Bits (another post sorry)

[Ambypamby]

I would like a bit of advice. I am currently going back to basics with my 14 yo gelding. I am lucky to have a great friend who is a brilliant trainer to help me out. She has suggested maybe trying a different bit in my boy. He is currently ridden in a eggbut jointed snaffle. He is overbent in it and hangs on to it a bit too much. i have been doing plenty of flex and give but he still seems to be over bent and leans on me. He salviating (if thats the right word

) nicely when we are working but my friend has told me to maybe think of a snaffle with a nice dangly thing in the middle to play with-sorry as you can tell im complete novice when comes to Bits and hopefully you will know what i mean! before i go to the saddlers and get myself something completley wrong i thought i would ask on here to see what people say. Thanks in advance guys

 

[ThePony]

Hi,
I think if he is already salivating then I wouldn't give him something to play with. I don't think it would help get him off the bit. My mare was very similar to this when we got her (have posted on another bitting post below!) and was actually in the same bit as yours! She was really hard work to ride - leant, over bent and pulled appaulingly! I didn't want to just wack in something harder as I think she was resisting a correct contact by over bending, so I wanted something more comfortable for her in the hope that she would be more accepting of the contact and responsive to the aids if she was happier in her bit. Fortunatly it worked out! First I tried a Loose ring french link (she didn't like the tongue pressure and although she lent a little less, she wasn't really alot better), then tried a loose ring Neue Shule tranz (a million times better, a lovely soft contact and happily mouthing the bit, though a lack of breaks and poor steering!), then tried a myler MB32 eggbutt - this is brilliant! She is soft in a lovely elastic outline, exceptionally rarely leans (only when she is tired out) and is responsive to the aids - though not over the top and sharp with it. Just fantastic! She has started going so well in it that after only 2 weeks in it and only having started to improve her schooling (she couldn't even trot when we got her a couple of months ago!) that she has just won her first dressage comp - on her first time out! Just proves what an incredible difference the right bit can make.
Best of luck with yours (if the cost of the bits is rather scary then check out ebay - you can always sell it on after and get your £ back, or the myler shop does a bit bank service http://www.themylerbitbank.co.uk/)

 

[Ambypamby]

thanks glos girl (i take it from your name your in gloucester too?) anywhere round here sell them so i can have a look? hes great at the mo he is a bit sharp though and like you said with your mare could hardly trot we have slowed everyhing down and i feel like we are finally getting somewhere!

 

[ThePony]

Hi there,
Yes, am also from glos! I think derby house sell some mylers? Though all the places round here seem to be hit and miss at best with their stock! I just got mine from ebay. Looking at it, it seems massive! There sizes do come up a little large - so if you are between sizes I would drop a size. I was a little wary about trying it when I first got it, as it is very different to anyting I have ridden in before. The bit looks quite harsh I think (I can be quite a bunny hugger!) as it is pretty much a bar with side arms with pivot up and down. But it just seems to really work with her. We have also gone totally back to basics, can be a bit soul destrying but so worth it when you get any small breakthough. She is coming along with lovely correct muscle development and is showing herself to be a really fantastic girl! Loads of luck with yours, just think of the leaps you will have made by the end of the winter! We shall be spending the winter having a crack at canter!

 

[Ambypamby]

thanks i got a MB02 from the bit bank to try its pretty much the same apart from loose ring. i will see how he goes and if its no help then i can send it back to her- she was really nice! the things we do hey!!

 

[ThePony]

Fab, best of luck with it! Poss also worth trying an eggbutt too as apparently as they give less movement of the bit, the horse can be happier taking up the contact. Great to be able to try one out from the bit bank with not too much outlay.