Bits... Neue Schule, Informed Designs, Eldonian...?

ShadowFlame

ShadowFlame

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Experiences?

After trying a shedload of different bits; single joints, french links, lozenges, steel, happy mouth, salox, hanging cheek, eggbutt, loose ring, wilkie, D ring and lord knows what else, I've come to an awkward decision. I want a double jointed (french link / lozenge) D ring snaffle, which needs to be a relatively thin mouthpiece. And guess what? Barely anywhere sells them :rolleyes: Add that to the fact we need a 6", and options are even more limited.

So. I've found three that fit the bill.

Neue Schule tranz angled:
http://www.horsebitbank.com/tranz-angled-lozenge-d-ring-798.phtml

Informed Designs:
http://www.horsebitbank.com/informed-designs-dee-cheek-lozenge-715.phtml

And Eldonian Balancer:
http://www.hfequestrianbitbank.co.u...fries-Eldonian-Balancer-Dee-Ring-Snaffle.html

And now I'm confused. Would the Eldonian be a good economy version to try, or am I better off just pushing the boat out and going for one of the others? Has anyone on here tried an informed design bit? I'm keen to go for the D as he liked it and he's green - the lack of pinching, stability and aid of steering work well with him. I could try a bit bank, but I'm reluctant to shell out that much money for a second hand bit - thought I'd ask some opinions first :)
 
I have just gone through exactly the same decisions myself!!! I am surprised it's been so difficult to find a cheaper alternative - a double jointed D ring shouldn't se difficult to locate!!!

I decided to stay away from the Eldonian as yes it's cheaper but it isn't particularly thin or nicely shaped and the lozenge is extremely small & flat so I thought the nutcracker action wouldn't be relieved all that much!

I also discounted the informed designs one as it is too shaped, a friend has an eggbutt version and her horse dislikes it so in the end I was deciding between the NS tranz angled and whichever Sprenger one is 14mm mouthpiece (Dynamic??)

I decided to go for the tranz angled as it's very similar to the sprenger but is cheaper so we'll see how we get on with it and then decide whether to upgrade to the sprenger in the future.

I ordered a hire bit from thehorsebitbank but they actually sent me a new bit anyway, mustn't have had any used ones in circulation for the size I needed.

So far so good, we've only tried it twice but my youngster seems fairly happy in it compared to other bits we've used so hopefully it was a good choice - I have another few weeks on the trial but if I have to send it back I am at a loss as to what to try next
 
Wheels said:
I have just gone through exactly the same decisions myself!!! I am surprised it's been so difficult to find a cheaper alternative - a double jointed D ring shouldn't se difficult to locate!!!

I decided to stay away from the Eldonian as yes it's cheaper but it isn't particularly thin or nicely shaped and the lozenge is extremely small & flat so I thought the nutcracker action wouldn't be relieved all that much!

I also discounted the informed designs one as it is too shaped, a friend has an eggbutt version and her horse dislikes it so in the end I was deciding between the NS tranz angled and whichever Sprenger one is 14mm mouthpiece (Dynamic??)

I decided to go for the tranz angled as it's very similar to the sprenger but is cheaper so we'll see how we get on with it and then decide whether to upgrade to the sprenger in the future.

I ordered a hire bit from thehorsebitbank but they actually sent me a new bit anyway, mustn't have had any used ones in circulation for the size I needed.

So far so good, we've only tried it twice but my youngster seems fairly happy in it compared to other bits we've used so hopefully it was a good choice - I have another few weeks on the trial but if I have to send it back I am at a loss as to what to try next
Click to expand...

Wheels - you've just typed out my exact thoughts lol. I've got him in a bog standard single jointed D at the minute as it was the only other 6" I had lying around, and he was throwing up a fuss in his loose ring. Instantly quieter and happier. However it's a fairly thick mouthpiece and he does object when the nutcracker action comes into play, hence the decision.

I figured the ID one would either be great or horrendous - I've not used a bit so curved on him before. He's okay in Neue Schules, I did try him in a Baucher a while ago but the sizing was just too tight on him. The Sprenger isn't an option as they don't go big enough :( Maybe I should just scrape the pennies together and go for the Neue Schule...
 
Yes, we've tried a few different ones

loose ring jointed (once or twice) = shake head about like a lunatic
mullen mouth / nathe = constantly trying to reduce the tongue pressure by rolling tongue/yawning/pulling ridiculous faces
single joint full cheek = gets stuck in haynets / on fences
hanging cheek double joint - I made the mistake of buying a cheap one because I couldn't find a cheap D ring and the lozenge was so wide the joints were sitting on his bars and he hated it

so now I have just had to bite the bullet and stump up the cash for the bit I wanted all along
 
Have you tried any of the NS bits with him before?
If so, and he liked them I would definately go for the NS one. I have my young boy in the Eggbut Trans Angled NS bit and he loves it. If you know he is happy with a salox bit that would be my first choice.
 
