Bitting advise please

[winston44]

Hi
i have a 5 year old Qh who has had 6 months western training last year, then the winter off, He has a fat tongue and a low pallet, i am presently riding in a neue schulz verbindend hunter D ring which he doesn't seem to like, he is still rather green and I have to widen my hands to ask him turn and squeeze gently to ask him to round, he is constantly resisting me, he will set his jaw, lean and sometimes crosses the jaw, he will happily poke his nose, he isn't forward thinking, so i have to ride him with spurs (no i don't over use them but its better than nagging him with my legs all the time)
his saddle was fitted to him and he's an awkward shape being downhill, no withers and rather round

I have been thinking about trying a bombers happy tongue eggbutt cherry roller gag, to allow for the fat tongue and given i can use it on either the normal ring or drop to the bottom ring to introduce some slight poll pressure to encourage him to relax into the contact, i am pretty sure he doesn't like the mouth piece of the NS, so thinking the fixed but more comfortable mouth piece may help, the other bit is the bombers mouth piece that's like a snaffle but fixed so he won't get the "nut cracker" action so much.

any ideas or advise?

 

[Hepsibah]

Fat tongue and low palate means no space in the mouth. I'd be looking at something like a a Myler comfort snaffle with hooks. Attaching the cheek piece to the top hook will hold the mouthpiece still and prevent it resting on the tongue and having the independant side movement will give clear signals, causing less resistance.

 

[CMcC]

I have been using a NS with my Welshie helped him to take a contact and to round but it does seem like a battle sometimes.

i discovered by accident, fiddling round with bridles and just bunging a bit I had in a drawer on to make sure the bridle fitted before switching the NS over that he much prefers a Myler bit.

 

[SpotsandBays]

Have a look at expert bits. They do a “comfy barrel snaffle” which I have just swapped my horse into. The mouthpiece is fixed and doesn’t give a nutcracker action. My horse who is pretty fussy gets on well with it! And it was only £36!