fussy mouths - none jointed bits

cob&onion

cob&onion

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My cob is heavy in a jointed bit.
Am thinking of trying a kk sprenger conrad schooling bit.
She hates jointed bits and although shes better in the myler baucher shes still not happy.
She goes like a dream in a show pelham. But don't want to ride in one all the time!
Any experiences with horses who cannot tolerate jointed bits? Symptoms and what bit worked for you?
Any experiences with the conrad bit?
Also is there a bit exchange on the forum?
 
When you say jointed, do you mean bits with a lozenge or a french link? Or just the nutcracker action. I found my boy goes really well in a bit with a lozenge, as he cant really lean on it and is softer in his mouth.

When he was in a standard loose ring snaffel he used to set his neck, go ridgid and be a general pain in the a** changed him to a lozenged bit and was a dream.
 
If you have brakes then i would suggest a happy mouth straight bar, they are very soft in the mouth. Or dare i say it try bitless? As for the exchange thingy it sounds like a fantastic idea, i have lots of bits which i dont use as either horse or pony haven't got on with them.
 
BethanT said:
When you say jointed, do you mean bits with a lozenge or a french link? Or just the nutcracker action. I found my boy goes really well in a bit with a lozenge, as he cant really lean on it and is softer in his mouth.

When he was in a standard loose ring snaffel he used to set his neck, go ridgid and be a general pain in the a** changed him to a lozenged bit and was a dream.
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Any kind of joints, single or lozenge/french links!

nix123 said:
If you have brakes then i would suggest a happy mouth straight bar, they are very soft in the mouth. Or dare i say it try bitless? As for the exchange thingy it sounds like a fantastic idea, i have lots of bits which i dont use as either horse or pony haven't got on with them.
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I did think about a dr cook bridle.
Happy mouth I have yet to try.
She will go nice in a new bit for a few weeks then normally finds a way to evade. She gets her tongue over the myler now.
 
I've been having problems with my mare getting her tongue over the bit too, she's 4 and newly broken but I'm struggling to find something we can go and do some dressage in later on. I did speak to the bit bank people and they recommended the Bomber Happy Tongue bit, basically a mullen mouth with a side to side 'hump' as opposed to a large port? Not dressage legal sadly so I gave it a miss. Now in a lozenge full cheek sat quite high which seems to be working for her tongue but she's not very accepting of it and won't 'drop' into my hands. Have this week had her teeth seen to so hopefully she might be more settled as she had some sharp ones. Be interested to know how your horse progresses and what bit you end up with.....
 
BethanT said:
When you say jointed, do you mean bits with a lozenge or a french link? Or just the nutcracker action. I found my boy goes really well in a bit with a lozenge, as he cant really lean on it and is softer in his mouth.

When he was in a standard loose ring snaffel
BethanT said:
Could you get a myler with a higher port? I used to use a myler with a higher port, think was this one http://www.horsebitbank.com/myler-ported-barrel-eggbutt-hooks-308.phtml
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My friend has that bit going to ask to try it.

Bobbly said:
I've been having problems with my mare getting her tongue over the bit too, she's 4 and newly broken but I'm struggling to find something we can go and do some dressage in later on. I did speak to the bit bank people and they recommended the Bomber Happy Tongue bit, basically a mullen mouth with a side to side 'hump' as opposed to a large port? Not dressage legal sadly so I gave it a miss. Now in a lozenge full cheek sat quite high which seems to be working for her tongue but she's not very accepting of it and won't 'drop' into my hands. Have this week had her teeth seen to so hopefully she might be more settled as she had some sharp ones. Be interested to know how your horse progresses and what bit you end up with.....
Click to expand...

Yes, will keep you posted.
Will try the myler with high port next
She goes nicest in the pelham with port and 2 reins. No evading or tongue over bit.
I think its tongue relief she needs.
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My cob, who hates jointed bits, goes really well in a sprenger loose-ring mullen mouth, although we didn't have any brakes yesterday, out hunting for the first time!
I found that the happy mouth was too straight and he didnt like it as much, also chewed it pretty quick, not much, but enough to make it rough and uncomfortable..
 
not dressage legal but have a look at a cambridge snaffle - lots of natives rather like these, including my Sec D.
Another thing to try if you have one around is to put keepers on a full-cheek snaffle - same pony likes the stability of this bit whereas she fusses a bit with a eggbutt or loose ring snaffle.
 
my IDxTB mare has the most sensitive mouth of any horse I've ever owned. Had issues with wolf teeth as a youngster. One came out no prob and one broke up leaving a gum lump. She hates jointed bits and drops behind the contact or head tosses in canter. I've found a straight-bar hanging cheek happy-mouth (rubber) snaffle suits her really well though. She's settled enough to take the contact and no head tossing. Good luck.
 
