Bitting a young horse...

[Camillieo]

I have recently bought a Hollow mouth eggbutt bit for my 2yr old gypsy vanner. I have not yet used it but, is this a good bit for starting a young horse? Or is it to harsh?
Thanks x

 

[Deseado]

A snaffle is generally used for starting young horses and is considred to be "mild" in its' action. This only applies if you are gentle with it, of course: any bit can be severe if you pull and haul on the reins. Snaffles work with a pincer or nutcracker action which can be very painful if the rider/handler is rough or doesn't give with the rein quickly enough. I prefer a loose ring over an eggbut myself. Good luck with your cob. P.S. 2 is very young to be starting proper work, most horses are best left till 3 years old.

 

[Buds_mum]

Imo you want something with a lozenge or french link centre. A single joint has a nutcracker action as well as hitting the roof of the mouth, some youngsters will dislike this. Also a sweet metal, ie. salox or sweet iron is warmer and nicer tasting for any horse, and with a baby will encourage mouthing and exceptance.

A fulmer is ideal for your long reining and when you begin ridden work when he's older, they help with steering and don't slide through. My 4 yr old is in a sweet iron fulmer with a lozenge center. He has a good mouth, mouths and foams lightly.

Happy mouth bits are also nice for them to get the chomp and feel of something in their mouths (be careful lunging etc. in these though as i've known them to cause friction burns). Also if the chew them they become unusable pretty quickly. But just to get something in his mouth thats nice and soft they are ideal.

 

[Ladydragon]

I've ordered a full cheek with a french link that's got a copper roller lozenge instead of the flat part of a french link... Young QH has taken a bit really easily (just at the popping the bridle on and off in his stable atm) but needs some wolf teeth out before I can start to walk him with a bit in...

I like the full cheek for the reason Buds_mum outlined, prefer a french link to a single joint snaffle and figured the copper roller will give him something to play with... We shall see...