Bitting- using different metals?

[littlen]

I am having quite afew difficulties with my horse at the moment!

I am attempting to school for the first time ever and he is finding it hard. He evades all contact, sticks his head in the air, wont bend or circle and is generally finding it all very difficult.

He was not working effectively in a happy mouth straight bar snaffle so I decided he needed a change. I tried many bits with no luck as he has a soft mouth, so I have decided to go down the route of a different snaffle type bit.

I have been lent a loose ring french link snaffle by a friend. I am yet to try it but the french link bit is copper.
What will the copper bit actually do? Will it make much of a difference to it?
Does anyone else use bits with copper in, if so why?

 

[Pearlsasinger]

Some horse like the taste of copper. I believe it is slightly sweeter than the usual stainless steel. You could also try sweet-iron, which many horses like. Neue Schule make bits from Salox, which again is a warmer metal. If you have tried a variety of types of snaffle it would be worth experimenting with a variety of bitting materials. You can get a wide variety from bit banks to use for 2-3 weeks. I'd be interested to hear how you get on.

 

[Kenzo]

You say you attemped to school your horse for the first time, so that in its self will explain why you may be having issues, it may not have anything to do with the bit your using or the type of metal or mouth peice your bit is.

If your horse is used to hacking and not working in a school or small areas and your asking him to work in circles or asking for a correct outline, that will be hard work and not something your horse will find comfortable in doing, its like someone expecting a runner to become a gymnast over night as your expecting your horse to carry himself in a different way and use different muscles etc.

The above is just a simple reason which can be worked on in time, but schooling can also bring to light other issues that may of been over looked or not be as noticeable, perhaps back, saddle or teeth problems, some of which may show up more when your schooling. Have you had any of these checked lately?

Once you know all that is ok, maybe its just a case of making schooling a little more simpler for your horse, build up the muscles slowly until your horse is fitter and more supple?

An ETD will be able to tell you what sort of mouth your horse has and perhaps advise you on what type of bit may better suit your horse, for example the thickness of the bit, you can choose a mouth peice that will suit your horse (snaffle for exmple) then go explore the type of materials used, different metals, plastic or rubber etc.

Neue Schule are very helpful and if you have a chat with them, they will be able to go through the types of materials used and talk to you about what they use and why, what works for one horse doesnt always work for another.

Then you could trial a couple of bits and see if your horse is actually more happier in another bit than the one you currently use? without having to buy different ones.