Is an eggbutt a severe bit ??

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horse.love92

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Well I always thought that it wasn't !
Basically pony is currently in a loose ring snaffle myler but the copper stuff that leads from the rolled middle to the sides of the bit is rubbing the sides of his mouth creating sores , I've been told to get a bit with fixed sides so was looking at the gold eggbutt but then heard it was severe ? What do people think?
 
No they aren't severe, my ponies in a fixed side copper snaffle (full cheek) and they are one the weakes bits I believe the copper is just to make the bit taste nice and sweet :)
 
Severity depends on the mouthpiece not the ring style. Different rings suit different horses/situations but unless you are adding leverage to the equation they should not radically change the action.
 
My mare has a funny sized mouth, so it is a nightmare to find a bit the exact right side. Now I use Vaseline at the corners of her mouth and she has had no rubs since.
I believe the biggest difference with the eggbutt/loose ring is that the loose ring is better for the horse that has a tendency to lean on the bit.
 
Snaffles of any kind are not "mild"bits ,they are a "blunt instrument" . "iF YOU DONT RESPOND i WILL CRUSH YOR Jaw"Sodding awfull bits.
 
All bits are still chunks of metal on the end of a piece of leather!! Any bit is only as harsh as the hands on the reins.

Mine likes his eggbutt. He doesn't like anything that moves too much (loose ring, rollers etc) and I don't think it's a severe bit when compared to say, a gag, as I don't yank him around with it. Actually quite tempted to try him in a plastic one, not sure what people think of those?

Mike007, I would be interested then to hear what you consider a mild bit? And what alternative to a snaffle you would recommend? Also if a horse doesn't respond to a snaffle, surely it is more leg rather than more pressure on the bit that it needs???
 
No problem, a milder bit is the waterford because there is no leverage and nut ctracker action. .Possibly the mnildest bit available yet not" dressage legal"
 
Eggbutt Snaffle: This oddly named snaffle does indeed resemble the oval shape of an egg. Unlike a loose ring snaffle, the eggbutt will not rotate in a horse’s mouth; it’s fixed. Though mouthpieces may vary, the eggbutt is generally viewed as a mild to moderate snaffle.

Several decades ago, the eggbutt was the bit of choice for show hunters.
Horses with thin skin or sensitive mouths respond well to eggbutts, as the bit rings will not pinch or abrade the lips or corners of the mouth.
The eggbutt’s oval shape aids somewhat in turning a horse, though not nearly to the effect of a full-cheek or D-ring.
 
Mike007 said:
No problem, a milder bit is the waterford because there is no leverage and nut ctracker action. .Possibly the mnildest bit available yet not" dressage legal"
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But you can't ride up into a contact in a waterford! I agree that I like the action it has on the mouth, but my horse wouldn't get on with it because there isn't a consistent pressure (although would be good for a horse that leans, mine tends to go the other way and come above/behind the contact)

And I would need a dressage legal alternative...
 
Years ago (some of us can remember!!) there was basically only ONE bit for EVERYTHING, and that was a snaffle, either an eggbutt or free-rings, and that was the bit of choice for every single "child's pony" - all adverts carried the requisite "snaffle mouthed" and everyone thought that was what they should be riding in.

The other bits around at the time were: Kimblewick, Pelham, or double bridle. And that was it, basically. You'd very rarely see anything else, apart from some gags on really daft horses out hunting.

So...... sorry, I digress, back to OP's original question. Personally, because of their action, I'm not convinced that snaffle bits are as "mild" as they've always been cracked up to be. Some horses hate the action of them and react accordingly.

My trainer's wisdom is that its better to have a stronger bit with a lighter pair of hands, than a "milder" bit with heavy hands needing to haul at the horse's mouth in order to control it.

But someone else has said basically that its not the bit in the mouth that matters, its the hands on the reins........... very true.
 
Given that the 'eggbutt' bit is only the rings I don't think we can lump them all together- action is very much more dependent on the mouthpiece of a snaffle than the rings at the side
 
Ditto others on here - horses for courses (or bits...). An eggbutt is probably the 'bluntest' instrument, dependent on mouthpiece, and if you have a horse that is sensitive and needs subtle aids, it could well be harsh.

To Mike's point, a horse that hasn't been schooled to a snaffle will likely find them very harsh due to the 'bluntness'. E.g. I knew a selle-francais who had awful bruising and callousing in its mouth as it was sharp and strong and the owner insisted on hacking out with a snaffle (exciting hacking with lots of long gallop straights and beaches). Once put in a pelham, the horse could be ridden with the lightest of hands and never had another problem.
 
Just an update ...
Myler was rubbing the inside of this mouth ( bit rings wouldn't have worked as wasn't outside) due to the copper layer.
Now bought him a French link eggbutt and he's a lot happier even much happier to go into an outline .
Also for jumping have bought him a fixed one with cheeks with French link :D
 
horse.love92 said:
Just an update ...
Myler was rubbing the inside of this mouth ( bit rings wouldn't have worked as wasn't outside) due to the copper layer.
Now bought him a French link eggbutt and he's a lot happier even much happier to go into an outline .
Also for jumping have bought him a fixed one with cheeks with French link :D
Click to expand...

