Chewing on the Bit - Good or bad?

[Spookywood]

I have had my lovely new pony at home for 3 weeks now and we are slowly getting to know each other. She is absolutely brilliant I have been trying to find a bit that suits her as when I got her she was being ridden in a single jointed eggbutt snaffle which made her ride with her nose in the air. A nice lady at the yard let me borrow a selection of her bits to try out before I purchased. We tried a hanging cheek French link which she was not so keen on, although I think this may be due to the fact that it was sitting too low in her mouth as the cheek pieces on her bridle are at the top hole. So we swapped to the French link egg butt which she goes a lot better in. I tried out the French link loose ring last night and again she goes a lot better and soften’s up a lot more, however she chews on it a lot. So is chewing good or bad? I was always told that a small amount of ‘playing’ with the bit was good, however she is really chewing on these bits. More on the loose ring than on the egg butt. If this is not good, any thoughts on what bit I should try next? Or any thoughts on why so much chewing?

Thanks for your help

 

[**Vanner**]

Chewing is good - means she's relaxing her jaw. Once she is being asked to work that will lessen I am sure.

 

[Spookywood]

Thanks Vanner, that's good news. So I guess I'll stick with the loose ring french link snaffle