Bitting suggestions?

Bossdog

Bossdog

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Hi all

I have recently started exercising a 14yo 16hh RID x gelding, we have been getting on pretty well, working at elementary desssage at home but I am just not happy that his bit suits him and would love some suggestions?!

So he arrived in a French link eggbut, after a really long warm up with head way up in the air he would start working well in an outline but was incredibly heavy in the hand and was constantly putting tongue over bit, could do with more work on engaging his hind leg really but owners instructor suggested a Waterford. Cue introduction of Waterford which fixed the leaning but he now spends longer and longer with his head in the air and really reluctant to relax down wards. I’ve been doing some good lunge work and he’s working well this way but as soon as you pick up a contact his head shoots up so clearly not working for him.

Tends to head toss, lots of foaming, not happy to work in an outline, resistant to flexion using rein, I feel bad enough to actually stop riding until this is sorted but need a good solution!! He has pretty thick lips and a large tongue, teeth were done is December, tack recently fitted, forage fed only. I’m thinking something with a port but not too fixed or he’ll just lean on it.... don’t know much about all these modern Myler etc bits so any help much appreciated!
 
Probably not a popular choice but I school in a Myler comfort snaffle with a twist and copper barrel. Tongue relief when he’s light, the twist for when he’s an arse abd the roller to help with fixing. It’s a super bit 😊
 
Nothing is going to be truly "on the bit" in a Waterford mouthpiece, and it's not legal for dressage. Have his teeth been looked at? If they have, and he's OK lunging and is resisting ridden, then may I tactfully suggest that this is more to do with the riding/training than the equipment?
 
Cortez said:
Nothing is going to be truly "on the bit" in a Waterford mouthpiece, and it's not legal for dressage. Have his teeth been looked at? If they have, and he's OK lunging and is resisting ridden, then may I tactfully suggest that this is more to do with the riding/training than the equipment?
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Having zero experience of anything other than smooth snaffles, can you please enlighten me as to why a horse won't ever be on the bit in a waterford? Thank you :)
 
He’s happy enough ridden on a loosish rein but as soon as you try to pick up a contact he gets all mardy and fidgety in his mouth, can self carry in an outline once warmed up well but any kind of contact results in a giraffe impression which is making lateral work difficult, doesn’t currently compete but has done in the past...
 
saddlesore said:
Probably not a popular choice but I school in a Myler comfort snaffle with a twist and copper barrel. Tongue relief when he’s light, the twist for when he’s an arse abd the roller to help with fixing. It’s a super bit ��
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Eek, didn’t even know that exists, i’m Not sure he needs a twist just yet, I thinks it more of a comfort issue?
 
Cortez said:
Nothing is going to be truly "on the bit" in a Waterford mouthpiece, and it's not legal for dressage. Have his teeth been looked at? If they have, and he's OK lunging and is resisting ridden, then may I tactfully suggest that this is more to do with the riding/training than the equipment?
Click to expand...

He’s happy enough ridden on a loosish rein but as soon as you try to pick up a contact he gets all mardy and fidgety in his mouth, can self carry in an outline once warmed up well but any kind of contact results in a giraffe impression which is making lateral work difficult, doesn’t currently compete but has done in the past...

My event rider instructor also found him hard work and agreed it was a comfort issue, he can carry a lovely outline when he’s happy, just wondering what might make him more comfortable?
 
Carrying an outline isn’t really being truely on the bit.
A horse can hold itself and tuck its nose in and do an impression of being on the bit to an uneducated eye, but that is not what you want, and what I suspect you are getting during the times he feels light in the Waterford. Then when you take the contact and he resists that just shows non acceptance of the bridle.
I’ve never known a horse work through in a Waterford. I have used them sporadically out hunting or xc but that’s it and they wouldn’t be a first choice.

This is most likely to be riding/training. Potentially combined with a physical block somewhere
 
How about a Cambridge mouth snaffle? Very basic, stable and has a small port and really won't take up a lot of room in his mouth. I think they're a good starting point in telling you where to go from there and a very affordable option.
 
I agree with mouseinlux. Would hire a bombers happy tongue from the horse bit shop and see how you go. Maybe a loose ring rather than eggbutt though if lightness is an issue.

Hiring is about £10 for 30 days.

My Connie adores his.

I'd also get horses teeth done though, if not done already.

Fiona
 
I've had great success with the bombers happy tongue. I have 2 horses currently using this bit and I can't get over the change in them.

1. My draught mare who is nervy and tends to go hollow if she's not concentrating. She didn't like jointed bits (and I tried all different types, thinking that horses went well in them once you found the right one) but went really sweet and soft in the bombers. She will occasionally still go hollow but is far more accepting of the contact and lighter in my hands.

2. My HW cob went well in a waterford full cheek, as he has very little room in his mouth and I think it was the most comfortable for him. But he would still put his head down and tank off when he felt like it. I only happened to try him in the bombers bit by chance and he was much better, we've begun to work on our flexion which he really struggled with before. He seems to to best in the bombers bit. He hasnt tanked off...yet. I wont be changing him back to the waterford at all now.

It's definately worth trying and I'm sure you can hire it from a bit bank.
 
Cortez said:
Chinchilla, see ihatework's post above, that about sums it up.
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ihatework said:
Carrying an outline isn’t really being truely on the bit.
A horse can hold itself and tuck its nose in and do an impression of being on the bit to an uneducated eye, but that is not what you want, and what I suspect you are getting during the times he feels light in the Waterford. Then when you take the contact and he resists that just shows non acceptance of the bridle.
I’ve never known a horse work through in a Waterford. I have used them sporadically out hunting or xc but that’s it and they wouldn’t be a first choice.

This is most likely to be riding/training. Potentially combined with a physical block somewhere
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Thank you both :)
 
MouseInLux said:
If he has a big tongue then i’d try one of the happy tongue bits. My mare has changed so much going from a simple once broken snaffle to a happy tinge from bombers. This is the one we use. I’m not sure if it’s BD legal as we do jumpers and are governed by the German federation rules. http://www.bombers.co.za/bits-by-co...tongue/product/3033-eggbutt-happy-tongue.html
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I was gonna by to suggest a bombers happy mouth! The non pitted ones are dressage legal. I tried an eggbut first but then switched to the loose ring. Amazing bit. My horse hates tongue pressure so really worked for us

Can be trialled too :)
 
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