That's great to hear - it sounds like you've found something that suits :)
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Years ago (some of us can remember!!) there was basically only ONE bit for EVERYTHING, and that was a snaffle, either an eggbutt or free-rings, and that was the bit of choice for every single "child's pony" - all adverts carried the requisite "snaffle mouthed" and everyone thought that was what they should be riding in.

The other bits around at the time were: Kimblewick, Pelham, or double bridle. And that was it, basically. You'd very rarely see anything else, apart from some gags on really daft horses out hunting.

So...... sorry, I digress, back to OP's original question. Personally, because of their action, I'm not convinced that snaffle bits are as "mild" as they've always been cracked up to be. Some horses hate the action of them and react accordingly.

My trainer's wisdom is that its better to have a stronger bit with a lighter pair of hands, than a "milder" bit with heavy hands needing to haul at the horse's mouth in order to control it.

But someone else has said basically that its not the bit in the mouth that matters, its the hands on the reins........... very true.
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TBH - I think the majority of mouth problems horses supposedly have is nothing to do with the bit at all but the rider!

I've ridden for over 45 years - ALL mine have been or are ridden in either a single jointed Fulmer or an Eggbutt and I've not had any problems and hundreds of horses have been through my hands over the years.

As above at one time all the bits available were the Fulmer, Eggbutt, loose ring with flat rings not wire, a Pelham. Kimblewick and a running gag. I remember when it was the fashion to have your horse in a German Hollow Mouth - they were a must have for any dressage diva.

I prefer to see a childs pony in a Pelham or Kimblewick if a little strong as it's safer for the child. But ultimately if the pony is advertised as snaffle mouth it means that it is generally easy to control.
 
I use a Happy Mouth snaffle, jointed, he came in a jointed Pelham sweet iron poor lad as he is v v sharp n spooky.
Use this bit as I find it the mildest one, dont wanna use a Pelham, yea I dont have the greatest of brakes if he spooks
& trys to ******* off but hey, rather not trash his gob.
 
Taffieboy1 said:
I use a Happy Mouth snaffle, jointed, he came in a jointed Pelham sweet iron poor lad as he is v v sharp n spooky.
Use this bit as I find it the mildest one, dont wanna use a Pelham, yea I dont have the greatest of brakes if he spooks
& trys to ******* off but hey, rather not trash his gob.
Click to expand...

Sometimes you can do more damage with a milder bit and having to argue for control than if you have a sharper it that the horse responds to quickly
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Years ago (some of us can remember!!) there was basically only ONE bit for EVERYTHING, and that was a snaffle, either an eggbutt or free-rings, and that was the bit of choice for every single "child's pony" - all adverts carried the requisite "snaffle mouthed" and everyone thought that was what they should be riding in.

The other bits around at the time were: Kimblewick, Pelham, or double bridle. And that was it, basically. You'd very rarely see anything else, apart from some gags on really daft horses out hunting.
Click to expand...

Not true. Take a look at some old horse books/catalogues. There have been a huge range of bits around, forever. No different from now. Just because some people didn't see them doesn't mean they didn't exist.
 
Capriole said:
A waterford is a snaffle.
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A Waterford may have no leverage or nutcracker action but it's action is far more severe as the pressure is pin point per ball and it can also bruise the hell out of the bars when it clonks backwards and forwards over them on turning.

A Yes Mike a Waterford is in the 'snaffle' family!
 
Tnavas said:
A Waterford may have no leverage or nutcracker action but it's action is far more severe as the pressure is pin point per ball and it can also bruise the hell out of the bars when it clonks backwards and forwards over them on turning.
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Yes, I wouldn't want to use one, but then I remember the old days when they were considered a harsh bit, not a gentle bit as I've often seen them described as in recent years. Never owned a horse that might benefit from one, however.
 
Tnavas said:
A Waterford may have no leverage or nutcracker action but it's action is far more severe as the pressure is pin point per ball and it can also bruise the hell out of the bars when it clonks backwards and forwards over them on turning.

A Yes Mike a Waterford is in the 'snaffle' family!
Click to expand...

Tnavas and Capriole are spot on Mike. A Waterford is not exactly 'mild' and totally not suitable for dressage as you can't ride up into a contact as another poster pointed out.

As others have pointed out too; the term 'eggbutt' only refers to the cheeks so you can't really comment on the severity of the bit.
 
Hi
Totally agree a snaffle can be much harsher than a Pelham like my lad came in. But then his Pelham was a jointed one to, which just collapse an act same as a snaffle anyhow. If I liked hacking around in 2 reins I prob go with a Pelham, other option is a kimberwick to I suppose
 
Taffieboy1 said:
Hi
Totally agree a snaffle can be much harsher than a Pelham like my lad came in. But then his Pelham was a jointed one to, which just collapse an act same as a snaffle anyhow. If I liked hacking around in 2 reins I prob go with a Pelham, other option is a kimberwick to I suppose
Click to expand...

The fact that it is easier to stop a horse in a Pelham tells you that the action is sharper - therefore some could say stronger - the action is different!

A snaffle is the milder of all the bits because as many of us have actually noticed this is a bit that is pretty useless if the horse gets strong or takes off.

They work differently.
 
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