Bitting problem- any ideas?

D

DressageDiva1983

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 April 2009
Messages
133
Visit site
I have been riding my 7yr old thoroughbred mare in a loose ring snaffle since breaking her as a five year old but recently it has started to cause some problems. About 2 or 3 months ago the rings started to rub the side of her face, making it bleed in some places and i had to ride in a hackamore for 3 weeks and apply Camrosa cream (contraversial i know, but it worked) I havent had a problem, until now. I sent her for schooling whilst i went abroad and it had started again! I have rode her 4 times since getting her back and the bit is rubbing horrendously (so its not a heavy hands issue as it happened with me as well) Both sides of her face are rubbed raw!
Does anybody know of a suitable bit that would finally get rid of this problem???? It has to be dressage legal, have a chunky mouthpiece and a lozenge or roller (the nutcracker action of jointed mouthpieces makes her rear as she is VERY sensitive!)
confused.gif
 
I swear by my Neue Schule bit. I have a horse with a sensitive mouth and use the team up bit. She is soo much better in it. I went to a lecture of theirs and I am sure they said the bits are designed in such a way that they cannot pinch or rub. Might be worth giving them a call to find out. For me it has been worth every penny.
smile.gif
 
Hey there- I can only suggest rubber bit stoppers (think that's what you call them!) Not sure if it'd help but it's just a thought!

Not to detract away from your question but can I ask why Camrosa is controversal?
 
Hi Cathy_ I did a lot of research on here before i used Camerosa and there seemed to be a bit of an uproar about some of the ingredients, mainly heavy metal extracts and how healthy this was for horses, but for every bad review there was a good one and i have to say, in my opinion, its great it does exactly what it says on the tin!
I had thought of bit rings but wonder if they would look tacky to compete in? am i being a snob???
 
I dont think BD rules allow bit rings - you would have to double check, but I am sure that they arent allowed. My horse's mouth used to rub and I actually changed him to a hanging cheek and that seemed to sort the problem. I know it has a slightly different action, but it is nothing too drastic. Also - maybe try slapping loads of vaseline around the rubs before you ride - that may help.
 
How about getting one of the KK bits with the "sleeves" round the loose ring so they cant rub? You cant compete in Dressage with bit rings.
 
Sleeves sound interesting KatB, i will look into those, thanks. I already lather her face in vasoline or Camrosa but will continue this practise, perhaps should have mentioned her bit is a NS loose ring! I think i will go and get some bit rings to provide immediate relief whilst i look for a replacement bit. Thanks for all your help everyone
smile.gif
 
Is it rubbing her cheeks or the corners of her lips? My boy sometimes gets rubbed cheeks from his gag as his face gets quite wide quite quickly going up from his mouth IYKWIM! He only wears it for jumping so isn't ridden in it every day but the hanging cheek he wears most often doesn't rub so maybe you could try that? I think the smaller rings make it easier.

When I was at a camp and he was in his gag every day I put a gel pad (normally used on nose bands, but I think you can get smaller ones for curb chains - they cost about £10 each) on his cheek pieces. This stopped the problem as it kept the bit rings away from his cheeks a bit. He looked like Amos Riley from Emmerdale (you're probably too young to remember if the 1983 in your name is your year of birth!) but it worked.

Edited to add, I know you can wear the gel pad on a noseband for dressage, but whether it would be allowed on cheek pieces I don't know (I wouldn'thave thought it's been tried before!). I suppose you could take them off just before you go in, 5 minutes without won't hurt if you can protect it most of the time.
 
How bizarre. Is it the ring itself or where the ring goes into the mouthpiece? If it's the latter then simply getting the same bit in a fixed cheek will help (ie eggbutt, D ring etc). If it's actually the ring then rubber bit guards. A full cheek may also help as it's flat against the face. Mine has quite sensitive skin and is rubbed easily. I use rubber bit guards regardless of the bit and they really do help. Can use them for any competing except dressage. You see plenty people using them, a very handy piece of equipment.
Another thing to consider is the metal....is there any chance she could be allergic to it??
Finally...may sound obvious but is it wide enough?
 
How about putting some vaseline on before / after you ride? It keep the skin moist etc and not dry or prone to rubbing.


My boy started to get rub marks from his loose-ring and it's since stopped x
 
Thanks for all your ideas, i tried her in a full cheek happy mouth yesterday and it didn't rub but she hated it and wouldn't go forward (told you she was fussy!) so i put her snaffle back on with the addition of rubber bit rings to protect the rubs and she was much happier and the rings worked. I plan to keep applying vaseline and use the bit rings at home and just take off at competitions, am looking into getting a fixed ring with exactly the same mouthpiece, surely she can't object to that! I am drawn to the full cheek to assist with steering but may just buy the eggbutt, not sure yet.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top