Bitting a double bridle - for a TB

JustMe22

JustMe22

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Hi,
I'm looking to introduce my TB to the double bridle slowly, he has a big show (HOYS here) coming up soonish and he hates regular pelhams, and he'll need it for dressage soon. I've been told by dentists etc that he has a large tongue and not much space in his mouth. He normally takes a 5.5inch french link loose ring snaffle. He's quite fussy, and I want something as mild as I can make it, I just want the double to be comfortable so that introducing it isn't a big deal.

Slightly more limited in terms of bits we can get over here so my options are:

Bridoon: 5.5inch eggbutt, 6inch eggbutt, or 6inch loose ring. They're all single jointed snaffles, the loose ring being the thinnest.

Weymouth: 5.5inch hollow mouth fixed. It has a lowish port, and..well it's hollow, so reasonably light, but it's quite thick.
There's also a 5inch weymouth of the same design, but thinner.
And lastly, a 5inch mullen mouth weymouth, either fixed or sliding.

So my question is, what combination would you suggest? Will the 0.5inch difference in the weymouth be too much? I'm inclined to think (not sure why, just instinct) that the mullen mouth would be his preference. The 5.5inch weymouth is pretty thick, and I'm not sure he'll get on too well with it.

If it helps, I can post a pic of him with his regular 5.5inch snaffle?
 
If he likes a french link, why don't you use that as the bridoon. You could use his snaffle if the rings are not too big. The right bits are really trial and error but the mullen mouth weymouth is good.
 
oldvic said:
If he likes a french link, why don't you use that as the bridoon. You could use his snaffle if the rings are not too big. The right bits are really trial and error but the mullen mouth weymouth is good.
Click to expand...

I would, but the rings are too big I would think. :)


Prince33Sp4rkle said:
my TB prefers his neue schule mullen style weymouth so i would start with that.
Click to expand...

We can't get any of the brand name bits really, except sprenger, but I also think the weymouth would be the best idea. Do you think a 5inch would be ok though, considering he normally takes a 5.5 in normal snaffles etc?

Thanks :)
 
If he normally takes 5.5 snaffle, then the weymouth will need to be 5.5. With mine i always tend to go up a 1/4 inch with the bradoon, so if weymouth 5.5 then braddon 5.75. Although some have had same size weymouth and bradoon in. Alot of mine have also ept bradoon bi same as everyday snaffle.

NS are very good as suggested above. I am surprised with the intnternet and overseas shipping you can't get them?
 
There used to be a rule that said the bit ring mustn't be more than 8 cms but that has now changed to anything that is comfortable for the horse. The ring on most french links should be fine. A lot of people use a regular snaffle for the bridoon.
For the width of the curb, try it on and see if it looks ok.
 
Ok, thanks everyone :) That was what I thought with the sizing, but some have told me you can go a size lower on the pelham, so I thought I'd check. I can try the 5inch mullen mouth, so I might get hold of it and have a look, but I don't think it'll fit. Inconvenient, as I suspect that'll be his favourite type.

As for the bridoon - I'll probably use the 6inch. Haven't seen any 1/4 inch sizes around.

Horseywelsh - Yes, I could order online and ship :) Problem is that the post over here gets stolen most of the time, especially if it looks like it might be expensive/valuable/imported, so I'm not sure it's worth the risk :(
 
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