Going Bitless - Reccomendations?

Damnation

Damnation

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Right as you all probibily know I have alot of trouble bitting my mare.
She hates anything with poll pressure, anything with a single joint, hates straight bars or revolver bits, loves a lozenge type/french link type mouthpiece.
But she still isn't happy in her mouth. She is currently in a NS Verbindend and as much as she likes and mouthes the mouthpiece she is still getting her tongue over the bit.
She also seems to hate all nosebands as she fights them. I have persevered without a noseband but she is just constantly getting her tongue over the bit.
She has had all the checks, back, teeth, saddle.
I am now going to attempt to try bitless. No its not dressage legal but my thinking is if she relaxes in her way of going in a bitless, she then may come to accept a bit?
Do tell me if thats a pile of bull ;)
So reccomend me a bitless bridle. All I will say is that I don't think a hackamore is an option, she hates poll pressure and will either rear or run.

Thanks guys :D
 
Another one NOT for you is the Dr Cooks, that's got poll pressure too. I think the sidepull would work in your case but haven't tried one.
 
Thank you 9tails, I shall google a sidepull :)
The mare is so bloody fussy but I am willing to try anything at this stage so we can have a nice schooling session without arguing!!
 
As silly as this sounds but have you tried dropping the bit down few notches (rather than up like some folk suggest) sometimes after they have faffed about that much they in fact find it easier to put the tongue back themselves and eventually keep it that way.

Has she been mouthed properly? (sorry don't know your horses history or age) just wondered if it's worth leaving her with the bit in for a while everyday until she stops mouthing it quite as much and leave her to eat with it, she may settle more and accepts it if she's previously not been happy with her other bits.

Just a though, but I guess you may of already gone down that route.:)
 
Kenzo said:
As silly as this sounds but have you tried dropping the bit down few notches (rather than up like some folk suggest) sometimes after they have faffed about that much they in fact find it easier to put the tongue back themselves and eventually keep it that way.

Has she been mouthed properly? (sorry don't know your horses history or age) just wondered if it's worth leaving her with the bit in for a while everyday until she stops mouthing it quite as much and leave her to eat with it, she may settle more and accepts it if she's previously not been happy with her other bits.

Just a though, but I guess you may of already gone down that route.:)
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I have no idea if she has ever been bitted properly. I've only had her since September and she is now 10.
Even when I tried her I noted her mouth was bone dry but now she is mouthing the bit a bit more each time. But she just won't settle and is now evading it by waving to the crowd with her tongue!
I've tried putting the bit up, putting it down, no noseband, grackle, flash, drop, cavesson.
I will try the feeding her with the bit in thing. Do you recon going back to square one and perhaps putting her in a keys bit will help her?
 
Damnation said:
I have no idea if she has ever been bitted properly. I've only had her since September and she is now 10.
Even when I tried her I noted her mouth was bone dry but now she is mouthing the bit a bit more each time. But she just won't settle and is now evading it by waving to the crowd with her tongue!
I've tried putting the bit up, putting it down, no noseband, grackle, flash, drop, cavesson.
I will try the feeding her with the bit in thing. Do you recon going back to square one and perhaps putting her in a keys bit will help her?
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Well I've never actually bitted with keys myself, I've always used from day one what I've planned to use all the time, some may disagree with that but then I've never had bitting issues so I may of just been lucky with my own that I've bitted. It's probably the route I'd personally take, it's good that she's mouthing, she's needs to get through that stage of being over active in her mouth and some will take longer than others, although some tend to over salivate with the NS bits, but I'd give her a bit more time and let her chomp and eat in it for a while until it's something she feels more familar with and not just something she has in her mouth when you are taking the reins.
 
Kenzo said:
Well I've never actually bitted with keys myself, I've always used from day one what I've planned to use all the time, some may disagree with that but then I've never had bitting issues so I may of just been lucky with my own that I've bitted. It's probably the route I'd personally take, it's good that she's mouthing, she's needs to get through that stage of being over active in her mouth and some will take longer than others, although some tend to over salivate with the NS bits, but I'd give her a bit more time and let her chomp and eat in it for a while until it's something she feels more familar with and not just something she has in her mouth when you are taking the reins.
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Thank you Kenzo :)
I will definately try it. Might take her for some inhand grass walkies in the bridle and let her have a munch with the bit in.
She doesn't over salivate, its literally just a a bit of "lipstick" I call it. We still have days where she won't mouth at all, but we are getting there!
Fingers crossed a bit more patience and perseverence works :)
 
I use a Light Rider bitless - I think you can buy them on Amazon now tho I had to get mine from Australia last year. You can buy just the noseband to attach to your own bridle. It's essentially a sidepull, but the back strap is lower, in the chin groove, which gives a lighter feel. I often ride just in a rope halter, once the horse has had some groundwork and understands how it works, its as good as any.

There's also http://www.markrashid.com/forsale_bit.html, we use this on youngsters that are going for sale that have to be bitted, the ported one might be an option.
 
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I know this is completely non dressage but.... we use ring bits a lot in racing and for a horse that keeps getting it's tongue over the bit one with a spoon.

www.poormansequine.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1_2&products_id=50
I believe the spoon bits are common with trotters and pacers. It is also becoming more popular as people find some horses loathe having their tongue tied.

I have commented as there might well be a snaffle or some sort with a spoon in place. I've just posted the first picture I found on Google Images for you to see!
 
Another one NOT for you is the Dr Cooks, that's got poll pressure too
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I dont know why this is always brought up as applying too much pressure ..... well yes I do I suppose as it is on the blurb somewhere I think

BUT

you have to pull pretty damm severe and also alterate reins to get anything much regarding pressure on the poll and that pressure is nothing like that say of a long shanked hackamore . ( I know as I have tested both ;)) I think the nose would be dented first if you applied a lot of two rein pressure on a dr cooks.

However if you mare does not like nosebands than she prob wont like a bitless either as even the sidepulls put pressure on the nose when you use two reins. ....so unless your mare slows and stops 100% to other aids then there might be issues.


I wonder though if a sheepskin on the noseband might spread the feel ?

I guess all you can do is try ... sheila of www.bitlessbridle.co.uk used to offer a trial whereby you can trial one for 30 days and if not happy you can send it back and get full refund... all you pay is postage.

I have to go or would look for you ... give it a go maybe ?
 
Gosh Im not alone!

Ive just posted something really similar then seen your post.

I wouldnt reccomend a bit with keys, I believe my boy was started in one of them and IMO a horse that messes anyway has more to mess with, with a key bit.

I have tried a bit with a grid in it, a bit like the spoon bit but it didnt help me.

One bit maybe worth trying is the Sprenger Correction bit. NS do one too but its fixed sides. It releases all tongue pressure but again didnt work woth my horse.

I will be reading your post with interest as Im at a loss as what to do with my boy.

I will be trying leaving the bit in though, I havent tried that.

Good luck
 
Scrawbrigs or side pulls - simple and easy. Just don't get dr cooks so never tried it. After trying a cheap webbing side pull and found my mare to be much more settled in it I upgraded to the leather micklem multi bridle and love it. You could always try Kenzos suggestion and then ride bitless but with bit in yet not attached to reins. Not sure if that would help.

I have to say that if we didn't dabble in dressage then I would always ride bit less.
 
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