non-metal bits?

dottylottie

dottylottie

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had a look through previous threads but not seen anything…

lily is in a sprenger duo snaffle, the bit came with her when i bought her as she’d had a previous bit fitting.

as she gets fitter, and more life experience in general, she’s getting stronger & this simple snaffle is now not quite giving me the brakes i’d like🤣 she’s not “naughty” about it, there’s just a bit of a delay when i ask her to slow down!

i’ve been told she doesn’t like metal bits, and she’s not liked the couple i’ve tried, so i’m a bit stumped - it needs to be BD legal also. she’s very much a nose poker and takes an awful lot of work to get her to relax, and even then is very inconsistent in the contact.

ive messaged a bit fitter but first date was unsuitable so still waiting on a reply, but just wondering if theres something i could trial from the bit bank etc. i’d be happy to try something metal with bit tape but i don’t imagine the bit bank will be too thrilled with that! the few i’ve collected over time are all too small for her, and nobody on the yard to borrow from unfortunately.

any ideas?😂
 
I’ve got one that doesn’t like metal bits.
I’ve heard very good things about winderen bit system which is in my back up options should it be needed!

We have gone from flexi rubber and trust innocence to vulcanite now. Vulcanite she really seems to like. (This is different to the cheaper rubber covered bits btw)
 
How about Happy Mouth bits e.g. https://www.oldmillsaddlery.com/en/...gesmXLOWLaLfWIVeyqRpJZ_XjAEF5jO0aApOcEALw_wcB

I'm not up now on latest BD legal but a hanging cheek was what I used to use for a strong pony for dressage.

My old boy did his dressage for his entire life from age 3 in a plain straight bar Happy Mouth and his was a powerful 3/4 TB

They're not too expensive and I had no trouble with any of them breaking or wearing (another horse of mine went in the snaffle with the roller in the middle for years).
 
reynold said:
How about Happy Mouth bits e.g. https://www.oldmillsaddlery.com/en/...gesmXLOWLaLfWIVeyqRpJZ_XjAEF5jO0aApOcEALw_wcB

I'm not up now on latest BD legal but a hanging cheek was what I used to use for a strong pony for dressage.

My old boy did his dressage for his entire life from age 3 in a plain straight bar Happy Mouth and his was a powerful 3/4 TB

They're not too expensive and I had no trouble with any of them breaking or wearing (another horse of mine went in the snaffle with the roller in the middle for years).
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i think theyre too thick for her mouth, and she doesn’t like the metal in the jointed ones! i think i need a bog standard lozenge snaffle, but completely rubber covered and still 16mm thick?!😂
 
We use Winderen bits for horses that don't like metal bits but also don't like bitless. They come in different styles, can be swapped between different cheek pieces and come in different degrees of flexibility. They are also pretty tough (unlike Nathe which I have found less than ideal for horses that like to chew)
 
Just throwing in something from "outside the box" here; but I went to a local competition venue back in the summer and one of the stalls there was selling bits made out of leather. Might have been Wyvern Saddlery? Not sure on that though.

Might be worth looking at something totally different? Or even bitless. Unless of course you are bound by competition-rules.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Just throwing in something from "outside the box" here; but I went to a local competition venue back in the summer and one of the stalls there was selling bits made out of leather. Might have been Wyvern Saddlery? Not sure on that though.

Might be worth looking at something totally different? Or even bitless. Unless of course you are bound by competition-rules.
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yes i have seen them during my search, always something to keep in mind! i’ve never seen one in person or known anyone thats used one, but they look a bit severe? which is bizarre really when i’m used to putting metal in their mouth haha!

numerous competition rules unfortunately! also wanting to do some newcomers hunting over winter, now i trust her a lot, but not that much🤣
 
dottylottie said:
yes i have seen them during my search, always something to keep in mind! i’ve never seen one in person or known anyone thats used one, but they look a bit severe? which is bizarre really when i’m used to putting metal in their mouth haha!

numerous competition rules unfortunately! also wanting to do some newcomers hunting over winter, now i trust her a lot, but not that much🤣
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If you are so confident it is simply the metal she doesn’t like, and are happy with the existing action and strength of the bit, then buy a chamois leather, cut a strip to en sleeve your bit, and stitch it in place.
Should start her mouthing, if nothing else.
We’ve got some old training bits for workhorses, in leather and also wood - apparently warmer and chompable.
 
Exasperated said:
If you are so confident it is simply the metal she doesn’t like, and are happy with the existing action and strength of the bit, then buy a chamois leather, cut a strip to en sleeve your bit, and stitch it in place.
Should start her mouthing, if nothing else.
We’ve got some old training bits for workhorses, in leather and also wood - apparently warmer and chompable.
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what a good idea, i never would’ve thought of that!

she’s not running through my hand or anything so dramatic, im just struggling with downward transitions and transitions within paces - she’s still green so i still want something mild!

has anyone had any success with titanium? unfortunately i dont know what was tried and rejected in her previous bit fitting before she came to me!
 
dottylottie said:
what a good idea, i never would’ve thought of that!

she’s not running through my hand or anything so dramatic, im just struggling with downward transitions and transitions within paces - she’s still green so i still want something mild!

has anyone had any success with titanium? unfortunately i dont know what was tried and rejected in her previous bit fitting before she came to me!
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No, but I personally have contact allergy to titanium, nickel and one or two other things (as in, earrings, watch strap buckles, etc), which sensitisation issues are a lot more common in humans than one might suppose, given that sometimes these metals are also in surgical implants and reactive patients caused all sorts of problems - so I would personally be cautious.
 
dottylottie said:
i think theyre too thick for her mouth, and she doesn’t like the metal in the jointed ones! i think i need a bog standard lozenge snaffle, but completely rubber covered and still 16mm thick?!😂
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Shires equikind?
Winderen double jointed mouthpiece.

