bitting dilemma..

ilovecobs said:
Im just adding my 2 cents here :P

Not ALL horses accept bits and yes it is kinder to use bitless however you keep referring to the bit as the problem, (as in all bits) however can you imagine showing in a bitless bridle?? im sure its been done but i certainly wouldn't. If you can find a bit that your horse is happy with it, why not ride in it? it can be something as simple as thickness of mouthpiece or 2 joints rather than one.

I fully understand that for some horses it is the only answer but i think with quite a few people (not saying you at all here btw as i dont know you :).) it is more of a fashion, or trend. There horse may have been fine before but they went bitless anyway. If i ever needed to i would, but i wouldnt unless i needed to.
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we are referring to the bit as the problem, because in this case, as in the original post, it has been said that there is no other problem, other than the mare being unhappy in her mouth and having not seen the horse, this is all we have to go on.
as for bitless being a trend or fashion, i totally disagree, i find that people often comment on the fact that my pony has not got a bit and seem almost proud of the fact that they couldn't possibly think about riding their horse/pony without a bit. i usually don't even bother commenting.
 
Jenny Harvey: Causing pain was the original purpose of bits? Check out Xenophon on the art of horsemanship.

OP, I'm glad to hear your horse is going better. If (s)he is preferring the Waterford then I would try a loose ring french link (or a bit with a central lozenge / roller). This will have all the advantages of the waterford in that there is no leverage or nutcracker action, but be gentler.
 
Steorra said:
OP, I'm glad to hear your horse is going better. If (s)he is preferring the Waterford then I would try a loose ring french link (or a bit with a central lozenge / roller). This will have all the advantages of the waterford in that there is no leverage or nutcracker action, but be gentler.
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totally agree, have said this in a previous post, but i personally would go with a roller/lozenge, as the central part of a french link can vary and not always be as kind.
we have a horse on our yard that has been ridden in a waterford for about a year with no problem, however, he has recently been ridden by another rider and immediately his mouth has become sore and as a result of this, i have seen a change in him when in the paddock.
 
Steorra said:
Jenny Harvey: Causing pain was the original purpose of bits? Check out Xenophon on the art of horsemanship.

OP, I'm glad to hear your horse is going better. If (s)he is preferring the Waterford then I would try a loose ring french link (or a bit with a central lozenge / roller). This will have all the advantages of the waterford in that there is no leverage or nutcracker action, but be gentler.
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Im not refering to Xenophon at all. But even more before his time. I look at bits in a horses mouth as being for a similar purpose as a ring on a bull.
 
I am off to the tack shop tomorrow and an going to try a bit with a lozenge in and will see how we get on..I have ridden in a bitless bridle before and personally dont like them..
 
I went to the tack shop today and was advised by the tack shop owner on a loose ring snaffle with lozenge and took my mare for a hack in it and its brilliant! no more grinding she is much miore comfortable..
 
crazycoloured said:
I went to the tack shop today and was advised by the tack shop owner on a loose ring snaffle with lozenge and took my mare for a hack in it and its brilliant! no more grinding she is much miore comfortable..
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BINGO!
bet she enjoyed her hack and relieved that she's finally got what she wanted :)
 
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