bitting advice for tense mare

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andreo

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I need some new ideas please, My mare has never seemed to be happy with her bit, she holds it tighlty inher mouth and fixes her jaw then neck then this goes to her back. I have tried her in kk snaffle, hanging cheek with rotating mouth piece and now have her in waterford loose ring even though can't dr her for eventing in this but thought it may teach her to relax her jaw and let go. Have a v good teacher who has shown me how to flex her to try and help but maybe its just a case of finding the right bit. any ideas. I also did have her in a drop noseband which worked well for a while but now I think this just makes her fight me more.
 
I had the same problem, then I tried a Myler comfort snaffle, because they are fairly thin in the mouth, my horse really likes it and has learnt to relax and stretch down. Have a look on their website. They are expensive to buy but you can hire them. Worth it to me tho!
 
Another vote for a Myler........ My mare is tense as well (and very rude also), but I chose bits with a huge amount of tongue clearance and for the first time ever, we don't jog and pull when out hacking. Plus, I can ride er off my seat.
She likes the MB33 in a snaffle, and the MB42 in a pelham. Love them, I got them from 'A bit different', a bit bank. The lady on the other end of the phone is so helpful and she actually answers the phone which is more than 'shop4bits' and 'Neue Schule' do!
 
I will have a look at the mylers, thanks for the suggestions. Not sure about the hackamore as don't think I can do the dressage part of the event in a hackamore.
Anymore suggestions very welcome
 
Does she lean? I'm no expert or anything, but could you try a straight mouth? Might make her feel a bit more stable in her mouth, and might be easier for her to work into the contact, if she is is a bit of a worrier? I tried that with mine who was exactly the same and it worked a treat. Once she relaxed a bit more I was able to go back to a less fixed bit, and she remained just as relaxed. Good Luck.
 
Neue Schule Tranzlink lozenge hanging cheek. If she is a tense worrier she might like the fact that this bit is very still in the mouth. My girl goes better in this than anything else, can't ride her in a loosering as the movement makes her worry.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Neue Schule Tranzlink lozenge hanging cheek. If she is a tense worrier she might like the fact that this bit is very still in the mouth. My girl goes better in this than anything else, can't ride her in a loosering as the movement makes her worry.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto. gives a worrier a lot more support if there is less going on in the mouth. My girl was not happy in a loose ring at all.
 
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