can someone help me with bits and bridles???? long sorry

asommerville

asommerville

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further to some previous posts ive put i have some more questions

my 5 year old is in a eggbutt snaffle, was having issues with him not goibg forward and throwing his head in the air constantly. back, saddle, teeth all fine btw

so took the flash off (thought it was annoying him) and hes been fine for a bit. however today was trotting round and ge has discovered he can get his tongue over the bit.! his tongue must be the longest in the world, it was sticking out the side if his mouth!!

would a drop noseband stop this?

also he is reluctant to look for his snaffle, sine people suggested the happy mouth bits with a lozenge (he has a wee arab mouth and hates a french link) but my friend has said DO NOT use the kind of bits on a youngster as hell need to be in a metal bit eventually so no point! surely he can change bit later though?

sorry v long ferrero rocher for finishing :-)
 
asommerville said:
further to some previous posts ive put i have some more questions

my 5 year old is in a eggbutt snaffle, was having issues with him not goibg forward and throwing his head in the air constantly. back, saddle, teeth all fine btw are you maintaing a constant contact? if you have a light contact then he may be less likely to throw his head around OR if he is throwing his head as in nodding/headshaking try dropping all contact so he is just pulling on nothing, this may help. Also check if his bit is in the correct place in his mouth, if it is too low it may bang in his teeth and irritate him.

so took the flash off (thought it was annoying him) does he need a flash/ 'special' noseband or is he fine in a caveson?and hes been fine for a bit. however today was trotting round and ge has discovered he can get his tongue over the bit.! try a bit with a port or one specially designed to prevent this if you want to keep him in a caveson his tongue must be the longest in the world, it was sticking out the side if his mouth!!

would a drop noseband stop this? a drop noseband would stop this however i prefer grackles as they put less pressure on the nasal bone and imo are kinder if fitted propperly. a grackle would prevent him crosseing his jaw and evading too if he does this.

also he is reluctant to look for his snaffle, sine people suggested the happy mouth bits with a lozenge (he has a wee arab mouth and hates a french link) but my friend has said DO NOT use the kind of bits on a youngster as hell need to be in a metal bit eventually so no point! :confused: he will 'need' to be in a metal bit? frankly thats bull, unless he has mouth problems and a vet/dentist has advised a metal bit then he will be fine in a happy mouth. most horses go well and have no problems in a happy mouth so try one out... yuo may find your problems solved/eased :rolleyes: surely he can change bit later though?

sorry v long ferrero rocher for finishing :-)
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leah.
 
thank you! i am starting to doubt myself with this!!

i have tried very little and even NO contact at all....nothing makes a difference

initially had a flash on as he used to open his mouth amd run where he wanted which he doesnt do (or hasnt)for a while
 
what is he like when you keep a consistent contact? what is he like on the lunge with a bit in/tacked up?
how long has he been broken in/being riden consistently/schooled?
what is he like on a hack?
do you have lessons on him? if so what is he like in a lesson, what does you instructor say/think?
 
when i keep a consistent contact he still throws his head about, he does have a slightly short neckand a high head carriage anyway but since removing the flash he is MUCH better, with a flash on we are talking constant head throwing and head so high he could smack you on the face!

i think that part of the problem is that he is reluctant to actually go forward into a contact, he just wants to take baby steps. on the lunge he is better again but still tries to get his tongue over the bit.

he was lightly backed at 3, did a wee bit (really learnt walk, trot and canter as he was a really scrawny baby horse and late developer so took my time ) at 4 and now im looking for him to start using his back end as i know hell get a proper shape. he hasnt done much work this year as yet, was off over winter with strangles so just starting getting him fit. on a hack hes the same. as yet no lessons this year, they should be organised for the next month, up till now ive been paying the bill for the 2 of mine having strangles!
 
asommerville said:
when i keep a consistent contact he still throws his head about, he does have a slightly short neckand a high head carriage anyway but since removing the flash he is MUCH better, with a flash on we are talking constant head throwing and head so high he could smack you on the face!

i think that part of the problem is that he is reluctant to actually go forward into a contact, he just wants to take baby steps. on the lunge he is better again but still tries to get his tongue over the bit.

