Jumping bits

[iknowmyvalue]

Bit suggestions, ideally that I can hire/buy with trial period as prefer not to spend £££ on bits that will sit in my tack box collecting dust!

Bits for a keen but sensitive horse, who very easily bruises/rubs on the inside of his lips (where you’d say the corners of the mouth are but on the inside). Currently in a sprenger duo universal with kineton, kineton was a good addition but I’m just not quite happy with the bit. I don’t get quite the responses I’m wanting, if I try and take a pull his immediate response is fighting/head chucking/chomping so much he bruises his bars. Steering could also be better for this reason. Generally likes a fairly stable bit, but having a little bit of play in it helps get his attention.

I’m sure it is partly a schooling issue, but it’s hard to school him “through” it when I know he’s causing damage to himself. Generally, he’s great. But as I’m starting to want to step up the levels I need to be able to set him up effectively. On the flat he’s brill, barely need any rein to steer, quick to move off leg/weight, no pulling required to slow down. I have regular flatwork/jump lessons, am not heavy with my hands (I’ve asked multiple instructors to check it’s not me pulling too much!)

Plain hackamore is no good, tried it but was a disaster. It works for hacking/giving his mouth a break but no finesse whatsoever.

I have had a bit/bridle fitter to him, and his bit suggestions for flatwork are working great, but they’re not quite working for jumping. In an ideal world I’d have a consultation for this specifically but it’s not possible for the next few months for various reasons. Regular dental work done by BAEDT and no problems, last done 1mo ago. No lameness/ulcers/KS etc.

I know I’ll get a million different answers, but I’m all for new ideas! I’m at a loss if thicker or thinner is better, as thicker helps stop the inside lip problems but appears to cause bad bruises instead. He has quite a big tongue so thin bits technically should suit better.

What we’ve tried so far:
HP lip relief loose ring snaffle (flatwork bit) - not great brakes, rubbed inside his lip
Expert bits barrel hanging cheek - as above
Trust D ring snaffle - similar but bruised bars instead
Waterford universal - very chompy/unsettled in his mouth, cut the corners (possibly might be better in a smaller size?)
Sprenger duo universal - best so far

ETA. When he chucks his head, it tends to be downwards between fences/when turning, but up in the air and launch forwards on the last few strides into a fence

 

[rabatsa]

You could do a lot worse than try a butterfly bit with a mullen mouth.

https://www.harnessstuff.co.uk/collections/driving-bits/products/butterfly-bit-loose-cheek

Ignore that it is a driving shop, it is where I knew to find a link without looking too far.

 

[RachelFerd]

Bit suggestions, ideally that I can hire/buy with trial period as prefer not to spend £££ on bits that will sit in my tack box collecting dust!

Bits for a keen but sensitive horse, who very easily bruises/rubs on the inside of his lips (where you’d say the corners of the mouth are but on the inside). Currently in a sprenger duo universal with kineton, kineton was a good addition but I’m just not quite happy with the bit. I don’t get quite the responses I’m wanting, if I try and take a pull his immediate response is fighting/head chucking/chomping so much he bruises his bars. Steering could also be better for this reason. Generally likes a fairly stable bit, but having a little bit of play in it helps get his attention.

I’m sure it is partly a schooling issue, but it’s hard to school him “through” it when I know he’s causing damage to himself. Generally, he’s great. But as I’m starting to want to step up the levels I need to be able to set him up effectively. On the flat he’s brill, barely need any rein to steer, quick to move off leg/weight, no pulling required to slow down. I have regular flatwork/jump lessons, am not heavy with my hands (I’ve asked multiple instructors to check it’s not me pulling too much!)

Plain hackamore is no good, tried it but was a disaster. It works for hacking/giving his mouth a break but no finesse whatsoever.

I have had a bit/bridle fitter to him, and his bit suggestions for flatwork are working great, but they’re not quite working for jumping. In an ideal world I’d have a consultation for this specifically but it’s not possible for the next few months for various reasons. Regular dental work done by BAEDT and no problems, last done 1mo ago. No lameness/ulcers/KS etc.

I know I’ll get a million different answers, but I’m all for new ideas! I’m at a loss if thicker or thinner is better, as thicker helps stop the inside lip problems but appears to cause bad bruises instead. He has quite a big tongue so thin bits technically should suit better.

What we’ve tried so far:
HP lip relief loose ring snaffle (flatwork bit) - not great brakes, rubbed inside his lip
Expert bits barrel hanging cheek - as above
Trust D ring snaffle - similar but bruised bars instead
Waterford universal - very chompy/unsettled in his mouth, cut the corners (possibly might be better in a smaller size?)
Sprenger duo universal - best so far

ETA. When he chucks his head, it tends to be downwards between fences/when turning, but up in the air and launch forwards on the last few strides into a fence

I'm a fan of a soft rubber pelham for horses that want to invert themselves. Having the curb strap adds another pressure point which can be effective for some horses.

 

[Abacus]

With a similar keen horse that would chuck his head up if asked to slow down, I have found two things most effective.

The first is all about schooling - when I bought him 7 months ago I don't think he had ever been asked to slow down, and was most offended when I suggested it. This let to steering and balance problems as he was flying around a 20x40 and the turns were somewhat dramatic. On this, a lot of schooling and a lot of regular but quite boring jumping have helped - it's less exciting if we pop a few fences most days.

I also used a market harborough so that I didn't have to use the rein/bit combination to bring his head down - if he threw it up, he automatically met resistance without a lot of ugly grabbing and correcting. This made a massive difference on the behavioural head chucking side, and meant that I didn't have to use harsher bits. I have long abandoned it, but it's a useful bit of kit.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

I'm a fan of a soft rubber pelham for horses that want to invert themselves. Having the curb strap adds another pressure point which can be effective for some horses.

Something like the trust or nathe that come in the flexible rubber?

I had thought of something with a curb I just wasn’t sure what! I don’t think I have to coordination to jump with 2 reins, but could use the roundings which mean curb only comes into play when needed.

I think I make him sound really awful in the post above, but he’s really not. He’s mostly awesome, but just occasionally gets a bit full of himself and turns into a snake to try and avoid me telling him what to do. I do need to jump school him more at home so it becomes less exciting. Though actually we’ve got a fair few jump lessons lined up which will be good for him.

 

[ihatework]

Nathe Pelham

 

[RachelFerd]

Something like the trust or nathe that come in the flexible rubber?

I had thought of something with a curb I just wasn’t sure what! I don’t think I have to coordination to jump with 2 reins, but could use the roundings which mean curb only comes into play when needed.

I think I make him sound really awful in the post above, but he’s really not. He’s mostly awesome, but just occasionally gets a bit full of himself and turns into a snake to try and avoid me telling him what to do. I do need to jump school him more at home so it becomes less exciting. Though actually we’ve got a fair few jump lessons lined up which will be good for him.

Yep either of those - and use roundings - bit of a blunter tool than two reins, but not a sin for jumping with.

 

[iknowmyvalue]

Yep either of those - and use roundings - bit of a blunter tool than two reins, but not a sin for jumping with.

Perfect. I’ve managed to borrow a happy mouth version from someone on my yard to try in this weeks jump lesson, just to check he isn’t going to throw all his toys out of the pram with a curb action bit. So if that seems to work ok, will get one ordered to try next time we are out eventing!