Bits for starting a youngster?

checkmate1

checkmate1

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I'm after opinions, what bit do you have you started youngsters in and how have you found them? I've been using a kk copper lozenge bit all summer (non ridden-just inhand showing, lunging, long reining etc) but dont like the way it sits in her mouth, so as I will be properly backing her in a few months I'll try another bit, suggestions welcome, thank you.
 
Happy mouth with lossenge... if you can find one with cheeks it helps with teaching them to steer... i started simple and soft then worked out what suited better when more settled and know whats happening!
 
Here you go, have a read of this
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http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1370/39193.html
 
If you use a Happy mouth with Lozenge - which is a great suggestion and what I used at first, keep a close eye on the condition of the plastic......

My Haffy destroyed 3 of them in 2 weeks and at £30 a go I had to change over to a sweet iron french link (which she also loves chomping but with less drastic results!)

good luck!
 
Thank you for your suggestions, i've a feeling she may chomp through the happy mouth, but am surfing the internet and have found sweet iron loose ring frnch link, which i like or full cheek fulmer french link. So am thinking of trying one of those. I'm actually a myler fan, but am not too keen to start in one, but see how she goes first. Thank you:)
 
It seems to be a really personal thing, everyone has their own little ways!
I do a straight bar full cheek happy mouth, fairly quickly progress to a full cheek french link/lozenge and then later on would look to move to a kk ultra loose ring
 
Yes, I started mine in a happy mouth with cheeks. Yes, he did chew through it in a few months. I got mine off ebay for £4.50! So I'd recommend doing that instead of buying one new! After those few months I put him in just a metal snaffle with cheeks and all seems fine so far (touches wood!).
 
Our ID was shown in a neue schule loose ring with a lozenge as a youngster and as she got older I kept the same bit but bigger sizes as she grew.

We have continued to use that bit to long rein and now to hack out and she appears to be really comfortable in it.

Full cheeks are great for steering but whatever bit you use, make sure it compliments the conformation of your horses mouth. Just because one horse goes well in a certain bit, doesn't mean your own horse will be comfortable in it. You may need a selection to try and see what works best for both of you.
 
At the minute with missy showing her inhand and just starting long reining her I have also been using the sweet iron loose ring (french link ) and she seems to really like it , after a session of long reining she has a nice white frothy mouth , she mouths really well with it .


Basically trial and error with youngsters just try a few and see how they go . xx
 
I always put them straight into snaffles - I tried one of those rubber ones but I've had two bite right through them!! If they have never had a bit in I take the reins off the bridle and put honey on the bit then leave the bridle on with the bit in for about 5 mins at a time then go from there.
 
I prefer a nathe to happy mouth. I generally start in a loose ring stright bar, IMHO a much nicer material for the horse (although you can get a muncher who'll eat it - fortunately mine were economical!)
 
i really like the neue schule lozenge. All of mine have started off really well in them. Don't like the happy mouths as they have tended to chop through them.
 
"Myler" isn't a kind of bit, it's a line of bits - they offer literally hundreds of options - part of the idea is you can order any combination of mouthpiece and cheeks you want. I find they're good bits, balanced and well made, so a good make option no matter what style you want.

My starting point of choice is a full cheek/D regular snaffle or a Fulmer but I've started horse in all of the various options. I don't use rubber bits because they are too wide for most horses' mouths and I agree the Happy Mouths can get chewed up and very sharp, especially when a horse is teething. I'm not a huge fan of loose rings to start horses as I like a very consistent feel and tend to ride with a very soft contact relative to "straight dressage" trainers but lots of people swear by them.

Honestly bits are for people as much as horses. Riders generally have a "feel" they like and it's quite possible to make the same horse feel very different by switching bits without drastically changing the way it actually goes. For a young horse something that fits, is safe and comfortable, and is relatively mild in action is the priority. That said, SOME horses have a real preference for one joint over french link or vice versa. I'd recommend either buying something very basic with the idea you might have to buy another or, better yet, making friends with someone with a great bit box.
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I have about 35 different smooth snaffles (out of about 50 bits) in various sizes and constructions, all of which have been on some horse at some time. That said, I've probably used 5 of them regularly over the years.
 
I ALWAYS use a full cheek (helps with steering) with a French link (less severe). Occasionally used a Happy Mouth, but those we think NEED one - because they're particularly sensitive - inevitably chew through them - so don't bother anymore. The type of bit is actually of FAR less importance than the sensitivity of the rider's hands and how well the horse has been prepared for riding. I won't get on a youngster until it is word perrfect to walk, trot and - most important - whoa commands.

This is a home-bred 3 year old filly we backed during the summer on her 2nd day ridden -
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Note full cheek, neck strap, a slightly forward seat. One 'whoa' was all it needed to stop her so she was never 'pulled'. 6 months on, she's remained quiet and happy on the bit and maintains a nice, light contact under pretty much all circumstances.
 
my yearling has a happy mouth in (straight bar loose ring) and has been fine-she wears it while i walk down down the lanes-led off her noseband.
i will keep her in it as lonmg as she seems ok with it.
 
my cob didnt like the french link fulmer i bought him, then i tried a rubber staight bar, didnt like that either, tried a loose ring snaffle and a plain snaffle... nope he likes his dressage small ring snaffle best , its not too big or clumbersome in his mouth, he didnt like cheeks either, so since being in the bit he's in now he's come on leaps and bounds, every horse is different! x
 
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