Does anybody's horse prefer a single jointed bit to a lozenge?

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Charlie31

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I'm struggling to find a dressage legal bit for my horse that he likes. He goes well in a Myler low port comfort snaffle with slots so we're sorted for jumping, XC and hacking. Obviously this one isn't dressage legal though. I've tried various similar but dressage legal Mylers and he doesn't seem to get on with any of them as well. It's quite frustrating really.

In the past I've tried him in a few different types of bit but have always stuck to the new supposedly kinder (and more expensive!) designs so usually a bit with a lozenge or something like the Mylers. I have ner tried a bog standard single jointed loose ring snaffle on him. Every time I go to do it I talk myself out of it because I've been sucked into all the marketing hype around the newer bit types.

I've decided that for around £15 I really have nothing to lose so am going to actually do it and try a plain old fashioned bit and not chicken out. I just wondered though if there is anybody who has tried all the new fancy stuff but ended pu back in cheap and simple bit?
 
Yes, I had tried a number of different bits and finally landed on a single jointed hanging cheek.
I also found that my girl was more resistant with anything around her nose, where the cavesson sits, so we settled on a fairly loose drop and the hanging cheek. We don't compete now but still use the same bit but have removed the noseband completely, just keeping it for the winter when she becomes a bit more of a handful (it helps to keep her mind on the job).
 
I've got one of my horses in the ported Bombers Happy Tongue which is dressage legal.

Can you get the same Myler mouthpiece but in a bit without the slots?
 
Thanks for the replies, obviously horses don't always read the textbook when choosing which bits they like!

Have just ordered one so will see how it goes...

I did try the same mouthpiece but without the slots - I tried a plain eggbutt, a loose ring and a hanging cheek. He was okay with the eggbutt but not as happy as the one with the slots. The other two were an out and out no!
 
My mare has been notoriously hard to bit, I tried every different type of lozenge available, as well as a range of Mylers and happy tongues etc.

I had a Bit Fit consultant out who had us try a single jointed curved Jeffries Eldonian snaffle which she went well in for about 6 weeks. She then started to hate it, but on the basis that she had found the contact in this bit, I've since moved her onto a NS demi anky and so far so good. She now reaches for a contact and really seems to like it. Not cheap but I wouldn't have dreamed of trying it if it wasn't for the consultation with Bit Fit first.

If you are trying a cheap one, I would recommend the Jeffries Eldonian - its nicely curved so sits well on the tongue and I'm sure it only cost me about £15
 
Sprat said:
My mare has been notoriously hard to bit, I tried every different type of lozenge available, as well as a range of Mylers and happy tongues etc.

I had a Bit Fit consultant out who had us try a single jointed curved Jeffries Eldonian snaffle which she went well in for about 6 weeks. She then started to hate it, but on the basis that she had found the contact in this bit, I've since moved her onto a NS demi anky and so far so good. She now reaches for a contact and really seems to like it. Not cheap but I wouldn't have dreamed of trying it if it wasn't for the consultation with Bit Fit first.

If you are trying a cheap one, I would recommend the Jeffries Eldonian - its nicely curved so sits well on the tongue and I'm sure it only cost me about £15
Click to expand...

That's very interesting, thank you. It's a curved one I've ordered actually as I had an inkling that might suit him. I've gone for a Korsteel one as I didn't realise the Jeffries one existed but I will go and have a look at that now.

I have considered trying a demi anky but have so far resisted based on being stubborn about the cost. Will definitely keep it in mind as an option though and can always do a hire before buying.
 
Both my ponies are in single jointed bits. The £100 I spent on a neue schule was a complete waste! I have however bought handmade English bits which are in my opinion a nicer shape and a nicer thickness.

One will not go in anything else and the other although not wild about bits in general tolerates this more than any other we have tried
 
my loan horse hated a bit with a lozenge but didnt like the single jointed bit either. she was happy in a half moon with no joint but she was a but too strong in the winter (ex hunter) and i tried a doctor bristol and she is much more manageable and seems happy. i dont think it is a legal BD bit though.
 
Yes mine doesn’t like a lozenge. He is happy with a French link or single joint. I ‘treated’ him to one of those fancy bits where the metal warms and is supposed to be nicer for them. Nope. Hated it. Back to the bog standard snaffle! The ‘fanciest’ we can get away with is his curved snaffle which he’s in every day but he’s quite happy in a basic snaffle.
 
Sprat said:
My mare has been notoriously hard to bit, I tried every different type of lozenge available, as well as a range of Mylers and happy tongues etc.

I had a Bit Fit consultant out who had us try a single jointed curved Jeffries Eldonian snaffle which she went well in for about 6 weeks. She then started to hate it, but on the basis that she had found the contact in this bit, I've since moved her onto a NS demi anky and so far so good. She now reaches for a contact and really seems to like it. Not cheap but I wouldn't have dreamed of trying it if it wasn't for the consultation with Bit Fit first.

If you are trying a cheap one, I would recommend the Jeffries Eldonian - its nicely curved so sits well on the tongue and I'm sure it only cost me about £15
Click to expand...

This one? http://www.ejeffries.co.uk/p/curved-mouth-loose-ring?pp=24

I have this one - https://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/p_385_jp-korsteel-loose-ring-snaffle which I think is practically the same?
 
My fussy mare is happiest in her port mouthed Kimblewick or Pelham (she has a small mouth with thick tongue) but will tolerate her single jointed loose ring snaffle for schooling which is a curved Korsteel one OP :)
 
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My Dressage horse lost the plot when I changed his s. steel cheap French link (old fashioned flat plate type ) to the expensive copper metal containing lozenge type . I was trying to be kind but he made it clear in no uncertain terms which he preferred
 
My ID preferred a single joint to a lozenge or French link - both of which he was so unsteady in that he looked like a headshaker at times - but better for him was a Myler mullen mouth. I suspect he'd have been equally happy in a cheap mullen mouth but I don't like the way they feel when I ride, it feels like having a horse with handlebars. He had a very right & wrong outlook on life & I suspect he found a more flexible bit too waffly to meet his criteria.
 
my mare hates double joints - instantly puts her tongue over it and makes it very obvious she does not like them.
She spent a long time in a single joint and then we tried mullen mouth pieces which she really really likes and they come with a wide variety of sides
 
They definitely don't read the handbook. Mary was in a single jointed snaffle when I got her, so we stuck with that to begin with. When I decided to bring her back into work after having Flower, I thought I'd switch her to a French link as I always think of them as the kinder option. She hated it from the word go! We went back to her original bit and she was much happier.
 
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