Neue Schule Verbindend versus turtle top

[HelenBack]

Just wondering who has used each of these bits and how you find them for your horses and your specific issues?

They've been suggested to me in an online bitting consultation and both sound like they could be okay so trying to decide which to try first.

Haven't got ages to write about my horse and what I'm looking for so thought I'd here about other people's experiences and try and work out what sounds similar to me and my horse and then go from there!

 

[Love]

Mine had always been one for chomping on the bit - nothing physical going on, tried a few different bits and dentist at the time was happy so carried on and put it down to being "him". 3 years ago we moved halfway down the country so in turn had to find a new dentist. He straight away told me about the wear this had been causing in his teeth (old dentist had never uttered this even though it will have been increasing for years by this point - I was miffed off to say the least!!).

New dentist suggested the verbindend as it sits forward in their mouth and we needed something to avoid making this wear worse. Not only did we succeed in that, the difference in him was astounding! I must have got so used to his way of going that I was blind to it, something I'm not proud of. This bit was an absolute game changer for us - I only wish we found it years ago! Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

 

[Annagain]

A friend found the turtle top made a big difference to her horse. He was really argumentative in other bits but settled with the TT straight away. This co-incided with him turning 6 and becoming a lot more amenable in every aspect of his life so it might have been a co-incidence or might have as a result of the bit change but I don't think that would have affected his non-ridden behaviour as well? She bought him as a just broken 4yr old and he had serious attitude but this year he's mellowed a lot.

 

[HelenBack]

Thanks both, just goes to show that it's different things for different horses! I've read through the descriptions for both and I think I'm going to try the turtle top first. If that doesn't help I'll try the verbindend. I don't think he's naughty but he needs to learn a whole new way of going (ex-racer) and feel confident in the contact and he is sensitive. So I just want whatever I use to be as comfortable as possible for him. He soon tells me if he doesn't like it by going round with his tongue out so at least I get to know pretty easily!

 

[Tiddlypom]

It took me a while to discover that my mare hates all the anatomical lozenged bits, inc the team up, the tranz angled hanging cheek and the verbindend, and much prefers a traditional single jointed snaffle. She clearly hasn't read the literature which dismisses the traditional single jointed snaffle as having a nutcracker action.

It's horses for courses.

 

[HelenBack]

It took me a while to discover that my mare hates all the anatomical lozenged bits, inc the team up, the tranz angled hanging cheek and the verbindend, and much prefers a traditional single jointed snaffle. She clearly hasn't read the literature which dismisses the traditional single jointed snaffle as having a nutcracker action.

It's horses for courses.

Yes well that's horses for you isn't it? And I do think it's a valid point because sometimes I think we try too hard and go for the expensive fancy stuff because for some reason it must be better, when something simple is quite often fine or even better. My other horse hated all of the NS bits as well actually and liked a Myler the best.

So far I've worked out this one doesn't like a loose ring and prefers fixed cheeks. I'll try these ones from a bit bank now and if I don't have success with those will get my hands on a cheap old fashioned eggbutt and give that a whirl.

 

[catkin]

Yes well that's horses for you isn't it? And I do think it's a valid point because sometimes I think we try too hard and go for the expensive fancy stuff because for some reason it must be better, when something simple is quite often fine or even better. My other horse hated all of the NS bits as well actually and liked a Myler the best.

So far I've worked out this one doesn't like a loose ring and prefers fixed cheeks. I'll try these ones from a bit bank now and if I don't have success with those will get my hands on a cheap old fashioned eggbutt and give that a whirl.

My pony, and 2 of my former ponies, have preferred single jointed bits over lozenges. If they have small mouths then the joints of a lozenge bit can be uncomfortable. There are shaped/anatomical/curved mouthpieces with a single joint so there are a few possibilities about if you go down this route.

 

[HelenBack]

My pony, and 2 of my former ponies, have preferred single jointed bits over lozenges. If they have small mouths then the joints of a lozenge bit can be uncomfortable. There are shaped/anatomical/curved mouthpieces with a single joint so there are a few possibilities about if you go down this route.

Thanks. That is a good point actually as he does have a very small mouth. Some 5 inch bits are OK but others have turned out to be too big.

Are there any you can recommend for me to look into? I think NS do a single jointed one don't they and not sure if Korsteel do too? Any other suggestions gratefully received.

 

[Fieldlife]

Thanks. That is a good point actually as he does have a very small mouth. Some 5 inch bits are OK but others have turned out to be too big.

Are there any you can recommend for me to look into? I think NS do a single jointed one don't they and not sure if Korsteel do too? Any other suggestions gratefully received.

Single jointed NS is Demi Anky.

 

[catkin]

Thanks. That is a good point actually as he does have a very small mouth. Some 5 inch bits are OK but others have turned out to be too big.

Are there any you can recommend for me to look into? I think NS do a single jointed one don't they and not sure if Korsteel do too? Any other suggestions gratefully received.

My ponies have been quite definite about what they like

Fellboy is happiest in a Sprenger snaffle with a distinct bend in the middle sometimes called Balkenhol , sometimes Conrad. We have a hanging cheek and a d-ring version but have had them both for many years so dont know if they are still available.
My late Welsh mare went well in a Dever eggbutt which is more of a continuous curve from side to side. Korsteel is similar.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Thanks. That is a good point actually as he does have a very small mouth. Some 5 inch bits are OK but others have turned out to be too big.

Are there any you can recommend for me to look into? I think NS do a single jointed one don't they and not sure if Korsteel do too? Any other suggestions gratefully received.

JP (I think a korsteel brand)do a single jointed snaffle with curved mouthpiece.
I've got the full cheek version.

 

[Annagain]

Have a look at HP bits too. They're very similar to Mylers but a lot cheaper. I have a 5" eggbut comfort snaffle if you want to borrow it to try.

 

[HelenBack]

Have a look at HP bits too. They're very similar to Mylers but a lot cheaper. I have a 5" eggbut comfort snaffle if you want to borrow it to try.

Thanks, that's really kind of you. Do you know how the sizes on the HP bits compare to the Mylers? I've got a couple of Mylers but find their 5" bits probably more like a 5.5 in other bits so too big for this horse sadly.

 

[Annagain]

Thanks, that's really kind of you. Do you know how the sizes on the HP bits compare to the Mylers? I've got a couple of Mylers but find their 5" bits probably more like a 5.5 in other bits so too big for this horse sadly.

They do come up a bit big. It's probably more of a 5.25". I had it for Charlie who was 17hh but the bit fit person I had out said he had a small mouth, which I was really surprised by as his head was pretty big. I tried it on Wiggy and couldn't even get it in his mouth without one of the bit rings going in too it was that small on him. I'm down your way on Tuesday if you want to meet up to pick it up. I'm in no rush to get it back as don't have a horse it fits any more.

 

[HelenBack]

They do come up a bit big. It's probably more of a 5.25". I had it for Charlie who was 17hh but the bit fit person I had out said he had a small mouth, which I was really surprised by as his head was pretty big. I tried it on Wiggy and couldn't even get it in his mouth without one of the bit rings going in too it was that small on him. I'm down your way on Tuesday if you want to meet up to pick it up. I'm in no rush to get it back as don't have a horse it fits any more.

Thanks, I suspect it might end up being too big but it's definitely worth a try if you're in the area anyway. Give me a shout and let me know when you're around and we can arrange to meet up