Mouthing/Breaking bit V happy mouth/plain snaffle.

[ljohnsonsj]

Just pondering really, on a breaking and schooling yard I used to work on we always started horses in straight bar happymouth loose rings, that was just the norm. My instructor always uses mouthing bits with keys,this is all he always has and will do. I know there is many reasons why people use one or the other but I am just interested in finding out who uses what and why? I don't see many people starting off in mouthing bits now, and wondered if there was a reason or if it just isn't as 'common' anymore?

Thanks in advance

 

[WelshD]

I mouthed my two year old pony in a black 'inhand' type nylon loose ring.

They are cheap and uncomplicated. I like happy mouth bits but they go quite sharp if chewed

If he were of breaking age I would use a French link loose ring

I don't think I'd find a mouthing bit with keys in the required size (3.75) and i personally think they make transition to a 'normal' bit harder than if you don't pussy foot around and get a relatively bog standard bit in from the start

 

[PorkChop]

I use a straight bar Nathe to mouth the youngster, and they keep this bit until they are happy and still in the contact.