he was lightly backed at 3, did a wee bit (really learnt walk, trot and canter as he was a really scrawny baby horse and late developer so took my time ) at 4 and now im looking for him to start using his back end as i know hell get a proper shape. he hasnt done much work this year as yet, was off over winter with strangles so just starting getting him fit. on a hack hes the same. as yet no lessons this year, they should be organised for the next month, up till now ive been paying the bill for the 2 of mine having strangles!
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out of curiosity what breed is he?
have you tried him in a straight bar bit? maybe try him bitless? how is he with pressure around his face, ie poll area?
do you use your legs and hands more than your seat? maybe trying to get him to work forward with your seat may help, poles (troting poles ect not jumping yet)and circle work may get him thinking forward.
how is he hacking out?

and i bet that vets bill wasnt helf a knock to the wallet :rolleyes: horses eh?
 
hes an id x arab. havent tried a straight bar, i worried he'd get his tongue over it!

dont know how hed be with pressure on his poll though....

i will try what you suggested re poles etc thank you :-)

and horses yes i dont know why we do it! between all the bloody money and stress, my old mares face starting to fall of and only now 3 months on looking normal i need a holiday lol but wait..
..horse needs bit, we need lessons etc etc lol

thank you for your help :-)
 
Hi, my horse sounds very similar, having tried various different bits a straight bar myler snaffle with a drop noseband for schooling, seems to be the best option, he still does get his tongue over but less often and it appears to be more of an evasion than anything else as he is ridden with a light contact. The important thing is to ride forward, it sounds like his baby steps, head throwing etc could be an evasion to avoid working, certainly it can be with my boy, once we get through this he settles into a really good long and low rthym and works well from behind.
 
Sounds very similar to my (biting) Arab. He is 9 and very green still, altho improving. Some of his head shaking is definitely evasion and a habit but I think I haven't found the right bit for him.

He is very fussy about everything, numnahs, girths, everything!

I have just bought a Neue Schule Tranz Angled Lozenge, in 14mm because I thought a smaller bit might make him happier (before in a cheaper, bigger version of the same!), hasn't made much difference as far as I can see.

I took off the noseband because he hated a flash and martingale made no difference so got rid of that.

If you find anything wonderful, please let me know.

I find that pushing him forward is the best way I have found, and he is much worse at the end of a long hack when he is tired. Or during schooling if I am getting him to bend more than likes and he is finding it all a bit too challenging...
 
biting! the wee sh**e bit me right on the bum yesterday cos i wasnt tacking him up fast enough!

he's only supposed to be a wee bit arab i think he forgets lol

i will def let you know what wonder bit we find :-)
 
I had similar problems with Jasmine, my TB, when she was started. We even tried a hackamore (to no effect) so I tried her in a Myler comfort snaffle - problem solved! She just didn't like jointed bits!
No horse 'has' to be in a metal bit, unless advised by a vet. I know many who have great success with Happy Mouth bits. Find a good bitbank and get some bits to try.
I personally hate flashes, and the fact that many bridles seem to come with them as standard. Neither of mine wear nosebands at all, but if they needed to, a drop or grackle is far more effective than a flash, IMHO.
 
i had similar problems with my arab cross when we were breaking her in and bringing her on.

her head was so high i couldn't see where we were going half the time, and she would just tank off with me given half the chance! think arab stallion prancing around... thats where her head was- nose in the clouds!

we broke her in with a straight bar, loose ring happy mouth snaffle. we tried lots of different bits, and discovered that she doesn't like metal, or jointed bits. we eventualy tried a mullen mouth pelham, (happy mouth) and have never looked back.

head came down to the appropriate level, i had brakes, and steering and she was soft and supple.

i ride in double reins, and only now and then do i need to use my curb rein. she is 18 now, but still thinks she is 5...!

good luck. ;)

xx
 
very typical of young horses i would put him a grackle to manage the tongue/bit situation as think this is more comfortable than a drop/flash and serves you purposes well... just try and work him as much as possible in a consistent contact as it sounds like an evasion. I would also get his teeth checked if it continues as they may need rasping hence why the flash bothered him (more pressure of gums against sharp edges?)
 
thank you, sure ill have a grackle somewhere. had loads of bit suggestions now so i suppose ill just need to try a few.

his teeth were done by the vet not long ago (he needs sedated) but the edt coming to my mare shortly so ill seevif he can try and get near him - try being the operative word he doesnt like dentists!!
 
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