Dressage Legal Bits - suggestions?

L

lizziebell

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 January 2009
Messages
1,722
Location
...in my wellies
Visit site
Struggling to find anyone doing bitting clinics in my area in the near future, so thought I'd see if anyone on here has had similar experiences and any suggestions on bits to try.

Young horse has become very chompy in his loose-ring NS turtle top Tactio since I've started asked him for more consistentency in the contact. Popped him in a hanging cheek and he was immediately quiet in the mouth, however, he then started to lean in his transitions and I struggled to keep him light. Tried the same mouthpiece (NS bits) in a loose-ring and he didn't lean, but was back to being chompy. Have also tried eggbut - as expected, same issue as with the hanging check with the leaning, but a settled mouth.

He seems to like the stability of the fixed ring bits, but then leans on them. Not sure where to go next - fixed or loose ring, which mouthpieces with which ring.

Bit needs to be dressage legal. I've exhausted the NS dressage legal bits. Tried a couple of the Informed Hilary Bits (which he hated and threw his head up constantly), and a few cheapy ones I had kicking around the tack room.
 
these kinds of issues are more often than not just a training problem, sorry! There's rarely a magic solution that fixes things instantly, it's a case of finding whatever is most acceptable to the horse (so I'd probably choose whatever he is most settled/least chompy in) and then working through the leaning to teach him to go in self carriage. ;)
 
milliepops said:
these kinds of issues are more often than not just a training problem, sorry! There's rarely a magic solution that fixes things instantly, it's a case of finding whatever is most acceptable to the horse (so I'd probably choose whatever he is most settled/least chompy in) and then working through the leaning to teach him to go in self carriage. ;)
Click to expand...

Thanks Milliepops, no need to apologies. I have a very respectable trainer (and am myself competing AM - training A/PSG with my older horse) so training is being addressed, but obviously want to ensure he's as comfortable as possible to enable training to be most effective. There are so many bits on the market these days it's good to hear of others experiences.
 
lizziebell said:
Thanks Milliepops, no need to apologies. I have a very respectable trainer (and am myself competing AM - training A/PSG with my older horse) so training is being addressed, but obviously want to ensure he's as comfortable as possible to enable training to be most effective. There are so many bits on the market these days it's good to hear of others experiences.
Click to expand...

how young is he/what stage is he at in his training? Sometimes they don't read the manual... my sec D went into a double at Elementary (initially to give me better control! :lol:) and is 100% better in her mouth than she ever was in a snaffle. On a related note have you tried a single joint...? we're taught to avoid them but some seem to go better in them.
 
Have you tried the NS demi anky? Mine went through a chompy phase in a loose ring French link and found a lozenge too bulky a demI anky was the answer. Ithe is single jointed but shaped to avoid the nutcracker action of a normal single joint.
 
milliepops said:
how young is he/what stage is he at in his training? Sometimes they don't read the manual... my sec D went into a double at Elementary (initially to give me better control! :lol:) and is 100% better in her mouth than she ever was in a snaffle. On a related note have you tried a single joint...? we're taught to avoid them but some seem to go better in them.
Click to expand...

Turning 5. Novice/ Elementary. Single joint is one I haven't tried, but worth a shot.

Kat said:
Have you tried the NS demi anky? Mine went through a chompy phase in a loose ring French link and found a lozenge too bulky a demI anky was the answer. Ithe is single jointed but shaped to avoid the nutcracker action of a normal single joint.
Click to expand...

Most of my dressage legal bits have lozenges. Hadn't thought that it might be the lozenge he's not happy with.
 
def worth a go trying something not a lozenge then... the sec D of mine who is now in a double really didn't take to a lozenge and obviously preferred a basic french link.. she has a cheap stainless curb as well with just a plain arched mouth. Nothing like the Sprenger/KK combinations that are always meant to be so popular and that suit my advanced mare. Sometimes basic is just what they need ;)
 
I recently decided to have a try with different bits as my girl was quite inconsistent (and a drama queen) and swapped from an NS lozenge mouthpiece to a bog standard sweetiron single joint and she does seem happier in it. We still have a way to go before we are anywhere near your level though. My girl has a very small tongue so I think the double joint allowed the bit to collapse/move too much if that makes sense.
 
Definitely try a single joint. I tried all manner of double joints/lozenges with my mare, but she made it quite clear that she prefers a single joint, plain old brushed SS... though I think the size she wears is marketed as a bridoon, rather than a snaffle.
 
another single joint lover here..........albeit mine is the opposite and will curl up completely in a lozenge of any kind so goes in a very unfashionable rubber D ring!
 
It could be a connection issue. A friend's young horse suddenly became settled in the mouth. He was found to have discomfort in his sacroiliac region.
If he's just suddenly started doing this, have you upped the intensity of his training and he's finding it difficult?
 
Rising 5 and working at novice / elementary? May just be finding the work difficult and 9 times out of 10 it's not a mouth issue!
 
Kathy657 said:
It could be a connection issue. A friend's young horse suddenly became settled in the mouth. He was found to have discomfort in his sacroiliac region.
If he's just suddenly started doing this, have you upped the intensity of his training and he's finding it difficult?
Click to expand...

Kathy657 said:
Rising 5 and working at novice / elementary? May just be finding the work difficult and 9 times out of 10 it's not a mouth issue!
Click to expand...

Everything checked so no physical or dental issues. The work is not beyond his mental or physical abilities, he's just being asked to be more consistent in the contact. His training is going well but I dont believe he's 100% comfortable in the bits I've tried. He's completely settled in the mouth with fixed ring bits, but then has a tendency to lean (which he doesn't do in a loose ring, in which he is unsettled). As suggested by others I'll try a simple single joint in a loose ring as maybe less moving mouthpiece parts will be more stable.
 
Last edited:
Kathy657 said:
Rising 5 and working at novice / elementary? May just be finding the work difficult and 9 times out of 10 it's not a mouth issue!
Click to expand...

With a sufficiently experienced rider a 5 year old should have no problem working at novice/elementary, there's nothing at those levels that is particularly complicated or taxing.
 
Cortez said:
With a sufficiently experienced rider a 5 year old should have no problem working at novice/elementary, there's nothing at those levels that is particularly complicated or taxing.
Click to expand...

was also going to say that.

mines actually started shallow HP and some tiny very forward half steps........
 
lizziebell said:
Everything checked so no physical or dental issues. The work is not beyond his mental or physical abilities, he's just being asked to be more consistent in the contact. His training is going well but I dont believe he's 100% comfortable in the bits I've tried. He's completely settled in the mouth with fixed ring bits, but then has a tendency to lean (which he doesn't do in a loose ring, in which he is unsettled). As suggested by others I'll try a simple single joint in a loose ring as maybe less moving mouthpiece parts will be more stable.
Click to expand...

I'd suggest trying both a myler comfort snaffle http://thehorsebitshop.co.uk/product.php?xProd=123&xSec=1

and a Neue Scheule Verbindend http://nsbits.com/product/verbindend/

Borrow or hire. Both magic bits IMO. Hope work for you.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top