Mouthing Bit, good/bad?

[HorseyTee]

Hello,

To keep it short, my lad is being 'part loaned' for a student to use as part of her exams, she will be setting a goal to achieve with him.
She has asked me if I would consider a mouthing bit for her to use (she is going to be doing mainly groundwork with him).

I have no experience of these, so would love to hear if anybody has used them and what the experience was? Are they kind to the horse?
He's currently in a D ring snaffle.

 

[Shay]

Slightly at a loss as to why you would want to use a mouthing bit on a horse already broken? It is really just a normal bit with extra "keys" or "players" on the joint or in the middle of a straight bar to encourage a young horse to mouth and play with the bit. I can't see a D ring version (although there probably is one) but this is a loose ring one http://www.thehorsebitshop.co.uk/product.php?xProd=231

Before someone exchanged a bit on one of mine I would want to know exactly what the purpose of the change was and how the animal would be used with the new bit.

 

[ester]

It really does depend what she has in mind really, does she mean one with keys? Yes they are kind but they encourage the horse to 'play' so I wouldn't want mine using one. No reason she cannot use his current bit?

 

[HorseyTee]

Slightly at a loss as to why you would want to use a mouthing bit on a horse already broken? It is really just a normal bit with extra "keys" or "players" on the joint or in the middle of a straight bar to encourage a young horse to mouth and play with the bit. I can't see a D ring version (although there probably is one) but this is a loose ring one http://www.thehorsebitshop.co.uk/product.php?xProd=231

Before someone exchanged a bit on one of mine I would want to know exactly what the purpose of the change was and how the animal would be used with the new bit.

Yes i'm not 100% sure why she has asked to change bit.
She said it encourages the horse to take up contact, and would use it to start him off lunging and long reining.

 

[HorseyTee]

It really does depend what she has in mind really, does she mean one with keys? Yes they are kind but they encourage the horse to 'play' so I wouldn't want mine using one. No reason she cannot use his current bit?

Nothing wrong with the bit he has now, and he isn't silly or strong, so the snaffle he has works fine for us.
She said her tutor thinks it would be a good tool to use.

And yes the one with the dangly bits to play with basically. I've never seen one and didn't even know they existed till now lol.

 

[HorseyTee]

Just to add, i'm not opposed to her using one, as long as it won't be detrimental to him or cause any behaviour problems.

 

[ester]

Do you want to potentially encourage your horse to be fussy in the mouth?

 

[HorseyTee]

Do you want to potentially encourage your horse to be fussy in the mouth?

No definitely not.
He literally has no issues caused or that could be rectified by bits.

 

[ester]

It which case it should be a flat no as that is the risk you would be taking.

 

[be positive]

Nothing wrong with the bit he has now, and he isn't silly or strong, so the snaffle he has works fine for us.
She said her tutor thinks it would be a good tool to use.

And yes the one with the dangly bits to play with basically. I've never seen one and didn't even know they existed till now lol.

I have not used one for years and even then it was usually just a few times to get them feeling the bit with their tongue, I am surprised any tutors would be suggesting the use of one to "encourage the horse to take up the contact" for most it will do the opposite encourage the horse to fiddle and play therefore drop behind the contact.
If the horse has an educated mouth and works correctly there is no reason to change bit on the whim of a sharers tutor, I would prefer the groundwork to be done in his riding bit and if I were you I would be watching a few sessions to see what is going on so you can step in if the tutor has ideas that do not sit well with you.

 

[HorseyTee]

It which case it should be a flat no as that is the risk you would be taking.

Thank you. Glad I decided to ask before agreeing.
I am happy for him to be able to teach this young girl and help her gain knowledge, but won't allow anything that may be harmful to him, mentally or physically.

 

[Tiddlypom]

TBH, I'd also be worried about what other weird plans the tutor potentially has in mind for your horse.

 

[HorseyTee]

I have not used one for years and even then it was usually just a few times to get them feeling the bit with their tongue, I am surprised any tutors would be suggesting the use of one to "encourage the horse to take up the contact" for most it will do the opposite encourage the horse to fiddle and play therefore drop behind the contact.
If the horse has an educated mouth and works correctly there is no reason to change bit on the whim of a sharers tutor, I would prefer the groundwork to be done in his riding bit and if I were you I would be watching a few sessions to see what is going on so you can step in if the tutor has ideas that do not sit well with you.

Certainly.
The tutor will not be physically involved, however there will be a riding instructor who will support this girl, and I will be receiving references from riding schools and livery yards where she has helped out at/ridden for.

 

[HorseyTee]

TBH, I'd also be worried about what other weird plans the tutor potentially has in mind for your horse.

Anything to be done will need to be passed by myself and agreed to, and if i'm unsure on something that is suggested i'm sure i'll be hounding you guys for your wisdom again haha.

 

[Dave's Mam]

I'm with Ester, they make a fussy mouth & a horse that's too busy fiddling with its mouth to pay attention.

 

[Cortez]

No. No no no no no. The old fashioned mouthing bit with keys is almost guaranteed to make your horse fiddly, annoyed and sucking back off a contact. It is single handedly responsible for the majority of the awful problems that horses in this country (Ireland) have with proper contact and ability to school on.

 

[FfionWinnie]

I have never used one of these stupid devices and that's in 20 years of breaking youngsters. They are the work of the devil and I'm really disappointed that anyone new to the industry is being taught to use them. They belong in the bin!

 

[HorseyTee]

Thank you all for the feedback, it was really useful as I hadn't even thought about the risks of it actually causing issues like that. It will be a no for the bit

 

[Casey76]

I have never used one of these stupid devices and that's in 20 years of breaking youngsters. They are the work of the devil and I'm really disappointed that anyone new to the industry is being taught to use them. They belong in the bin!

Exactly this ^^

A lot of them have a ring in the middle where the "keys" are attached. When in the mouth, this sits perpendicular to the mouth piece, and you end up with one half of the ring digging into the palate, and the other half digging into the tongue. They are nasty and uncomfortable.

 

[Cortez]

Exactly this ^^

A lot of them have a ring in the middle where the "keys" are attached. When in the mouth, this sits perpendicular to the mouth piece, and you end up with one half of the ring digging into the palate, and the other half digging into the tongue. They are nasty and uncomfortable.

Not my horse, but a friend sent her 3 year old off to be broken where they used a mouthing bit with a ring and keys; whilst fiddling the horse managed to put it's tongue through the ring which got stuck and had to be partially amputated; horse ruined.