You can latex tape over a joint but that’s not bd legal I don’t think
 
been to get feed today and spotted a bog standard shires blue straight bar with a small port, so we’ll start with that and go from there! also got some bit tape - bd rule book states “bit tape used as bit guard” isn’t allowed, so i’m guessing i’ll be fine. if she happens to like it i’ll email and check, but i doubt it’ll be that simple!🤣
 
Fager fairly recently dropped a series of non metal bits. Otherwise there's always Trust, Beris or Winderen you can try. I also have a horse who detest metal bits, he is mostly ridden bitless but when I use a bit I use a soft non metal bit.
 
Elno said:
Fager fairly recently dropped a series of non metal bits. Otherwise there's always Trust, Beris or Winderen you can try. I also have a horse who detest metal bits, he is mostly ridden bitless but when I use a bit I use a soft non metal bit.
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yes if what i’ve got today doesn’t work my next resort will probably be one you mentioned in the “hard”. i really like fager bits!
 
Is it metal in general or the types metal? Have you tried something with copper rollers? Or an NS bit? The salox metal in theses seems to be favoured by a lot of horses.
 
dottylottie said:
been to get feed today and spotted a bog standard shires blue straight bar with a small port, so we’ll start with that and go from there! also got some bit tape - bd rule book states “bit tape used as bit guard” isn’t allowed, so i’m guessing i’ll be fine. if she happens to like it i’ll email and check, but i doubt it’ll be that simple!🤣
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You know, once you’ve decided which mouthpiece you prefer for the schooling arena ( a straight bar /small port may be insufficient for a young, fit Welsh mare out hacking / hunting, etc), you could ask a loriner to make you an identical one up covered in rubber, with your chosen cheeks / rings. Presumably have to start with a thin metal mouthpiece to accommodate the extra rubber for your particular mare’s small mouth, but that might be your best bet. Abbey used to be very helpful for this (also plenty of others that seem to have gone out of business, like Matthew Harvey’s)
 
ihatework said:
Ok.
But I have no knowledge of the mouth of the OPs horse💁‍♀️

They are a non metal bits option …

And some horses like a chunky mouthpiece.
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I had a little welsh A that went better in a vulcanite bit than anything else. She had a tiny, but very fleshy mouth so we tried all sorts of mouth pieces but she was very fussy in everything until the vulcanite pelham. almost like she was happy she had 'something to get hold off' I think it was because of the weight it sat more securely in her mouth.
 
dorsetladette said:
I had a little welsh A that went better in a vulcanite bit than anything else. She had a tiny, but very fleshy mouth so we tried all sorts of mouth pieces but she was very fussy in everything until the vulcanite pelham. almost like she was happy she had 'something to get hold off' I think it was because of the weight it sat more securely in her mouth.
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Plus, no joints poking the roof of her mouth, or catching on her fleshy tongue.
 
dorsetladette said:
I had a little welsh A that went better in a vulcanite bit than anything else. She had a tiny, but very fleshy mouth so we tried all sorts of mouth pieces but she was very fussy in everything until the vulcanite pelham. almost like she was happy she had 'something to get hold off' I think it was because of the weight it sat more securely in her mouth.
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I agree, and some of these new bits are very thin and exert quite a lot of pressure.

I’m afraid when it comes to bitting I throw out the rule book and do trial and error. And also, will now try the older cheap method’s first having seen quite a few positive changes in horses by going back to basics! The only judge is the horse!
 
Exasperated said:
Plus, no joints poking the roof of her mouth, or catching on her fleshy tongue.
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joints were definitely a no-no for her. She went up vertical as soon as I picked the reins up in a single joint eggbutt snaffle. This mare taught me and many other people a lot about listening to your horse. She taught a lot of young people (and horses) about respect too.

ihatework said:
I agree, and some of these new bits are very thin and exert quite a lot of pressure.

I’m afraid when it comes to bitting I throw out the rule book and do trial and error. And also, will now try the older cheap method’s first having seen quite a few positive changes in horses by going back to basics! The only judge is the horse!
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Yes very much what suits the horse. A lot of people haven't even heard of vulcanite. I still have that bit, but wouldn't use it as it's got chunks missing out it now. But I like to show people what the materials is and feels like.
 
thanks everyone! bit fitter got back to me and gave me a date, so i can stop stressing now - will come back and update for anyone else who finds the thread!


i asked her old owner what was tried and she didn’t like, which were your regular kind of snaffles - the ones i’ve tried have been whatever i’ve had, so it could’ve been the material, mouthpiece or cheekpiece she didn’t like🤦🏼‍♀️😂

she has a happy mouth pelham that she does go better in but doesn’t like, i suspect it’s too thick for her. happy mouths also not bd legal!
 
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