Breaking your horse, what was the first bit you used

Rubber straight bar loose ring snaffle to a metal straight bar egg butt then french link egg butt snaffle. Have used snaffles with keys and happy mouths too but all with snaffles. I dislike using stronger bits which I find hard at the yard as some of our liveries who also have young horses choose to use bubbles or pelhams.
 
Did mine in a single joint eggbutt cos wasn't much choice years ago. But now my first choice is a french link. Just use normal ones but I make sure the bit isn't cold when it goes in. Think the plastic ones encourage chewing in babies.
 
I started with a mouthing bit and keys, he hated it. I then used a aurigan (sp) french link snaffle.. But it was a hanging cheek so when it came to long reins I changed to a loose ring snaffle... He seems to like that so I will stick with it. I had meant to get a loose ring with a link! But... If it aint broke....
 
I start them all off in a full cheek french link snaffle - it's greatly helps with the steering. I have done all bar 1 pony in it, she didn't like how thin it was so got put into an eggbutt snaffle which she loves. I don't break them in the BHS way. I tack them up, take them for a walk around the field to get their backs down then hop on. The theory being that they are too confused as to why you are suddenly on board rather than beside them that they comply with what you ask them to do. Walk. Trot. Canter. All on the first day. I have done 6 ponies this way and none of them, even 10years down the line, has had any repercussions from this. I do it this way because I hate lunging anyhorse let alone youngsters, I don't like putting the strain on their joints. Plus I only have a field to work in, not a school. They all get taught to long line at the same time as being ridden so they may do 10-15mins of ridden work followed or preceeded by 10mins long lining just to give them a bit more prep if I choose to drive them later on.
 
Full cheek french link type but where the flat link piece is copper roller... Having a blonde moment so technical name escapes me... :)
 
Mullen mouth hanging cheek. Mullen mouth keeps the bit stiller in the mouth, hanging cheek exerts a tiny bit of poll pressure to encourage head to lower and also helps with steering.
 
Mouthed in a loose ring with keys. Backed in a loose ring with a copper lozenge. He's very happy in it and has a nice quiet mouth.
 
EKW said:
I start them all off in a full cheek french link snaffle - it's greatly helps with the steering. I have done all bar 1 pony in it, she didn't like how thin it was so got put into an eggbutt snaffle which she loves. I don't break them in the BHS way. I tack them up, take them for a walk around the field to get their backs down then hop on. The theory being that they are too confused as to why you are suddenly on board rather than beside them that they comply with what you ask them to do. Walk. Trot. Canter. All on the first day. I have done 6 ponies this way and none of them, even 10years down the line, has had any repercussions from this. I do it this way because I hate lunging anyhorse let alone youngsters, I don't like putting the strain on their joints. Plus I only have a field to work in, not a school. They all get taught to long line at the same time as being ridden so they may do 10-15mins of ridden work followed or preceeded by 10mins long lining just to give them a bit more prep if I choose to drive them later on.
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I'm a firm believer in no right way! Whatever works for you is grand :D
 
In the process of backing my youngster and have her in a french link fulmer with leather keepers holding the bit upright if that makes sense. Having very thick moment late night.
 
Sweet iron loose ring french link, I usually find that the soft materials such as nylon can be too drying on sensitive lips so go for sweet iron or similar to encourage salivation.
 
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