Please help me choose the right bit...

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express_75

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Hi
I have a four yr old Welsh D mare, she's still very green and usually ridden in a Fulmer French Link but a friend took her hunting boxing day in a sweet iron snaffle & tight flash. Her mouth is very sore and swollen at the side from this and as she is so young and not very experienced yet, i don't want her to have a ruined mouth etc...
Friend said she was fine out, quite strong going down hill but not uncontrollable. I have just spoken to her and said i should order a rubber 3 ring gag?
Please could someone advise me on a good bit for my horse?
Are the Myler ones any good?
She hacks out without pulling etc
Thanks for reading...
 
Are you sure you need to change your bit?! Was she normally Ok with the fulmer? Did it just get changed for hunting and the flash done up tight? This is probably what made her sore!

I would allow her a bit of time for her mouth to heal - some salt water on the sore bits then maybe slap some vaseline on when you do ride. Don't think you need to change it at this stage - she's only a baby you don't want to start mucking her about at her age.
 
Agree with you both. I don't want to start messing about with gadgets and harden her very soft mouth. I haven't taken her hunting and i'm not going to ride her either until her mouth is better. She had a huge "stallion neck" and last time she went out it was in the fulmer and apparently was very strong ( it was her fiirst time).
Im happy to keep her in that, personally.
Just wanted to know what people think about the gag idea??
 
Thanks.
I don't want her in a gag either.

The mare is my first horse and because of this it seems like everything is taken over....

Thanks nosey..
 
I agree with all, person hurt her mouth, not you and not your bit...

sorry about my large pic, but this is meant to be athumbnail and won't change in the photobucket!
 
Maybe try and find someone you trust and repect to help you school her so you get a consistent approach. Is there some one you know who could do this / give you lessons? Don't feel pressured by every Tom, Dick and Harry giving you their two penneth worth. I also think I would give the hunting a miss for the time being...thats probably not helping!
Good luck with her - I love Welsh Cobs!!
 
Thanks once again nosey!
I've got a professional that is going to school her down at the yard once every 2 weeks and eventually i'll have lessons on her so that we can progress together. This mare has a home for life with me and i don't want her spoilt by others. I would have taken her for a quiet hack today but her mouth is too sore so i just brought her in for a nice groom and then put her back out to chill out with her friends!

I'm looking forward to having her ridden by someone who will bring out the best in her..will be next Thursday and for half an hour.,just enough for her.

I love Welsh Cobs too and she's a dream come true to me!

x
 
I replied to your post in the NL - I think this has been blown out of proportion.

If the mare went from a nice fulmer to a loose ring and is welsh, highly likely her floppy lip bits were pulled into the large loose ring horse and made her sore. Not the bit action at fault, but just a function of a loose ring.

My suggestion is to take the flash off, use a cavesson and swap to a nelson gag with two reins for exciting stuff. Works really well for keeping the mouth soft (only employ gag rein when needed!)

I don't like false gags on youngsters, as they are much harsher to the poll from mechanical leverage.
 
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