My mare doesn't like single or double jointed bits, she goes best in her mullen mouth pelham but if riding without a pelham then I use a mullen mouth eggbutt
 
For those people whose horses are getting their tongue over the bit, it is worth trying a Micklem bridle if you can. They hold the bit in a more stable and comfortable position.

I too have a bucket full of bits that I no longer use! My horses all seem to have big fleshy tongues and low palates, and are now settled in the Neue Schule Verbindend or Team Up loose ring lozenge bits. They are better again since I got the Micklem bridles though (and I only got one in the first place for lungeing in).
 
Our pony came to us in a rubber, mullen Pelham but she constantly chomped on it! She is now in a Hillary Vernon loose ring mullen ( sort of a curved shape) which she loves and goes beautifully in even when jumping!
 
catkin said:
not dressage legal but have a look at a cambridge snaffle - lots of natives rather like these, including my Sec D.
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^^this^^ There's a reason the cambridge mouth snaffle is also known as a 'magic bit'.

Dressage aside, if the pelham works, why not ride in it. Lots of cobs love a pelham or kimblewick.
 
yup mum's anglo mare was very fussy with her mouth... tried her in a pelham when a few more brakes were required and a much happier mare! She does everything in a mullen mouth hanging cheek snaffle these days.
 
Tiddlypom said:
For those people whose horses are getting their tongue over the bit, it is worth trying a Micklem bridle if you can. They hold the bit in a more stable and comfortable ).
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Yes I did think about one of these too. Theres s place you can hire them from for a week.

I even thought about a cherry roller to stop the leaning.

The bits on my list to try are as follows
Cherry roller
Kk sprenger schooling bit
Cambridge snaffle
Mullen mouth
Myler with port

Best get searching eBay!

I have tried
Ns lozenge loose ring vertabind
Myler boucher bit
French link loose ring
Fixed eggbut snaffle
Chunky loose ring snaffle with lozenge
Fulmer french link
Ported pelham

Flash noseband
Yet to try a drop

I want to try a micklem bridle
Dr cook bitless bridle
 
My new 4 year old is very unsettled in her mouth. Hates a happy mouth - I think the bobbles on the mouth piece are uncomfortable and it's too thick. She tolerates her nathe but I need a new one as she chomped on it. Might try the happy mouth roller as it looks a bit narrower.
 
Took her out in a plain straight bar rubber snaffle with a loose ring.
She did lean at first and had a bit of trouble getting her to drop into the contact. However by the end of the ride she was noticeably better and relaxed and the leaning was much better . Also the right bend was easier to maintain too and i didnt meet resistance.
So am thinking jointed bits are definitely out for her, now to find something she can't lean on!

Been thinking on the lines of a cherry roller with a straight mouth piece, all i can find are jointed cherry rollers or this type, but £85 seems alot to spend if its not the right bit!
http://www.justequine.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=Bomber-Happy-Tongue-Cherry-Roller-Loose-Ring

Any other ideas?
 
My Arab hates anything jointed so for everyday I ride in a Cambridge snaffle, its a straight bit with a low port a bit like some pelhams but its a loose ring, cheap too less than a tenner in most shops, he is not bad in a waterford but prefers the cambridge, I am currently trying him in a Myler pelham as I want to show him next year he seems ok in it so far, I also find putting the bit slightly lower in the mouth can help.
 
I had months of trial and error with my boy. He has a huge tongue with a big lump on the top of it and very fleshy lips so loose ring bits pinch him. He'd be ok for about a fortnight then the fighting would start again and it doesn't help that he's also VERY strong! Eventually (after about 18 months!) we settled on 3 different bits - a mullen mouth hanging cheek for dressage (due to his huge mouth only myler made one big enough in that style) a waterford hanging cheek for hacking and a waterford three ring gag for 'exciting' stuff like jumping and the beach (with rubbers and tons of vaseline to prevent pinches). He is far happier in the waterford than the mullen mouth despite it being far more harsh. I think the fact that it's flexible and moulds around his tongue makes it more comfortable for him - and any bit's only as harsh as the hands that use it. He went well in a Pelham too but I struggled to hold him in it when he was on one of his missions, I have him in the waterford with barely any pressure.
 
cob&onion said:
Took her out in a plain straight bar rubber snaffle with a loose ring.
She did lean at first and had a bit of trouble getting her to drop into the contact. However by the end of the ride she was noticeably better and relaxed and the leaning was much better . Also the right bend was easier to maintain too and i didnt meet resistance.
So am thinking jointed bits are definitely out for her, now to find something she can't lean on!

