Bitting - Fat Tongue, Small Mouth?

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nato

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My mare is in a loose ring French link snaffle for around a year now, and has been going well in it - much better than the hanging check single jointed snaffle she was previously in.

She has always been a little heavy in my right hand, recently we discovered this was due to arthritis in the left hind which has been treated and she is now on a rehab programme which includes physio and we're seeing much improvement. I do notice she is much happier on the left side of her mouth than the right in that she'll salivate more, but recently noticed that her tongue pokes out the right side more than the left! She also can be a little inconsistent to the contact at times.

She gets her teeth done every 6 months, sees the physio biweekly-monthly, and her most recent vet checkup shows only her arthritis needs to be managed but otherwise is in good health.

I'd like to try a different bit on her to see if she'd be happier in her mouth - I thought of a Myler as the ported bit might be good for her, but my coach suggested that she might quite like her current bit but maybe would benefit from a non loose ring snaffle so it's a bit more fixed, and would help solve the inconsistent contact?

I have recently been looking at the Sprenger KK ultra loose ring as I thought it might just be an improvement on the existing bit that she seems to like.

If anyone has any recommendations I'd be delighted to hear them.
 
My now retired tb has this combination and his tongue pokes out. Not because he pushes it out but it bulges because of lack of room.

Two that worked well for us are Myler comfort snaffle just a level 1 so no port and a NS Team up but in the thinnest mouthpiece they make.
 
I haven't yet purchased it but I have been recommended by several people that the Myler comfort snaffle with no port would be ideal for my Connemara with a fat tongue, small mouth and low roof of the mouth.
 
I would use the myler comfort snaffle but defiantly loose ringed I would not like to use a fixed mouth piece on a horse with a small mouth I would like to know the horse could move the mouth piece with the tongue .
Other to try the simple ported bomber bit and the intelligent design Mullen curved mouth piece loose ring snaffle .
 
Fantastic thank you all. Seems like the Myler is a winner. MissJessica my mare is a Connie X and definitely has the same type mouth as yours - did you get the Level 1 bit?

I was told they are a bit harsh and to just take it easy the first few rides - I don't have harsh hands but I will take a strong contact when jumping or doing collected work, she has always been ridden in a snaffle and wouldn't like her to be ridden in too strong a bit, will this be OK?
 
nato said:
Fantastic thank you all. Seems like the Myler is a winner. MissJessica my mare is a Connie X and definitely has the same type mouth as yours - did you get the Level 1 bit?

I was told they are a bit harsh and to just take it easy the first few rides - I don't have harsh hands but I will take a strong contact when jumping or doing collected work, she has always been ridden in a snaffle and wouldn't like her to be ridden in too strong a bit, will this be OK?
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The myler is not a strong bit for a horse it suits .
It's a very thin bit and can tear the mouth if used harshly .
My TB hunts in one and it's never caused a problem .
 
Just to throw a banana ball into the mix...... shyboy is the same, and aftrr trying every bit, he made it clear anything would cause him to be unhappy. Did all the checks, trid an english hackamore, and have not looked back.

Apart from this month, moving to france, a broken shoulder, mine, and too much joie de vivre, he is currently sporting a german, but never have to use it.

Hope that helps. I gave all 20 of my bits, yup 20, to the gambia bit appeal, via the nfu office.
 
Another bomber bit user. Mine hated the myler. She started to stick her chin to her chest to avoid the pressure even on a loose rein. Happily excepts the bomber bit.
 
I have had good results with Cotswold sport bits. They do a mouth piece specifically for big tongue small mouthed horses and reasonably priced. I use then Baucher for general and then have a cart wheel gag with the same mouth piece for anything exciting!
 
Thanks folks. I have a loan of a Myler Comfort Snaffle so will try her in this and see how she goes. Fingers crossed!
 
Shoei said:
I have had good results with Cotswold sport bits. They do a mouth piece specifically for big tongue small mouthed horses and reasonably priced. I use then Baucher for general and then have a cart wheel gag with the same mouth piece for anything exciting!
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I also use the Cotswold tongue saver bit now. I tried a few for my youngster and she seems very happy in the hanging cheek Baucher.
 
lelly said:
I also use the Cotswold tongue saver bit now. I tried a few for my youngster and she seems very happy in the hanging cheek Baucher.
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That's interesting. I am currently trialling my horse in the Myler version of the Hanging Cheek Baucher. Will be interesting to see how that works out.
 
I have a Myler mullen mouth baucher. It's the only dressage legal bit mine accepts. He hates anything with a joint, whether single or double jointed and the hanging cheek just gives me that extra bit of control.

He has an incredibly thick tongue and HUGE fleshy lips which made finding a bit he was happy in very difficult. I'm not exaggerating when I say I must have tried 50 before finding this one.
 
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