Bitting advice for fat tongues, small mouths!

tobiano1984

tobiano1984

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Can anyone recommend a bit to try on my youngster - he's a 4 year old cob x, just being broken in at the moment. He's currently in the bit I've used to break my other horses - a full cheek french link snaffle. The others have been fine in this but I noticed he always gets his tongue over the bit, and I can't tighten it up without it being too high. I had a poke about in his mouth and seems more that he can't fit his tongue under the bit - when he does the link really presses into his tongue and I imagine this is pretty uncomfortable. he also has a low palette so I don't really want to try a single joint as this will press into the roof of his mouth.

I was thinking a french link with a lozenge instead, as this wouldn't cut his tongue in half? Any recommendations would be appreciated.
 
My lad has a very fleshy tongue and can be very unsettled in his mouth. After trying many different types I have found the Myler comfort snaffle the one he is happiest in, followed by KK ultra.
 
I use a hanging cheek mullen mouth myler on my very fleshy mouthed fell as he seems to hate any type of joint / losenge.
 
Speak to one of the bitting shops which give good advice. However failing that look at a thinner bit. I have a 12mm wide (6" long) neule scheule training bit for mine which seems OK in my big tongued boy.
 
I tried several bits an my young pony and found he liked a Mullen mouthed snaffle best, though ride bitless now most of the time, but fit the mullen mouth for hacking with a second rein as backup.
 
I had a horse like this, went best in a rubber straight mouth flexible snaffle, fitted low. When you put pressure on, it bends around the tongue. Horse hated the happy mouth straight bar snaffle with the two bumps in the middle, so don't buy one of those! Also, if the tongue is being squashed, make sure the bit is definitely wide enough. Cobs can have much bigger mouths than the same size slimmer built horses.
 
Try a thin mullen mouth - my mare has similar shape to her mouth, big tongue and low/small mouth and she goes nicely in this as it is shaped to give her toungue some space but doesn't hit the roof of her mouth and the thinness helps it fit better
 
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