Could I have some bit advise for my TB please

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scattynuttymare

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My girl is ridden currently in a three ring gag on the second ring. She came to me in this bit but she constantly fights it and it is gradually getting worse. Whilst my friend was riding her I stuck my finger under her headpiece and asked friend to apply pressure on the reins = squished fingers and I fully understand why my girl is protesting to this bit! I don't have a great deal of control of the top ring but am using this for now untill I find another bit for her. Can you give some suggestions please. She's not strong just incredibly fast.

Edited to say I'd love to find a bit that would be approved of in dressage!
 
Sometimes less is more and many go well in a mullen mouth snaffle as they don't have any pressure points as such.
If she's just fast and not strong it could be a case of training her with your voice too. A friend used to hunt her very fast TB mare in just a rubber snaffle but she could stop her in a very few strides with her voice.
 
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Sometimes less is more and many go well in a mullen mouth snaffle as they don't have any pressure points as such.
If she's just fast and not strong it could be a case of training her with your voice too. A friend used to hunt her very fast TB mare in just a rubber snaffle but she could stop her in a very few strides with her voice.

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What is a mullen mouth - sorry if thats a stupid question! She used to race and still 'race horse mode' at times though she is getting better with schooling and is no where near a quick as she used to be.
 
Mullen mouth is a straight bar - not jointed. I'm bitless but if I do have to put a bit in, I use a Mullen mouth as FB hates jointed bits and just faffs with it all the time.
 
A mullen mouth bit has a mouthpiece that is just a straight or slightly curved bar so they make lots of room for the horse's tongue and don't squeeze it in the normal way jointed bits do. A hanging cheek snaffle would have a similar action to the first ring of a 3-ring gag but is allowed in dressage, these aren't mullen mouth usually but a hanging cheek with a french link would quite mild. I also agree that using more voice aids might help so you don't end up just relying on the bit to slow her down, but you can also use your seat to help slow her down by relaxing your back and dropping your weight deeper into the saddle. Often if a horse speeds up and rushes you can tense up which makes your seat lighter and passes the tension onto your horse, so if you relax through your back and shoulders and sit deep it can help your horse to relax and stop rushing.
 
Not stupid at all, it's good that you want to learn.
A mullen mouth is almost a straight bar bit (so no joints at all) but it has a slight curve to it so that the tongue fits nicely into that curve and doesn't get pinched. It's probably one of the kindest bits you can find and can be made of virtually anything from leather for a very soft mouth to rubber, nylon (Happy Mouth) vulcanite and stainless steel.
Here's a few to give you an idea -
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=1918&cat=2&scats=50,14
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=1892&cat=2&scats=50,15
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=2283&cat=2&scats=50,20
 
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Not stupid at all, it's good that you want to learn.
A mullen mouth is almost a straight bar bit (so no joints at all) but it has a slight curve to it so that the tongue fits nicely into that curve and doesn't get pinched. It's probably one of the kindest bits you can find and can be made of virtually anything from leather for a very soft mouth to rubber, nylon (Happy Mouth) vulcanite and stainless steel.
Here's a few to give you an idea -
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=1918&cat=2&scats=50,14
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=1892&cat=2&scats=50,15
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodshow.asp?id=2283&cat=2&scats=50,20

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Ahh thankyou! My other horse is in a straight bar snaffle. I never knew there was a posh name for it! I shall remember that one!
 
I hate 3 ring gags anyway and quite often find horses actually get stronger in them to fight the mixed signals they give!!! You will probably find she goes alot better in something softer, as she will have nothing to pull against, and racehorses are used to going faster against pressure....
 
Sounds to me like she wants complete schooling from scratch, and she needs to learn to slow down with your body and seat....

I should get yourself a good dressage trainer and get her schooled up.
 
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. A hanging cheek snaffle would have a similar action to the first ring of a 3-ring gag but is allowed in dressage, these aren't mullen mouth usually but a hanging cheek with a french link would quite mild.

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You can get mullen mouth hanging cheeks. I have a myler one which is unfortunately expensive. It was the only one that would fit my boy's huge mouth but you can get smaller ones that are cheaper. My boy is quite strong and leans alot and it's the only dressage legal bit I can get him to go in.
 
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Ahh thankyou! My other horse is in a straight bar snaffle. I never knew there was a posh name for it! I shall remember that one!

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Lol, not posh, just the old fashioned name for them!
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I'd follow the advice of trying a hanging cheek - I used this for my old TB who had been bred to point to point. He was never dangerous but always rather forward. We did our dressage in a hanging cheek and went jumping in a straight bar kimblewick (no port). I tried him in many bits including a three ring gag but those were the two he settled in best.
 
I have mine in a hanging cheek myler low comfort port snaffle that turns into a mullen mouth and he has settled well into in, plus I have more control than I have in his old french link. Mylers are expensive but you can try before you buy with most sellers
 
Used to ride mine in a double jointed happy mouth snaffle - she used to spit one joint out so basically only had an happy mouth eggbar in but would sulk if you used an eggbar (go figure!).
She would pull a bit while galloping but to stop all you actually needed to do was sit-up - if they've not long been in training that's what they (should) be used to.
 
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