Bitting Tips for young horse

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AppyLover1996

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Hi Guys,

Just some afternoon musings as I'm soon to start re-bitting my rising 2 year old in prep for the summer shows.

We've done work with the bridle (minus the bit) already and he's perfectly happy for me to pop it over his head, sort out his forelock and straighten everything up, as well as adjusting the settings so it fits his face as perfect as can be. I always make sure to check in with him regularly to make sure that he's happy for me to go to the next step and always give tons of praise when he does well.

I've previously popped a bit in his mouth ( complete one off and just to see what would happen really) and he was happily taking the bit out my hands and bridling himself (fab I thought!) so I ended it after only 10 minutes, gave him tons of praise and left him be for a few weeks as it was crappy weather and I didn't have the time with work.

Fast forward to a few days ago where I reintroduced the bridle (minus the bit) - as expected no problems or issues and happy to have it popped on him - however it was a different story when I then tried bridling him with the bit attached. He threw his head up so high that I struggled to get the bit in his mouth (I did manage eventually - didn't rush or hurry him just kept nicely asking him to open his mouth and tons of praise when he did) and then straight after he started chomping on his bit like mad. It's a 5" happy mouth apple flavour bit and he's worn the 4.5" version beforehand. I took the bridle off and gave him lots of praise for letting me eventually pop the bit in his mouth, however when I went to try again, he did the exact same response of chucking his head up and moving around to avoid the bit going in his mouth. Once again, I was extremely calm and patient, talking to him and giving him lots of reassuring pats to let him know that we were gonna take things at his pace and not rush, to which he seemed to calm down and once more I managed to successfully pop the bit in his mouth. I didn't rush him through any steps and did things the exact way that I did them the first time, used the same bridle (it still fits him fine so I'm happy it's not too small a bridle causing the problem) and the same bit but a slightly bigger size, made sure the yard was quiet so he had no distractions etc and generally made it as pleasant as it can be.

My brain is pondering why he would have such a different reaction to bitting the second time around - it's obvious that he is trying to tell me something as he's a very willing chap and usually game for giving anything a good go.

A few of the people on the yard have told me he's taking the piss and already pushing his luck to which I thanked them for their opinion and asked them why they thought he was taking the piss - they couldn't give me a straight answer and walked off muttering about how I'm going to ruin a perfectly good horse by being too soft and a pushover (I wasn't going to be rude as you never know when you might need help but at the same time I'm already kind of the odd one out as I do a lot of things different to everyone in terms of training etc). I'm thinking that perhaps the first time bitting him he didn't really take in what was going on, hence why it's now such a shock to his system as he genuinely doesn't remember the prior experience, or that something is going on in his mouth which is making taking a bit a really meh experience. He's up to date with his vaccines and teeth and nothing was noted on his dental when it was done, which is also puzzling as I would have thought any mouth issues would show up even if you weren't particularly looking for them as the mouth is a finite space.

Cup of tea and biscuits to you all who have read the above - any advice is gratefully received - I will add that for the moment I am not going back to bitting him as I don't want to create an issue and want to make sure that I have everything in place and as planned as it can be before trying again :)
 
I am just about to try a bit on my rising two year old as well in preparation for inhand showing. I will start by putting on her headcollar, then tie one side of the rubber bit to the headcollar, then pop the bit in together with a treat and tie the bit on to the other side of the headcollar. Then leave her in her stable with the bit in for about 20 mins while I do yard jobs so I can keep an eye on her. Then undo from one side, gently slide out and undo from other side. This method gives you a better chance of getting the bit in, as you can sort of slide it and out in from the side rather than from the front. This has worked well with previous youngsters. I'm actually doing this this afternoon .... We'll see how it works on the current youngster!
 
