Bits for dressage

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Wan2bEventer

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Since my mare started her dressage training, she has learnt some very clever ways of avoiding having to work properly... typical mare! Her most recent trick is to lock her jaw and lean on the bit. We are working through it with my instructor, but she has recommended I play about with a variety of bits to try and find one she can't do this with! This problem has mainly arisen since I had to swap her 'illegal' grackle for a flash noseband!
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It really hurts my arms!
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So, any dressage legal bits you recommend I try her in?

She is currently in a happy mouth hanging cheek snaffle with a roller in the middle of it. I have also recently tried her in a loose ring french link - which she was awful in! I have been advised by her dentist that a normal link bit isn't good for her as she has a large tongue and the roof of her mouth is low - typical of a warmblood.

Thanks guys! xx
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If you are just training for eventing dressage, you can use a grakle for BE dressage. Otherwise I would keep to a hanging cheek as it suspends the bit in their mouth a bit and helps stop them from leaning. A thinner mouthpiece could also help
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I have had a similar problem with my mare who likes to lean on the bit. She also has a very small mouth with a low palate. She seems to like the Myler bits; unfortunately I don't have much choice of style as she is only a 4 1/2" and most of them only go down to 5" but she goes well in a comfort snaffle fulmer with copper roller. I would definitely try a Myler as they have thin mouthpieces which are good for horses without much room in their mouths, and are also less comfortable to lean on!!
My Myler is not dressage legal and as described I have difficulties with the sizing, so after much experimenting I've settled on a Neue Schule loose ring verbidend - the pony size which is much slimmer than the horse version (12mm) - again good for those with little room in their mouths and who like to lean.
 
Neue Schule have just sold me a 'tranz link baucher' to correct the same problem in my warmblood. I'm going to try it at lunchtime today so fingers crossed it works! Might be worth you giving Neue Schule a call and have a chat with Heather.
 
Just be careful with bauchers if your horse has a tendency to drop behind the vertical, as they can encourage this - main reason why it wasn't really suitable on my mare. Presumably if you're using one already you don't have this problem but just thought i would mention it!
 
umm, locking her jaw and leaning on your hands on the flat don't really have much to do with which bit you have in... they're to do with engagement (or lack of it), stiffness in the back (nothing to do with being a mare, either!), and the quality of your contact, imho.
 
Both me and my horse are still learning how to work in a correct outline, and we have come in in real leaps and bounds and have our first prelim test in a week. I do know that we still have long way to come, and I am not blaming our lack of skill on our bit! But I have been advised to have a play with various bits so just wanted some advice really...
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Thanks for everyones help so far though, has definately given me some tips!!!

From a dressage newbie!!
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well, i'd go for a full-cheek french link (or similar) if she really can't have a single joint, with a correctly-fitted drop noseband, which doesn't have to be tight in order to be very effective, unlike flash and grackles.
or, if you can find one, the full-cheek (no hooks) myler comfort snaffle with wide barrel (02 mouthpiece) is dressage legal and a lovely, lovely bit, ideal for young horses learning to take the contact correctly.
 
Hi, I had a horse who too went fab in a regular eggbutt snaffle and then once she realised she can grab hold of the bit and avoid work but locking her jaw she decided to do so. My instructer told me to try a waterford 1/2 hanging cheek. Or Neue Schule waterford tranz link baucher which are very simular. I tried this on my mare who i compete alot unaffiliated eventing and it really helped in training. However this bit is not dressage legal so u wouldn't be able to use it to the shows itself. But i found training in it helped a lot and when eventing she was a real gem when back in her regular snaffle.
 
KatB, i always use keepers on full-cheeks and fulmers, as i like the bit to be as stable as possible, any movement at all coming from my hands. i always use them with a (loose) drop noseband... this is the perfect combination according to my dr. trainer, and i now wholeheartedly agree with him. it's the combo they use at the Spanish Riding School of Vienna on every horse before progressing to double bridles, apparently.
i found them at Norris of Beaulieu, thanks to a very kind tip-off from someone on here! i think they prob still have some in stock, i've grabbed a 5" and a 5 1/2" already...
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