I have the NS one and he goes better in that than any other similar bit. I had mine on trial from a bit bank before committing to buy it which was good as I knew then it was worth paying the extra for it.
 
ShadowFlame said:
Experiences?

After trying a shedload of different bits; single joints, french links, lozenges, steel, happy mouth, salox, hanging cheek, eggbutt, loose ring, wilkie, D ring and lord knows what else, I've come to an awkward decision. I want a double jointed (french link / lozenge) D ring snaffle, which needs to be a relatively thin mouthpiece. And guess what? Barely anywhere sells them :rolleyes: Add that to the fact we need a 6", and options are even more limited.

So. I've found three that fit the bill.

Neue Schule tranz angled:
http://www.horsebitbank.com/tranz-angled-lozenge-d-ring-798.phtml

Informed Designs:
http://www.horsebitbank.com/informed-designs-dee-cheek-lozenge-715.phtml

And Eldonian Balancer:
http://www.hfequestrianbitbank.co.u...fries-Eldonian-Balancer-Dee-Ring-Snaffle.html

And now I'm confused. Would the Eldonian be a good economy version to try, or am I better off just pushing the boat out and going for one of the others? Has anyone on here tried an informed design bit? I'm keen to go for the D as he liked it and he's green - the lack of pinching, stability and aid of steering work well with him. I could try a bit bank, but I'm reluctant to shell out that much money for a second hand bit - thought I'd ask some opinions first :)
Click to expand...

My EDT came out a couple of years ago and told me that my stainless steel mullen mouth pelham was bearing down on the bit bars on my horses mouth and recommended Neue Schule. He said he was getting slight calcifications and it was due to the shape and design of my old bit.

I can't tell you how resistant I was to paying the £75 to have a new bit and thought it would be a right waste of money! I opted (on his recommendation) for the tranz angled bit, and had the pelham and what an amazing difference to my horses mouth!

I've never tried the styles of NS bits you are asking about but would say that I can thoroughly recommend NS. They are warmer due to the alloy used, encourage salivation (I do add a slight slither of bit butter) and are very good quality. NS bits have aluminium added so they are not to rich in copper and zinc and therefore create a better 'taste'.

I'd also say for horses like my WB (who is dutch and therefore known to have a much fleshier tongue than other breeds) the bit is better to have a thinner mouthpiece and so I opted for the thinner mouthpiece (think it was 16mm instead of 18mm).
 
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Wheels said:
so now I have just had to bite the bullet and stump up the cash for the bit I wanted all along
Click to expand...

That's what I'm starting to think... it would be so nice to have a bit we stick to rather than use it for a week and think "nope, still not right!!!".

Bay TB said:
Have you tried any of the NS bits with him before?
Click to expand...

I have, and he's happy in Salox (as far as I can tell), but we haven't got the sizing / type of bit right yet! All that I've tried have either been loose ring (he has huge lips, so I'm guessing they're a prime target for pinching) or too small, so he hasn't been 100% happy.

Nats said:
Sprenger make a KK ultra D ring in 155mm width with a 15mm mouthpiece, don't know if that's any good as another option?

http://www.thehorsebitshop.co.uk/product.php?xProd=428

http://www.inter-equine.com/horse/b...ger-kk-ultra-en/sprenger-kk-ultra-d-ring.html

I have the Dynamic RS eggbutt and love it; after shopping around I got it for the same price as the Neue Schule equivalent.
Click to expand...

Ooh!! I missed that one... and it's in the sale... this bodes another question of Sprenger vs. Neue Schule :confused: :D What's the difference?

applecart14 said:
My EDT came out a couple of years ago and told me that my stainless steel mullen mouth pelham was bearing down on the bit bars on my horses mouth and recommended Neue Schule.
Click to expand...

My EDT has told me a similar story, pone has big tongue, big lips, typical cobby mouth with very little room in there. She swore by NS, I'm just curious as to what else is out there aswell :)
 
I have just been hunting online to buy a new bit for a youngster, I had him in a french link, loose ring copper/sweet iron snaffle and he is happy as Larry in it. As he's grown I want a bit the next size up and would prefer the same but with Eggbutt or D cheeks to prevent nipping (he is completely freaked out by the smell of bit rubbers and I can't say I blame him!)

You wouldn't think it was that much of an ask would you? - a simple sweet iron/copper french link Eggbutt or D snaffle, not too fat/too much of a mouthful for a youngster 5.75" at a sensible price too please would be nice...

but try finding one!

There is a completely unnecessary, endless array of mouth hardware out there, but quite definitely lacking in choice at the simple end.
 
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