Bitting advice for 2yr old...

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MrsMagoo

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Hey all, just wanted some advice on what bits everyone uses for thier babies. I have already bitted him in a straight bar rubber which is fine but he's outgrown it now so before I go and buy something else, wanted to find out what was the best?

Soo what does everyone use? Would need something that could show in as well....just searched and found an old thread, someone suggested the NS Starter bit? Looks nice but would be more for when he's 3-4yr old?

Thanks

Becky
 
Becky, I keep mine in a straight bar apple mouth (or rubber, but I like the Apple Mouth ones) with cheeks until they are in work and at some point they normally start leaning on that. When they do, and that very much depends on the horse (I have a 12 year old still happily working in it!), then I move on to a french link snaffle (also Apple Mouth to start).

If you are interested, I would point you in the direction of Richard Maxwell's From Birth to Backing book, which has a good section on bitting. Not which bit to use, per se, but how to help a young horse understand what the bit is for, rather than just being happy to have it in its mouth - which isn't the same thing. Also a mine of info & exercises to do with your young horse to prepare for a good life as a riding horse later, which you might find useful.
 
100% agree with you Sportznight.

But as Mary Wanless rightly says, some people can do things right instinctively and have no idea what it is they're doing, just that it works, and that makes them excellent riders/trainers of horses, but useless teachers, because they are unable to communicate to others what it is they do that "works".

With Max, you think what he says is just common sense (though when it comes to training horses a lot of people don't have that much!), I knew it but I didn't know I knew it, and now I will be able to explain to others how and why what I do works. It is very useful.

Not sure that ^^^ makes any sense, sorry :o
 
I carried on using a straight bar showing bit for when i showed Jupi as a 2yr old and for everything else at home (such as loose jumping/schooling/leading round the lanes) he wore an eggburt happy mouth. Hes still wearing that now for breaking in, although i have just ordered him a full cheek happy mouth with a lozenge/roller in the middle to help with our stearing as im hoping to be riding him off the lunge soon.
 
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