please can someone help me understand the different driving bits

[Sarah04]

Please can someone help me understand the different driving bits . I've got a Shetland I drive in a rubber bit which is fine on drives out around the village's but I've just started doing dressage and could do with a little more help with my steering he's keen and I find it hard to get him to walk he keeps breaking into a fast trot . I don't want anything to harsh. I've also got a new mare that is been broken to drive by a professional she's 4 and never had a bit in . What would be the best bit for her also? Thanks

 

[Tyssandi]

Please can someone help me understand the different driving bits . I've got a Shetland I drive in a rubber bit which is fine on drives out around the village's but I've just started doing dressage and could do with a little more help with my steering he's keen and I find it hard to get him to walk he keeps breaking into a fast trot . I don't want anything to harsh. I've also got a new mare that is been broken to drive by a professional she's 4 and never had a bit in . What would be the best bit for her also? Thanks

my pony is in a Liverpool bit, there is the buxton and the butterfly bit which are more sever, the liverpool is a good bit for ponies to be controlled in and for balance. The buxton is more sever and has more rein options and also longer cheeks

 

[rara007]

The butterfly is considered milder than a Liverpool but ultimately both can be the same as snaffle action and Liverpool gives you more of a gradient of options. Get some Liverpools in their favourite mouthpieces. Ideally unjointed

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

I suggest you subscribe to Barry Hook on Youtube.
It all comes down to discipline and obedience, he breaks hundreds of horses in rubber bits, and he has full control of those he breaks himself.
He is sent hundreds of difficult horses, and they nearly all drive in rubber bits, most of the tearaways have been bitted in strong Liverpools, and in the end, it ends up a nightmare, with the poor things pulling the cart with their mouths, because they don't learn the basic driving techniques, and they just end up taking control.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Please can someone help me understand the different driving bits . I've got a Shetland I drive in a rubber bit which is fine on drives out around the village's but I've just started doing dressage and could do with a little more help with my steering he's keen and I find it hard to get him to walk he keeps breaking into a fast trot . I don't want anything to harsh. I've also got a new mare that is been broken to drive by a professional she's 4 and never had a bit in . What would be the best bit for her also? Thanks

What do you mean she s been broken to drive bitless?
I think you should get lessons for you and your ponies if you are going to do a lot of driving. I'm not sure what you mean by dressage driving? The ponies absolutely must be well trained if they are going out on public roads, ie they must go at thepace you dictate and stand still when you ask, for as long as you want.
Are you in the BDS? They hold events and meetings regularly.

 

[rara007]

For dressage (either indoor or out) you really are better off in a tradional bit than a rubber snaffle. Indoor there is no presentation mark but it's worth having the options there. A rubber Liverpool will still give you the look and you can go on smooth cheek (this will still help steering) but I find most ponies don't have enough room in their mouth for a rubber mouthpiece to be comfortable.

 

[Sarah04]

What do you mean she s been broken to drive bitless?
I think you should get lessons for you and your ponies if you are going to do a lot of driving. I'm not sure what you mean by dressage driving? The ponies absolutely must be well trained if they are going out on public roads, ie they must go at thepace you dictate and stand still when you ask, for as long as you want.
Are you in the BDS? They hold events and meetings regularly.

She has gone to a professional to get broken to drive (yesterday) my instructor has asked me to get her a bit but has given me a few different bit names so wondered which would be best. She doesnt have a bit small enough for her shes 34 inches tall. Im a member of the north eastern driving club have been driving on the roads a year . We have had our assessment and we are now practicing dressage tests and cones with my instructor to compete at events. My pony is very well behaved at driving and has done it since he was young but now we are doing dressage at instructors yard he's a little strong at home and out in the roads he's perfect.

 

[Merlod]

I have a 35" driving Shetland, he goes in a lozenge link butterfly bit. He was originally started in a rubber snaffle bit it was too thick for his little mouth and he was very unhappy, I changed to a magic snaffle (thinner, ported, stainless) but in the end I found through trial and error he was happiest in a lozenge link.

Mostly I drive him on the top ring of the butterfly which is basically a snaffle (baucher) though I do like having the option of dropping the reins down to the bottom ring for more exciting situations, plus the fix cheeks aid in turning. I really like the butterfly bit, it's smart on a small head - sometimes liverpools or other "big" driving bits can look a bit much on a little one!

 

[Lanky Loll]

I'd try a hanging cheek (baucher) snaffle on a pony - tidy little bit and not too severe, and helps with steering. We used them on all the harness racehorses.