Bitting suggestions for PITA TB?

[Beausmate]

Right, I have this Big Idiot horse with a bitting problem. He got very evasive, really opening his mouth and sticking his tongue over the bit, head waving around, the works. He is a stressy horse by nature and he was becoming quite upset.

So I rode him in a hackamore for a while, this is no problem for him, but I have no steering!

The thing is, he dislikes metal bits, so plastic or rubber (pref. not soft as he chews!) but not too thick as he has a huge tongue and sod all room in his mouth. He also doesn't much like tongue pressure and he has short bars.

Any suggestions? I rode him out today in a nylon mullen mouth loose ring snaffle, no problem with the nylon, but it was too thick (bit like him!) and he couldn't fit his tongue in!! Arrrggghhh!!!!!

ETA-he's not in the least bit strong, just has directional problems!

 

[claracanter]

Hi

Not sure what to suggest but my situation maybe a bit similar

I have a 5yr old ex racehorse and am trying to find the right bit for him. He is unbalanced and a bit of a nose poking mouth opener! Anyway he came with an eggbutt snaffle but I moved him to a full cheek french link. It makes steering easier and the nutcracker action is much kinder. He's not particularly strong but is fussy in his mouth. I have just bought him a Neue Schule trans angled lozenge bit after hearing good things about them. The ROR recommend them as TB's can be very sensitive in the mouth( luckily got it on ebay at a much cheaper price than NS website) It's a dainty little bit, very light, made of salox so very soft and warm and very thin and shaped better than other bits. Am going to try it this afternoon but I gather it may take several weeks to get used to.

 

[Beausmate]

I bought a NS starter bit for my other TB. He was not impressed! After trying a couple of things I discovered he didn't like the loose rings. My friend has the bit now for her ex-racer and she loves it! She used to stick her tongue out, open her mouth, pull faces and snatch at the reins. She is so much better in it, much softer and quieter. She took to it straight away.

Won't work for the Big Idiot though as it's a metal bit!! I asked my horse dentist for his opinion on why BI was objecting so much, he tells me that some horses get the same sensation from a metal bit as we'd get from biting on a bit of tin foil-ouch!! So, no metal bits. Does restrict my options a tad.