How long before you decide a bit is or isn't right?

[**Vanner**]

Hi all,

My boy is five this time and we have been taking it slowly on the schooling front. He is currently in a single jointed fulmer snaffle but ideally I want to get him out of the fulmer.

I've tried him in a jointed egg butt snaffle and a loose ring french link but I wouldn't say he was particularly happy in either.

How long do you give a bit before you try another?

Also any ideas would be appreciated as to what I can try. I'm trying to encourage him to soften his jaw and accept the bit but he does lean on it and will get hold and lock his jaw if he is that way inclined.

 

[Wagtail]

Firstly, I would avoid any single jointed snaffles except the Sprenger ones that are curved so that the joint does not press on the roof of the mouth. Single jointed bits can cause loads of discomfort and the horse will open it's mouth to avoid the pain. People then clamp their mouths closed with a tight flash, making the bit into a torture device. If the bit is right for the horse, youdo not need a flash or drop noseband. You won't get any softening like that. If you have a cob (if that is your horse in your sig) then they can often take longer to soften as they can tend to set their short strong necks against you. I would try him in a hanging cheek french link which adds a small amount of poll pressure, encouraging flexion. If he has a large fleshy tongue then choose a slim mouth piece rather than a chunky one.

 

[ThePony]

My mare isn't one to put up and shut up so I generally get to know pretty fast if she isn't comfortable in the bit - head fussyness/leaning/not going willingly forwards are all her ways of letting me know. If all seems well at first then I'll hack in it a couple of times, school in it a couple of times and prob compete in it or at least have a lesson in it too. We are having little tweaks of her bitting atm so it takes a few rides to truly see how she is in it in different situations. Some bits have gone straight on and off again as they have def not been right though!!

If all the bits you have tried have been single joint, then I would try a french link. If your boy has a large tongue then he might get on better with a french link lozenge that is shaped (like cotswoldsport tongue saver or NS verbindend) so that it doesn't give an uncomfortable amount of tongue pressure. If he is used to the stillness of the fulmer then perhaps stick with that with different mouth pieces first and see what he thinks - small changes rather than changing everything might suit him? Is there a reason you'd like him out of the fulmer?

 

[**Vanner**]

I'm don't really want him relying on the fulmer as steering aid and I really want him to mouth and soften to the bit more so am thinking of changing his mouthpiece. Just looking for something that will help him do this.