Dressage legal bit for a horse currently in a dutch gag?

[timbobs]

Hi,

I would love some advice on dressage legal bits for my horse. We are going to do our first walk and trot test in a few weeks, so I want to start schooling him in a dressage legal bit.

He is an ex-racer and has a naturally high head carriage. He came to me in a 3-ring gag and I would like to move over to a snaffle.

Does anyone have any recommendations? I have tried him in a loose ring snaffle with a lozenge which he didn't like at all.

thanks for your help!

 

[rara007]

Loose ring in the same mouthpiece as the gag?

 

[timbobs]

I have a loose ring jointed snaffle on the list! Thanks! He doesn't like a rider to be fussy with their hands so was wondering about a Mullen mouthpiece. Does anyone have any feedback on these?

 

[kayleigh97]

For my very strong headed mare- usually in a waterford pelham!- at home i school in a dressage legal myler bit, then on the day of the dressage i change her into a hanging cheek with flash. The change of bit seems to keep her happy, and with the hanging cheek you have a sight amount of poll-pressure! Good luck, hope you find something he likes!

 

[ester]

Loose ring in the same mouthpiece as the gag?

this, mine goes in a thinish single joint loose ring (hates a lozenge, ok in a french link), and cheaper to try than a myler etc in the first instance.

Please note physics means there is no poll pressure on a hanging cheek, they just hold the bit differently/more still in the mouth.

 

[Wheels]

If he's fussy I might go with a fixed cheek such as an eggbutt or hanging cheek

 

[SparkleB]

I have a loose ring jointed snaffle on the list! Thanks! He doesn't like a rider to be fussy with their hands so was wondering about a Mullen mouthpiece. Does anyone have any feedback on these?

my strong exracer schools happily in a eggbutt mullen happy mouth. He likes a consistent contact without too much fuss.

 

[Burnttoast]

Please note physics means there is no poll pressure on a hanging cheek, they just hold the bit differently/more still in the mouth.

This ^^

 

[ester]

Ah yes I missed that, definitely if fussy maybe a mullen + hanging cheek which works well for Mum's fussy anglo.

 

[timbobs]

Thanks for all the quick replies! Lots of suggestions! Will get on ebay tonight and buy a few different options and see what works best!

He doesn't like too much fuss in his mouth, but I'm not sure if he would lean on a Mullen mouth. Trial and error I guess!

 

[ossy]

What about a hanging cheek in same mouth piece

 

[Burmilla]

Rather than go on eBay, how about looking at bit bank sites? Lots of advice available, and you can return a bit which doesn't suit and get almost all your money back.
I have found french link hanging cheek snaffles useful in the past. They seem to stay more still in the horse's mouth.
Anyway, good luck, and if you find a bit that suits your horse, please be kind enough to let us know!

 

[timbobs]

Rather than go on eBay, how about looking at bit bank sites? Lots of advice available, and you can return a bit which doesn't suit and get almost all your money back.
I have found french link hanging cheek snaffles useful in the past. They seem to stay more still in the horse's mouth.
Anyway, good luck, and if you find a bit that suits your horse, please be kind enough to let us know!

Thanks Burmilla, will take a look!

Will let you know what he goes best in once I've tried a few

Thanks for your help everyone!

 

[timbobs]

Just thought I'd update on this! I tried a hanging cheek with the same mouthpiece as my usual bit and he went really well in it! So I'm happy and the sun is out!