Bitting advice for a fussy mare...

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SKW92

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Advice please if possible!


Little bit of background - Mare has had 15 months off ridden work due to an injury. She has been back in work ridden work for approximately 4 weeks. Back, teeth and MOT certificate come with the horse so it is unlikely to be pain related.


Mare is currently being ridden in a a sweet iron lr snaffle. She appears to have decided that she no longer likes it and has started to become a royal pain in the arse about anything but loose contact (ie any time she has to do something that remotely resembles work)

So the long and the short of it, is I require a little bit of inspiration on the bitting front, as it has been decided that there is no real point in riding her into a contact when she fusses and fart about it when you get her working..

Previous bit history -

Fulmer snaffle with single joint
LR with a lozenge

Neither of which were particularly awe inspiring to ride her in.

Hit me with your suggestions ;)
 
Knew I'd forgotten something.. Current trick is snatching the contact or becoming a performing giraffe to evade any contact. She is ridden without a martingale currently.

She is particularly difficult on downward transitions, although she listens to the contact she's resistant to it and fusses during the transition. Upward transitions are fine!
 
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To be utterly honest it doesn't necessarily sound like a bitting issue. If it were me I would change to an eggbutt or hanging cheek lozenge snaffle, with a loose cavesson and just work your way through it - or possibly go the whole hog and put her in a straight nathe , which will really encourage her to take the contact, however not amazing with the brakes!

Does she act the same way if someone else rides her? Does she fuss through transitions if you lunge her?
 
To be honest no-one else ever rides her. YO has sat on her and had similar experiences but he doesn't ride her regularly nor know her way of going. She is rarely lunged due to pre-existing injuries but no she doesn't fuss in the mouth when lunged.
 
I tried my youngster in loads of different bits when he came to me as it was clear he wasn't happy in the copper loose ring lozenge. He has quite a large tongue and low palette and the shaped mouthpiece from Cotswold Sport suited him perfectly. He also prefers a fixed cheek so is in a baucher for most things but a cartwheel gag for anything exciting!
 
Its a bit of a mind field really isn't it.. I know that no one is going to have a definitive answer for me.. but I don't have the time or resources to not have atleast a clue which way to head with my choice..
 
Hello! I had a lot of problems bitting my mare - she came in a hanging cheek then went into numerous bits like a loose ring with lozenge, one without, copper d-ring, myler and more! We found she was very happy when in a Korsteel Flexi (Happy Mouth material) we got a loose ring but she prefers less movement in her mouth and worked much better in a full cheek.. just a thought, now she is never in metal as she dislikes it. :)
 
Thanks for the reply. I own a 10yo that isn't aware she owns 4 feet! I think I'm just going to have to bite the bullet and pool all the yards resources and try anything I can get my hand on. She's an absolute dream when you find something she likes.. she's just unfortunately as stroppy as her owner ;)
 
To me that sounds like saddle more than bit if its on down ward trans that you find she fusses.
Went through the same with our Tb for a few weeks, got saddle lady out and saddle was pinching his withers and not letting his shoulders move freely.
 
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