Crikey Please help starter bits :(

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Beatrice5

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I have searched the forum on Neue schule and Mylers, trawled ebay and looked on manufacturers web sites all to no avail :(

I don't want to make any more expensive bit mistakes I have a lovely collection from over the years...!

So I have a 7 yr old lightly started ( long story) Arab x Cob mare. Very sweet hacking well but needs to start mouthing and bending a little. Currently in a nathe straight bar loose ring snaffle but she looks like she is chewing a bone and has no feeling in it which is fine for hacking but I want to start some gentle schooling just to bring her head long and low and build her back muscles up as quite weak.

Mylers look good as thin and she has a fat tounge but which one as so many variations and such conflicting opinions?

Neue Schule look gentle too but quite thick moth piece?

Happy mouth again look quite thick but I like the fact there is no cold metal but do horses salivate well in them as she doesn't at all in her nathe?

Her current straight bar is a 5 inch I seem to remember that if you go jointed it is either 1/2 inch bigger or smaller but been so long I can't remember and as new bit will most likely be internet purchase wish to avoid mistakes.

Help and guidance greatly appreciated.
 
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I'd suggest contacting Neue Schule, I'm not sure if Myler charge for advice but I don't think NS do. They do have options of how thick/thin your mouthpiece is. I've never changed size going from straight bar to jointed / vice versa. I didn't know you were supposed to..?

:)
 
You want it to be 1/2 an inch bigger if going from straight bar to jointed :)

I'm sorry I am really not an expert on bits, and everyone has such differing opinions on them anyway! I agree the nathe bits don't particularly encourage salivation and have used sweet iron bits with success in the past (although think they are a bit outdated now). I know a LOT of people swear by the NS bits but I have never used one. My favourite bit for youngsters is usually a full cheek with lozenge and have a couple of different variations on this.

If you look in the Comp riders section of the forum they have a 'bit bank'; you could also look at one of the online bit bank shops as you get to trial the bits first. Hopefully someone more bit savvy will be along to help more but good luck :)
 
If you want to go with a Myler (and personally I would because they give their tongues the most room) then for a first bit you need a Level 1 mouthpiece. This is designed for teaching young horses about contact and the aids. Level 2 and 3 are what you progress more advanced horses onto. Then you can put your level one mouthpiece onto your preferred cheekpieces - seems to me that most people seem to like fulmers for starters - my horse is 21 so I can't pretend to be an expert in that field.
Your other option is to call the Bit Bank. From what I have read on here there is someone there called Heather who is enormously knowledgeable who will be able to advise you and then she will lend you a bit to try (for a small charge) and either sell it to you if it is suitable or swap it if not. I hope that helps.
 
I like the NS bits. They are so much warmer than the other bits. I would be tempted to try the starter bit they do, it is really mild. I personally don't like the straight bar type ones. Good luck.
 
Thank you for your replies.

I will look up Heather and the bit bank in competition riders sounds like a good course of action.

I like the mylers as thinner but the one a friend leant me to try was massivly too big at 5 1/2 inches so I didn't ever ride in it but also I thought it very heavy for it's size. I think they may be generously sized .
 
The NS "verbindert" starter bit is very good, and thin. It is a 3-part snaffle w/lozenge so no nutcracker action, has helped my VERY sensitive young horse with a contact phobia no end.
 
NS do various mouthpice thicknesses - you just need to assess the one that will be best for your horse.. I found the 'starter bit' ideal for one of mine, the Verbinden for the other. The Verbinden is good for horses that tend to be on the forehand.

However, my friend got a NS starter but for her gelding and he HATED it - would not accept it at all, dropping the contact, and looking positively lame in it. He went back into his bog standard hollowmouth loose ring snaffle.

Their webpage is quite helpful.
 
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