Complete confusion about bits...please help

bryngelenponies

bryngelenponies

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www.biopharm-leeches.com
My 7 year old mare was mouthed in a rubber snaffle and was fine with that bit. But when I introduced her to her eggbutt snaffle all she did was chomp and grind it. I'm not sure whether she was doing this because she was not used to it and it's something that will go away or whether I didn't fit the bit properly. When I posted this question on another forum I stated that I had 'lunged' her in it- lunged being sued loosely as she was basically walked around in it- and I got told that "you should never ever have lunged her in a bit." Is this correct, I had never heard this before so I may well be wrong but I just thought it wasn't true. After all although she has not been totally broken, she is not a youngster either. Please help me I am totally confused about bit types to use/how best to fit it/whether chomping will stop or whether I can lunge her in a bit?? Thank you everyone! :D
 
If she's not fully broken and used to the bit I would suggest attaching the lunge line to a cavesson rather than the bit to begin with.

What is she like with it just left on the yard? What mouthpiece does it have? Why have you changed the bit from rubber?
 
When she's just standing in the yard she chomps at the bit. It has a standard jointed mouthpiece. I just changed from the rubber snaffle because it was a straight bar and I saw it as more of a mouthing and showing bit, rather than a riding bit, or am I wrong again? :( This is why I need help.
 
Nothing wrong with riding in a straight bar rubber snaffle it that is what your horse likes! I used to ride my old boy in a lozenge snaffle at home but a straight bar happy mouth at showss where he'd be more uptight and fuss. I called it his dummy!
 
Unless a horse has an issue with a bit (e.g. pinching, opening mouth, getting tongue over it, no brakes/steering etc) then I would leave well alone. If it aint broke, don't fix it!

Also, with the "standard" (I'm assuming single) jointed mouthpiece, the joint will pinch the tongue, and, when the reins are applied, the joint will be forced up into the roof of the mouth, so if you want to change the bit, I would recommend something which will follow the shape of the tongue, such as a French link or a lozenge/peanut joint etc.
 
i would just pop a happy mouth snaffle in her mouth, most like this and yes you can lunge with a bit in but if she is unbroken then i would attach the lunge line to a cavesson so not to interfere with the bit so she can chomp all she wants on it, my new mare chomps on it for a while and then when you get her working she is fine, she 7 but hasnt done alot. most single joineted bits have a nut cracker action which wont be affective while nothing is attached but as soon as any pulling pressure is applied then it may pinch her tongue which she wont like.
 
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