Really struggling with a bit for my New Forest

peanutsmumma said:
No....this is my next option to try at the weekend
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What sized mouth is he? I have quite a selection I worked through with B who has (so it sounds) a similar mouth/tongue set up. We've ended up with:
Bomber happy mouth eggbutt is 'tolerated' but not completely happy, but the same mouthpiece in loose ring is 'fine'.
I then use the Elliptical B 12mm loose ring for 'exciting stuff' like sj as shes v keen.
For the odd foray showing, I use a Hartwell Pelham, I don't like it but she does.
These above are what I opted for out of a very good number of my old bits and new ones borrowed and hired.
 
Was he happy in the original bit? Even if it looked like it was too chunky it might be that he prefers a thicker mouthpiece?
 
Here are the photos of the bridle
 

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Tarragon said:
I do wonder if it is the contact they are evading sometimes, rather than the bit per sae. Perhaps you do have a good bit for him, but he just hasn't learnt to really accept the bit and the contact?
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This- for the pony to respond in the same way to multiple different bits suggests to me that it’s a contact issue, not a bitting one. Therefore, get the bit as stable as possible and work on the softness of the mouth and the yield to the flexion.
 
Have you tried a normal bridle without the noseband and also what does he do to make you say he hasn't settled. He is gorgeous btw 😍
 
peanutsmumma said:
I'm going to go right back to basics with him and put him in the bridle and the bit I broke him in and see how he responds to that
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Has he always gone like this even with the original bit and bridle set up? Or has he got worse?

Sorry I'm not really sure what to suggest! Can you get expert bits out to do a formal consultation or did you do that last time?
 
Trakky14 said:
Has he always gone like this even with the original bit and bridle set up? Or has he got worse?

Sorry I'm not really sure what to suggest! Can you get expert bits out to do a formal consultation or did you do that last time?
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He has definitely got worse this year.

So I'm going to change him back to his original bit and bridle and see what happens.

Take it back to basic so I can at least illuminate those!
 
Kaylum said:
Have you tried a normal bridle without the noseband and also what does he do to make you say he hasn't settled. He is gorgeous btw 😍
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Thank you 😊 I think so too 😍

He used to have a normal Cavesson noseband so I'm going to try him in that again.

He opened his mouth, sticks his head up, flails his tongue out the sides of his mouth and just generally looks uncomfortable 😣
 
peanutsmumma said:
Thank you 😊 I think so too 😍

He used to have a normal Cavesson noseband so I'm going to try him in that again.

He opened his mouth, sticks his head up, flails his tongue out the sides of his mouth and just generally looks uncomfortable 😣
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How bizarre...have you tried one of the apple flavoured bits?

Does he only do it when ridden? What about on the lunge etc? Long reining? Is it as bad?
 
My cob has same mouth, bit fitter and bit bank recommend various ones which were awful. Bomber happy tongue is particularly recommended, she hates it!

I've found beris ported bits perfect. They are non-metal and are available in a soft and a hard version of the mouthpiece. Start at £50 for a loose ring snaffle from viovet so worth a shot.
 
peanutsmumma said:
I'm going to go right back to basics with him and put him in the bridle and the bit I broke him in and see how he responds to that
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If that does not work, then I would investigate for pain. Bute trial or similar for a starting point. As a friend of mine found, a fussy mouth and a reluctance to take up a steady contact in an outline, can actually be because there is something wrong somewhere else, that means that carrying themselves ‘correctly’ hurts.
 
So....I took him back to basics tonight, his first bit and his first bridle.....he worked brilliantly. He was throwing his head about and sticking his tongue out to begin with but I think he may have been anticipating that it was going to be uncomfortable.....and then after about 10mins, he settled completely.
No opening his mouth and tossing his head, all I could here was him slurping from salivating so much.
🤞 This wasn't just a one off!

I guess it all goes to show that all the gimmicky stuff that gets thrown in your face about comfy Bridles, different bits etc don't always work!!!!

