilst competing.
With previous horses I have got on quite well with Mylers.
 
Bitless bridles are great and I ride my horse in one to hack and school but not all of the time as I still compete in a snaffle- I would give it a go but bare in mind that they use pressure and release system and require some groundwork before you use them for all disciplines!

Let me know if you want any more info as I have a lot!
 
I found the Myler no32 great for a horse that hang behind the bit (it's described as a more advanced bit and this is a young horse, but I tried a few other ones they suggested first with no luck and this is the one he likes, so who am I to argue?). For a small fee you can try and return the Myler bits so it doesn't get too expenssive.
 
My sisters horse has a really sensitive mouth. He jaws on the whole time, but then if you take a contact up he throws himself about.
she rides in a myler '04' eggbutt snaffle with no hooks - from outside his mouth it looks like a normal eggbutt. He's happiest in this bit than any other we've tried, and the nueschule ones made him rear
blush.gif

if he's had a hard couple of days, or he's just feeling more than usually sensitive he gets ridden in a scawbrig bridle, where the reins come from the back of the cavesson noseband (i can't really describe it any better).
she doesn't school in that, but she does have enough control to hack out on busy roads, gallop on the moor top and generally have fun!
if he needs to be in a dressage legal bit he gets put in the myler 02 snaffle (looks like a cross between a straight bar and a french link) he doesn't like it, but he's better in that than a french link or an eggbutt snaffle.
 
Thanks for the input, the last couple of evenings I have completely loosened the cavesson noseband - was not tight before . could get a finger between, but undid it 4 holes so could not restrict him at all... he was much better. Either there is something that is hurting him (he is a Trakehner so is very sensitive !) or he simply does not like to feel restricted around his month
The vet was coming to the yard today anyway so he is going to sedate him and have a good look at his tongue , cheeks and teeth again to be absolutely sure that there is nothing amiss there - his teeth were done only a couple of months ago - but decided before I start changing anything else, will make sure that there is nothing.
Def sounds like the Sprenger bit might be good for him if everything is ok in his month, and if not, will think about the bitless bridle so that I can try to keep working him if we need to leave the bit out.

thanks again for all the info - is always good to get others experience on these things ! especially with living in germany and my equestrian german isn't good enough to discuss these things in depth :-) you all need to be my horsy buddies for a while
cool.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks for the input, the last couple of evenings I have completely loosened the cavesson noseband - was not tight before . could get a finger between, but undid it 4 holes so could not restrict him at all... he was much better. Either there is something that is hurting him (he is a Trakehner so is very sensitive !) or he simply does not like to feel restricted around his month


[/ QUOTE ]

My ID is exactly the same about his noseband, it has to be ridiculously loose or he just spends the entire time either fretting at the bit or running through it. He also tends to be less settled in the mouth with no contact or a rigid contact (at least the latter is understandable!) or any rider he doesn't know. I think some horses are just sensitive souls & are happier if they know there's a get out option.
 
In case anyone is interested, I am so pleased I got the Vet to do a check today to make absolutely sure everything was ok..... vet sedated him so he could have a really good look around and found he had a small chip off one of his molars which had made small sore on the inside of his cheek one side!!
So, was not imagining it and to be honest, I am surprised he was not making more fuss !
I can ride him tomorrow again, but will keep the noseband off or loose and do the minimum I think (no chance to turn out at the moment, and new surface on the school so can't lunge either!) Syringing the medication into his month once is day is going to be alot of fun :-) I expect my coat will get well disinfected by the end of the weekend.
Will still think about the Sprenger bit though as even without this new problem he does not really take the contact I would like, so the advice was definately not a waste of time

Just goes to show, if you have a problem, it is always, always worth double checking if something hurts some where.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top