Neue Scheule? Or Sprenger?

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nato

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Just looking to get opinions really on NS or Sprenger bits from those more experienced or currently using them. Horse has a small mouth and a fat tongue (can often see corner of her tongue poking out through her teeth!), and also has ETR (excessive transverse ridges) on the teeth on the left side of her mouth, for which she sees the dentist every 6 months or less.

She currently is in a loose ring French link and Micklem bridle which she goes quite nicely in. Shes an ex riding school horse so hasn't got the softest mouth as a result but we are working on it and seeing massive improvements.

I borrowed a friends Micklem to try before buying and her NS eggbutt snaffle was on it. WOW - what a difference. She was much softer, willing to take up a contact, and foaming at the mouth moreso than usual. It got me thinking that a NS version of her current bit might work well for her, but I also read great reviews on the Sprenger bits.

Appreciate any input - she goes well as is but seemed to love the NS so much more!
 
If I were you I'd see which I could get hold of second hand ;) the eggbut versions of both are quite pricey.

That said, I would always choose sprenger given the option . There have been too many recalls and reported breakages of NS bits for me I'm afraid. Never heard of such a problem with Sprenger bits. I also like the wider range of mouthpiece thicknesses. I've got 14mm, 16mm and 18 mm thicknesses in my collection :) the kk ultra has a smaller angled link similar to the NS shape. The sprenger training bit has a larger heavier lozenge.
 
I was one of those who bought an expensive Neue Scheule, and it broke. It was one with a ball and socket joint. It was quite new and had no signs of wear. They did refund, and replace the reins that were damaged in the ensuing drama of a fit hunter having its bit break when cantering towards home, but they did not seem overly concerned.

I sent the bit back, and I heard that later the bit was recalled, but TBH I only knew about that as I had an interest (read about it on a forum), I don't think the dangerous fault was widely publicised, or if it was I did not hear about it from equestrian mags or tack shop.

As far as Sprenger, I have had one of those for about 18 years, and it is as good now as it ever was. The bit is on its 5th horse!
 
My horse is the same, big tongue small mouth & I had a lot of success with a myler comfort snaffle and have since moved onto a 14mm kk ultra sprenger, well worth the money but have found both bits work well.
My horse has never taken to NS, chomped a lot & serverely disliked the verbindend & never tried any other.
I always use The Horse Bit Shop, extremely helpful & saves wasting money if they're not right.
 
Can you try from a bit bank before you buy?
Ive also heard of NS bits breaking, and have never heard that about Sprenger, although they are a lot more expensive.
I have to say though, the improvement in my boy, almost as soon as I changed to the NS teamup was enormous, so I'm not knocking NS.
Kx
 
It's always worth trying the myler comfort snaffle so many horses really like them .
And try a loose ring NS or sprenger before you buy the eggbutt a horse can move the mouth piece with it's a tongue on a loose ring bit and horses with difficult mouths often prefer that .
 
Was it the metal or the eggbutt cheeks that the horse liked?
If you can experiment by trying each element individually - borrow if you can rather than buying until you are sure.
I'm not the person to ask about NS bits as I've had a couple of bad experiences with their bits - all I'd say is examine the bit very very carefully that it has no sharp edges or manufacturing faults.
Sprenger are lovely lovely bits, well made and designed. However, horses being horses, some of them (like my Welshie) prefer old-fashioned stainless steel - though mine has decided that she'd rather a single jointed as well, so I wouldnt rule them out either.
 
I have my horse in a NS Verbindend, loose ring and the thinner mouthpiece. Had him in it for about 2.5 yrs and he goes v well in it. He was always finnicky and fussy about bits but he really likes this one, went well in it straight away. My YO had her horse in one for years - that didn't break - and I know of another couple also using them, also not broken.

They're expensive but I've been v impressed with it. Mine goes in that for everything apart from team chasing and hunting, when he has a waterford snaffle.
 
i walked into the local tack shop recently and picked up a verbindend... except it was £24.99, think it might have been a jeffries? Anywa, looks identical and horse goes very nicely in it.
 
I have a Jeffries "verbindend" too. My horse loves it and its a much nicer price! :) From the first time he wore it he was more consistant and his tongue now tends to stay in his mouth 80% of the time, rather than out 80% of the time!

He finds it a bit strong out hacking and gets offended compared to his old NS tranz-ang so we have to swop back, but that's down to his silly brain and the shape of the bit, rather than the fact its not NS.
 
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