Pics of him and his saliva 😂🤤
 

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peanutsmumma said:
So....I took him back to basics tonight, his first bit and his first bridle.....he worked brilliantly. He was throwing his head about and sticking his tongue out to begin with but I think he may have been anticipating that it was going to be uncomfortable.....and then after about 10mins, he settled completely.
No opening his mouth and tossing his head, all I could here was him slurping from salivating so much.
🤞 This wasn't just a one off!

I guess it all goes to show that all the gimmicky stuff that gets thrown in your face about comfy Bridles, different bits etc don't always work!!!!

Pics of him and his saliva 😂🤤
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Fantastic!! Totally agree re gimmicks! Hope you can get some money back for your horsemanship bridle! 🤦‍♀️
 
Tarragon said:
I do wonder if it is the contact they are evading sometimes, rather than the bit per sae. Perhaps you do have a good bit for him, but he just hasn't learnt to really accept the bit and the contact?
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I have a pony that is exactly the same as regards buts, any bit, & yes I’ve had everything checked, had many consultations & tried bitless so could I ask how you would encourage this pony to really accept the bit & the contact as I’ve run out of ideas.
 
Mari said:
I have a pony that is exactly the same as regards buts, any bit, & yes I’ve had everything checked, had many consultations & tried bitless so could I ask how you would encourage this pony to really accept the bit & the contact as I’ve run out of ideas.
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I didn't do anything per sae. The bit that he was broken in is a sweet iron snaffle with a lozenge. It's quite chunky, I'm thinking he prefers chunky to narrow which is what the bit specialist said fits his mouth profile.
I did lots of shallow loops, circles and serpentines with him last night so get him bending. We mainly worked in walk with some trot transitions and then loose rein canters at the end as a reward.
Like I say, it may just be a 1 off.....I'm really hoping it's not though!!
 
Mari said:
I have a pony that is exactly the same as regards buts, any bit, & yes I’ve had everything checked, had many consultations & tried bitless so could I ask how you would encourage this pony to really accept the bit & the contact as I’ve run out of ideas.
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I am still learning that one! I have really only just backed my pony and am learning as we go along. What I have observed though, is that when we are out and about in hand, but fully tacked up, he has his bit very quietly in his mouth; I only get the yawing and mouth open when I am riding - so it is me, or my impact on the bit that is causing it rather than the bit. Like TheMule mentioned, I am doing lots of in-hand exercises where you have a hand (or both hands) directly on the bit and getting them to flex their head, and then to lift their head by shifting their weight back and to lengthen and lower their head into a contact. You can tell by my poor description of the exercises that I am the one being taught. The contact on the bit is always light. You are using the same aids as you will then use when ridden, so that it all falls into place.
 
peanutsmumma said:
So....I took him back to basics tonight, his first bit and his first bridle.....he worked brilliantly. He was throwing his head about and sticking his tongue out to begin with but I think he may have been anticipating that it was going to be uncomfortable.....and then after about 10mins, he settled completely.
No opening his mouth and tossing his head, all I could here was him slurping from salivating so much.
🤞 This wasn't just a one off!

I guess it all goes to show that all the gimmicky stuff that gets thrown in your face about comfy Bridles, different bits etc don't always work!!!!

Pics of him and his saliva 😂🤤
Click to expand...
Cliches galore here but I'm very much of the opinion that if it ain't broke don't fix it - and that even if something's good on paper, horses can't read! If he's happy in that bit, stick with it. I'd give it a go with the anatomical bridle simply because you've bought it now so may as well use it if you can. Changing both bit and bridle in this case was the right thing to do but normally I'd change one thing at a time so you know what effect that change has had. I suspect it's the bit and trying the old bit with the new bridle won't bring back the signs of discomfort.
 
Annagain said:
Cliches galore here but I'm very much of the opinion that if it ain't broke don't fix it - and that even if something's good on paper, horses can't read! If he's happy in that bit, stick with it. I'd give it a go with the anatomical bridle simply because you've bought it now so may as well use it if you can. Changing both bit and bridle in this case was the right thing to do but normally I'd change one thing at a time so you know what effect that change has had. I suspect it's the bit and trying the old bit with the new bridle won't bring back the signs of discomfort.
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I had the bit fitter out again at the weekend and I tried him in a turtle top Neue Schule with his Anatomical bridle and he went the best he has ever gone....even better than his original bit!!
 
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