Bitting Youngsters?

arwenplusone

arwenplusone

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Just curious to know really, at what age do you all mouth/bit your youngsters and what do you use?

I'll be showing my foalie as a yearling next year but she's a strong little madam so will doubtless need an inhand bridle.
I don't really like the key-type mouthing bits so was thinking of a loose ring vulcanite straight bar? Will probably do this nearer the spring.

Keen to know what everyone else does!
 
Same as volatis, bitted as yearlings for the show ring with happy mouth or rubber bit then depending on how strong they get as 2yr old, change to a neue schule type lozenge bit.

In my opinion, key type bit, encourages fiddling so not personally keen on them.
 
I've just started to bit my yearling colt in a plastic in-hand bit as he has a small mouth (even though he's a warmblood) and he settled really quickly after the initial WHAT IS IN MY MOUTH MUMMY! phase. I might move him into a KK ultra if he gets strong by next year (2 year old), though at the moment he is very responsive if I ask him to stop in it. Good luck
 
Personally i will not put a bit in such a young mouth. But then again i do not like showing such young animals.
For me they should be a home out of that stress an left alone with basic handling until they are 2 and a half or three.
when i have had to do things with my young colts and need a bit more control then i have always found the Arab showing halter to be exellent.
KK for some young mouths is rather heavey.
Nathe seems to go down well and at the moment , i am just backing a 3yr old colt i use a very light German hollow mounth snaffle on big rings.
 
Our youngsters are bitted as yearlings for the show ring as already stated. I digress from the original question but as Irish Draughts they're are big, strong animals and having that early start in the show ring (2-4 shows per year) gives them an excellent grounding - believe me, I would not wish to leave ours to their loading and travelling until 2yrs. They also get used to crowds, balloons, flags, noise, being washed, plaited, being led out and other spooky & scarey things.

As usual, it's horses for courses but as a 5'4" female, I like my youngsters to experience as much as possible from an early age - in my case, it makes them much easier to handle as they grow - and Draughts DO grow!! It doesn't mean that their mouths are abused or ragged about (although partoow, I know that is not what you are implying).
 
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