Lightweight bits that work?!

[Troggy]

Hi


After discovering that Toff suffers from neuralgia related head shaking I have bought her a Heritage Comfort bridle (which is very lovely!) but I was also wondering if there is a bit which would be better suited to her condition.

Firstly, would a heavier bit really make a lot of difference to the pressure on her head? She currently has a full cheek waterford, which is about all I can stop her in in winter (occasional bolting....

) which has minimal poll pressure. When compared to other bits I have though, it is much heavier although she seems happy in it mouth wise.

Is there a Happy Mouth that would give good brakes but have no poll pressure? Or any other lighter metal?

In the summer I usually ride in french link so it's just over winter/spring it's an issue however now she is on medication, she may stop bolting (I can hope!)

Sorry, bit of a ramble!

 

[Alibear]

Is a DR Bristol any lighter? Infact you can get plastic ones if you are feeling rich.

If she goes nicely in a french link the the DR bristol should suit and give you the breaks you require without adding any poll presure?

Have you tied a nose net to? Sometime they help although no one really knows why!

 

[Troggy]

Thank you, how severe is the Dr Bristol? Might be an option!

Re the nose net, it's the nerves to her ears that are the problem rather than her nose, so it won't make any difference

thanks for the suggestion though, I wish it would help!!

 

[Alibear]

Somke people go into appoplexy about them but I really don't think they are severe and I would class them as less severe than a waterford (in my book I don't like waterfords) they act on tongue pressure, basically the middle link is on a different angle to the french link so the narrower edge presses into the tounge which is ovbiously a sharper action than the wide flat plate part doing the same (french link).

I used on one Mac who was a very safe horse to ride but had the occasional mad moment out hacking where you needed to be able to sit up and take a pull and say Oi listen! Worked very well and they're not expensive either.

(also if you get nerdy like me and look at the lot of the modern lozenge bits that people rave about you'll see they are actually part way between the french link and the dr bristol so people are using them without realising)

 

[Troggy]

Thank you, may well be worth a try, will try and find a full cheek one as need my steering for napping spins! lol!

I think the waterford is fairly mild, they just can't get a grip and pull. I have tried various bits over the years and this is the best I have found that she is happy with and I can stop her in, it just seems to weigh loads!!

 

[vicm2509]

I agree with trying a Dr Bristol. They are not overly severe, infact I would think less severe than a waterford, or perhaps on the same level. It puts more pressure on the tounge as the link in the middle is on an angle. So again its a different type of pressure. May be worth a try.

 

[lucemoose]

http://www.rideaway.co.uk/index2.php3?se...p;catcode2=HRFC
is this what you mean Alibabe?

 

[Alibear]

the revolving bit is milder than the action from a Dr Bristol so that may not have the stopping power troggy is after.

Am sure I saw them somewhere. Have been searching but can't find it though.