Been thinking on the lines of a cherry roller with a straight mouth piece, all i can find are jointed cherry rollers or this type, but £85 seems alot to spend if its not the right bit!
http://www.justequine.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=Bomber-Happy-Tongue-Cherry-Roller-Loose-Ring

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...


Called the bit bank and they have recommended a NS waterford elavator bit (showjumper) they think it will eliminate any leaning and bring her up through the shoulder into a lighter contact, also say it is good for achieving straightness and effective for horses who are hard to turn................they say the cherry roller is a harsher bit and can pinch and said the waterford elavator would be a better option. They also said to try without the flash as some horses lean more with one?
Bit of research online shows they are good for strong horses who lean and particularly good for SJ and XC.
Looking at it it does look a bit of a beast - but then again i do have good hands and am all for the bit being as harsh as the riders hands being a snaffle or a gag.
Thoughts?
 
Why not try the Pelham with two reins if your horse is happy in a Pelham? Then you can ride mainly on the snaffle rein and use the curb rein as and when necessary.
 
BOMBERS HAPPY TONGUE... I can't recommend this bit enough! I used it on my section D stallion who had a massie tongue and would not tolerate any sort of collapsible bit. He was a different pony in this, I hired one before I bought as they aren't cheap but well worth the money!
 
cob&onion said:
Took her out in a plain straight bar rubber snaffle with a loose ring.
She did lean at first and had a bit of trouble getting her to drop into the contact. However by the end of the ride she was noticeably better and relaxed and the leaning was much better . Also the right bend was easier to maintain too and i didnt meet resistance.
So am thinking jointed bits are definitely out for her, now to find something she can't lean on!

Been thinking on the lines of a cherry roller with a straight mouth piece, all i can find are jointed cherry rollers or this type, but £85 seems alot to spend if its not the right bit!
http://www.justequine.co.uk/proddetail.php?prod=Bomber-Happy-Tongue-Cherry-Roller-Loose-Ring

Any other ideas?
Click to expand...

lisa_dundee said:
BOMBERS HAPPY TONGUE... I can't recommend this bit enough! I used it on my section D stallion who had a massie tongue and would not tolerate any sort of collapsible bit. He was a different pony in this, I hired one before I bought as they aren't cheap but well worth the money!
Click to expand...

So many bits to try, thanks for all your input everyone.
 
BethanT said:
When you say jointed, do you mean bits with a lozenge or a french link? Or just the nutcracker action. I found my boy goes really well in a bit with a lozenge, as he cant really lean on it and is softer in his mouth.

When he was in a standard loose ring snaffel he used to set his neck, go ridgid and be a general pain in the a** changed him to a lozenged bit and was a dream.
Click to expand...

My mare was the same but other end of the scale, I used a loose ring with a lozenge on my boy and he simply hates it, can't focus and snatches at it, I think it's all the movement that he dislikes, in a straight bar he exhibits none of this.
 
cob&onion said:
Called the bit bank and they have recommended a NS waterford elavator bit (showjumper) they think it will eliminate any leaning and bring her up through the shoulder into a lighter contact, also say it is good for achieving straightness and effective for horses who are hard to turn................they say the cherry roller is a harsher bit and can pinch and said the waterford elavator would be a better option. They also said to try without the flash as some horses lean more with one?
Bit of research online shows they are good for strong horses who lean and particularly good for SJ and XC.
Looking at it it does look a bit of a beast - but then again i do have good hands and am all for the bit being as harsh as the riders hands being a snaffle or a gag.
Thoughts?
Click to expand...

See my post above - my boy is happiest of all in a Waterford. I definitely agree with the bit bank - it's worth a try at the very least.
 
Recently changed my cob from a french link lose ring snaffle to a mullen mouth eggbutt, a lot stiller in the contact and seems much happier :)
 
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