I hate the happy mouth bits- the straight bar ones are too thick and I hate the pressure points from the waves, the jointed ones have too much nutcracker action and if they chew them they get sharp edges. I sometimes use a nathe or a nice soft rubber but, but they are hard to find thin enough for a young mouth
I like a fairly thin full cheek snaffle, I personally like the Myler link or comfy barrel
 
I'd take it slowly, perhaps as above with the bit attached to a head collar first and plenty of praise/rewards for accepting the bit quietly.
It might also be worth trying a non-flavoured bit in case that is putting him off- I use a vulcanite mullen mouthed snaffle when first introducing the bit.
 
Marigold4 said:
I am just about to try a bit on my rising two year old as well in preparation for inhand showing. I will start by putting on her headcollar, then tie one side of the rubber bit to the headcollar, then pop the bit in together with a treat and tie the bit on to the other side of the headcollar. Then leave her in her stable with the bit in for about 20 mins while I do yard jobs so I can keep an eye on her. Then undo from one side, gently slide out and undo from other side. This method gives you a better chance of getting the bit in, as you can sort of slide it and out in from the side rather than from the front. This has worked well with previous youngsters. I'm actually doing this this afternoon .... We'll see how it works on the current youngster!
Click to expand...
Ooohh that's an interesting take - I shall deffo try that as my lad is a right foodie :)
 
TheMule said:
I hate the happy mouth bits- the straight bar ones are too thick and I hate the pressure points from the waves, the jointed ones have too much nutcracker action and if they chew them they get sharp edges. I sometimes use a nathe or a nice soft rubber but, but they are hard to find thin enough for a young mouth
I like a fairly thin full cheek snaffle, I personally like the Myler link or comfy barrel
Click to expand...
Oh blimey! - I didn't realise that they'd create pressure points from the waves - I genuinely thought that it would give him something to be interested in and encourage him to accept it - even when I had the bit fitter out she said that a happy mouth was a good choice....that bit is promptly being removed from the bridle tonight!

Would a full cheek snaffle with a rubber mouth piece be a good option or would the rubber be too thick? He's a full Appaloosa and seems to have a fairly decent sized mouth x

My retired lad went lovely in a Myler Toklat snaffle for many years - I'm planning on a Myler bit once I figure out exactly what my rising 2 year old likes :)
 
SpeedyPony said:
I'd take it slowly, perhaps as above with the bit attached to a head collar first and plenty of praise/rewards for accepting the bit quietly.
It might also be worth trying a non-flavoured bit in case that is putting him off- I use a vulcanite mullen mouthed snaffle when first introducing the bit.
Click to expand...

Oh that is an interesting thought to add to the mix - he adores anything apple flavoured so I figured that when the bit fitter suggested a happy mouth which he currently has, that the apple one would be a good idea cause he likes the taste of apples in general.....I shall deffo look into getting a different bit for him!
 
planete said:
Have hou looked inside his mouth to make sure he is not sore/ has some teeth growing or falling out?
Click to expand...
I have indeed my lovely and everything is as it should be - my first thought was wolf teeth coming through but I was told I'm looking at 3 - 4 years before they appear and potentially cause trouble. I do have a dental booked in for him in the next 2 weeks anyway so I will update this thread once that has happened :)
 
I’m old school. I coat a metal bit in something sweet for the first stage. I used sticky golden syrup last summer. I don’t leave it in for ages though - I pair it with a fun activity (I usually bit because I want to take them for in-hand walks) and having the bit in is a prerequisite for that fun activity. They open for the nice yummy bit, have their fun walk, then it comes out. And repeat.
 
Quick and final update to this thread :

The dentist came and said he has a lovely mouth with no issues currently so she's happy that it's nothing sinister in his mouth suddenly causing his dislike of the bit. I showed her the happy mouth and she said "Get rid of it as the ripples can cause pressure points".

I went and got a sweet iron loose ring snaffle (the only bit the tack shop had that was nice and simple - everything else was either pelham like or gag like which I'm actively avoiding with such a sensitive young mouth - popped it on his bridle at the yard, took said bridle over to youngster who sniffed the bit and bridle, then swiftly took the bit from my hands and stood there with it in his mouth like an overgrown dog holding a toy 😅

Thanks for the advice everyone!
 
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