Bitting a Horse

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Frankie_Baby

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At what age is it best to introduce a horse to a bit? Ive read several articles posted on Google but I know how unreliable articles on Google can be :(
My horse is quite mouthy and when I take him out for walks he generally chews on his lead rope, I have tried to discourage him and it seems he prefers to do it when he is in what seems to be his comfort zones.

Any advice on introducing a bit would be appreciated :)
 
I would say not before 3years old and then it would be a nice happy mouth bit.

Babys generally are very chewy, just like human babys! Have you thought about getting a lead rope that has a chain? You can get ones that have a chain at top half, that would stop him chewing it.
 
We tend to do ours as 2.5 yr olds and use happy mouth bits or neu scheule. All we do is use a headpiece and quielty slip it on and leave it for a couple of mins then take it off. be careful not to bang their teeth at all in first few times part as it can put them off. all our horses even babies open thier mouths for the bits so we cant be too bad.
 
Years ago the first bit we used to introduce to babies had keys on them. It gives them something to play with but I now think it can make them a wee bit too busy in the mouth. I would try a nice simple bit with a peanut in the middle so that you havn't got the nut cracker action. The happy mouth bits are good but they do chew the plastic. The Neue Schule bits with the Salox gold mouthpieces are really nice. The metal is warmer in the horses mouth and encourages salivation. It doesn't have to be a NS as they can be pricey, there are others on the market that are very similar. Try to go for a loose ring if you can. If you go on the NS website you will get an idea what I mean. ps, say hi to your mum. lol.:D
 
Interesting replies. I've always bitted mine as yearlings, just for a few minutes at a time intially. I used to use rubber bits until I had one who objected to it (and I have to admit, it did taste 'orrible, I tried it too!) so now I always use a loose-ring french link either stainless steel or cyprium.
It's just as well I had bitted them early though as some shows require them to be bitted (eg: In-hand Young Event Horse Championships require them to be shown in a bridle with a snaffle)
 
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