Bitting problem.....any suggestions

[kirinsam]

I am having a bit of an issue with my 4yo and his bit. He has been very slowly backed over the last year and is now starting to hack out. I bought him a loose ring happy mouth bit last year and he started off just wearing his bridle with this bit whilst being groomed a year ago , moved on to leading him about then long reining then sitting on before asking for a little walk. Nothing has been rushed . He has always liked a little chew on this , quite normal I thought , but has never marked it. last few weeks we have started to hack out but the chewing/chomping has got much worse , he chucks his head up and down so much whilst playing with the bit he unbalances himself. In all other ways he has been a poppet but this is really annoying , I am loathe to really tell him off as we are not that established yet and I am not sure what he will do.

Should I bite the bullet and put a metal bit in?
Am I missing something else?
Any suggestions what else I could use?
Anyone with experience of this who found a way round?

We do not have an enclosed space to ride in so all work is being done on the lane or edge of field , and I am no spring chicken so dont want to battle.

 

[tillsmum]

I am reading a Richard Maxwell book about breaking at the moment as I am breaking my youngster and he says that the rubber bits are no good after a certain point and recommends and french link type bit. Hope this helps.

 

[tillsmum]

nope sorry he says once they are being ridden he finds youngsters lean on a rubber bit so he moves on to a fulmer snaffle.

 

[Cortez]

I usually start babies off in a rubber straight bar or Dee ring jointed snaffle. I agree that after a while it is usually time to move on, and a fulmer full cheek is good if you are having problems steering.

 

[kirinsam]

Kind of follows what I was thinking , time to move on to a proper bit . Just concerned as have not experienced this much chucking the head around before. No steering problems as yet (had previous babies in a fulmer but cant find one anywhere in my box of bits) so may give him a go in a nice fat french link this weekend , just hope it makes him look where he is going otherwise he is going to fall over. Any further remedies/experiences welcome.