Bitting Advice for Horse that tends to go behind the vertical

[llohcins]

Hi, I have a fairly new horse who has been with me 6 months. Wanted to give him time to settle in so haven't changed anything tack wise but now looking to try out a new bit/ bridle combo. When tense or excited he has a tendency to go behind the vertical and tuck his head in so I feel like I have nothing in front. Obv I am working with an instructor to try and improve this through various exercises. However we were talking about a change of bit/ bridle the other day and wondered if there was anything recommended for this type of issue. He's not strong in the hand at all and is fairly sensitive over the poll, currently in the NS full check with lozenge. I'd personally like to try him in a loose ring, or is there anything that may help? Also not sure whether is would be worth trying a Micklem on him? He's currently in a plain cavesson. If anyone can help then Many thanks!!

 

[milliepops]

You might find that a loose ring has the opposite effect you want, as the extra movement can put some contact-shy horses off even more.

I usually start with something like a straight bar nathe when I have one who won't take the contact forward, they are soft, slightly flexible and generally well accepted. they come with all kind of cheeks but the plain straightbar is the cheapest to try as an experiment.

 

[Wheels]

Yep agree with milliepops although nathes can be a little thick for some horses but I would go with a Mullen or single joint with fixed rings until the horse learns to take the contact forward.

 

[Rowreach]

Agree, a straight nathe mouthpiece would be worth a try, and he might like a hanging cheek which give a lot of stability in the mouth.

 

[Identityincrisis]

They are expensive but I have a NS turtle top bit (plain snaffle) and my horse really likes it, it has a little more flexibility tgan a straight bar but is stable in their mouth. My boy has always had a tendency to drop behind the vertical but with this bit and strengthening exercises he does it a lot less

 

[Casey76]

My mare does this when tense, tired or over-excited. In her care it it a case of asking her to open up and not drop behind the contact. This is normally achieved by lifting the inside hand vertically and a strong leg aid to send her forward.

 

[paddi22]

i had an exracer and the extra movement of the loose ring actually made him more contact shy. He went best in a mullen mouth or a straight bar happy bit. If they tend to culrl behind i usually avoid lozenges, loose rings or any bits with a lot of movement.

 

[DirectorFury]

Another with a horse that likes to sit behind the contact. A hanging cheek mullen mouth has made a massive difference - I avoid bits with joints or without fixed cheeks. Cotswold Outdoors do one for ~£20 if you want to give one a try without spending a massive amount.

 

[Goldenstar]

I could try the simple ported straight bar bomber bit

 

[llohcins]

Thank you all. I have had previous success with another horse in the turtle top so will consider this again but will also give a mullen a try. Fingers crossed!

 

[Slightlyconfused]

My appy can go bhv but we tried and have kept him in is a ns hanging cheek. He will reach for the contact in it

 

[ihatework]

I’ve got one at the moment with a tendency to sit behind the bit.
As others have said the ones I play about with are eggbutt MB04, MB32, nathe & sprenger duo.
I’d like to get the bomber happy tongue in my bit box at some stage too.

 

[Zuzan]

My mare does this when tense, tired or over-excited. In her care it it a case of asking her to open up and not drop behind the contact. This is normally achieved by lifting the inside hand vertically and a strong leg aid to send her forward.

This... When the horse goes behind the vertical it is trying to avoid contact or constriction.. using an noseband / miklem etc will only add pressure cannot correct this.

By lifting the hand it ensures no pressure is placed on the bars / lips / tongue .. only on the corners of the mouth and an upward contact will encourage the horse to open the poll. Once the polll has opened the horse should then be willing to follow the hand down into a neck extension. The lifting of the hands / upwards contact means one of the simplest and easiest bits is fulmer.

If your instructor can help you with this process great... if not you need to find one who can.

 

[Equi]

I have just a big standard eggbutt with lozenge and a micklem. My horse did the same as ours and still will sometimes but is much more likely to stop it now in the micklem. I will say though that his saddle was also too narrow at one point and he didn’t do it as much after it was widened either.

 

[Nari]

My ID who did this was best in a Myler mullen mouth with cheeks, I'm fairly sure it was the MB32. A single joint he was fussy in, anything with a double joint/lozenge was a nightmare- for him the stiller the better. He'd also overbend as an evasion, it was almost a dare t put your leg on & see how fast ge could shift! My Welsh D on the other hand does it through stress or excitement & the same mullen mouth makes him worse, instead he's in a hanging cheek low port comfort snaffle & I put some leg on to ride him forwards more. They're all different.