Change or keep bit?

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melbournesunrise

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So having been working on my boy's "issue" with keeping a smooth contact, somebody at the yard questioned whether he is objectionable to the bit I have him in.

When I bought him, he was in a single-jointed snaffle, and with any hint of a contact would run round like a giraffe. I changed him to a double-jointed snaffle with loose rings. In the time I've had him, he's come a really long way, and will now generally walk, trot and canter with a reasonable contact down the reins without getting silly. However, we frequently struggle to go through any upward transition smoothly without a small argument.

Would this sound to anyone else like I should try a different bit? Or should I ignore the comment and just keep working through the arguments?

TIA
 
He doesn't sound comfortable in his bit to me. I would try him with a mullen-mouthed bit. Some horses don't like jointed bits of any kind. If that doesn't help, I would consider the different materials that bits can be made from.
 
It might be worth getting a bitting expert out. It just saves so much time and energy in the long run. I spent. few years faffing around with bits and trying them and researching them. Bitting guy came out and spotted in five mins that my issue was that some of my horses teeth were in a strange place in his mouth and his bit was pushed slightly differently than i had expected. I rode in front of him and tried a few bits and we found one that was perfect and the horse responded too instantly.

Same with my other mare, he switched bits and I had a different horse!

After that I would definitely put bit fitters on the same importance level as saddle fitters.
 
I agree with both commenters so far. My mare loves a mullen mouth, I had her in a borrowed Nathe which I've had to give back, and now have her back in her double jointed neue schule with lozenge whilst I get a straight Nathe. I think she just isn't a fan of any movement in her mouth, and so appreciates the still-ness of the Nathe.

That being said, I would also recommend getting a bitting expert out to take a look. Several people I know swear by it, and I will be looking into doing it in the future when funds allowed.
 
While I like Mullen mouths myself I would not assume that what you describe is a bitting issue it may well be just a stage in the training .
If you choose a Mullen mouth you will need to decide if your horse will prefer a eggbutt fixed ring or loose ring this very much up to the horse some prefer the stability of the fixed ring and others like the freedom of moving the mouthpiece with their tongue neither type is better than the other it depends on the horse .
My preference is for loose but the horse is always right if it chooses .
But as I said at the start being unsteady in the contact through transitions is usually showing a weakness in the connection which should resolve through the training .
 
Check If the bit is the right height in his mouth first, and not too big (slides) or too small (pinches).

Mine has a short mouth and actually the bit is one hole lower on one side due to the seat being in a slightly lower than the other. I tried having it on equal holes but he wasn’t happy so put it back to hole 5/hole 4 and he was much happier. He also prefers a sided/fulmer type snaffle rather than a loose ring. Not “correct” but works for him!
 
The best thing would be to 1. Get a great trainer and 2. Ideally ask the trainer to ride your horse then give you an opiinion on whthere you need a new bit or not
 
I would recommend a bitting consultant. It's not expensive, about £45 for them to come and assess your horse, see him ridden and try different bits. Saves a fortune in buying lots of bits that your horse may or may not like. They don't try and sell you anything and if the issue is a training one, they will tell you. Good luck
 
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