Recommended bits for a sensitive mouth

[MGKIRA]

Hi all,

I bought a lovely 6 year old mare a few months ago and all was going well whilst we were hacking about (which is what I've bought her for). With the dark nights I've been schooling her to keep her fit however we have been having issues with her mouth. Shes so sensitive to any rein aids and will throw her head up and mess with the bit - not to do anything nasty but you can just tell shes unhappy. If you look in her mouth it's almost like shes trying to retract her tongue back. I've had a dentist out to her who have given her the all clear after having a few sharp bits rasped. I've had an instructor out as I wasn't sure if it was myself putting pressure on her mouth with my hands but the instructor said my hands are quiet and doesn't think that's the problem.

I've had her in a loose ring snaffle with a copper lozenge but the instructor recommended looking for a different bit to suit her as she's clearly not happy with it and he thinks there's too much movement in the bit making her uncomfortable.

Can anyone recommend a bit to try for a sensitive mouth? I've been looking at some happy mouth bits - any to recommend? She's not a strong horse at all and listens well to voice commands and direction from your seat.

 

[Gloi]

If she hates tongue pressure you could try a bomber tongue relief bit

 

[Roxylola]

Bomber happy tongue

 

[HelenBack]

I'm wondering if she might prefer an egbutt that sits stiller in the mouth. My new horse is sensitive and I'm still having a bit of trial and error with him but he's definitely happier in an eggbutt and seems to get quite tense in a loose ring.

 

[Timelyattraction]

Hi all,

I bought a lovely 6 year old mare a few months ago and all was going well whilst we were hacking about (which is what I've bought her for). With the dark nights I've been schooling her to keep her fit however we have been having issues with her mouth. Shes so sensitive to any rein aids and will throw her head up and mess with the bit - not to do anything nasty but you can just tell shes unhappy. If you look in her mouth it's almost like shes trying to retract her tongue back. I've had a dentist out to her who have given her the all clear after having a few sharp bits rasped. I've had an instructor out as I wasn't sure if it was myself putting pressure on her mouth with my hands but the instructor said my hands are quiet and doesn't think that's the problem.

I've had her in a loose ring snaffle with a copper lozenge but the instructor recommended looking for a different bit to suit her as she's clearly not happy with it and he thinks there's too much movement in the bit making her uncomfortable.

Can anyone recommend a bit to try for a sensitive mouth? I've been looking at some happy mouth bits - any to recommend? She's not a strong horse at all and listens well to voice commands and direction from your seat.

Hi i have had two like this, i put them both in a straight bar ported bit (it is similar to the bombers happy tongue but just with a cheaper price tag) and they were both happy and worked nicely in it x

 

[Marigold4]

Mine used to be like this. Much improved in a Bomber Happy Tongue eggbutt. The eggbutt makes less movement than the loose ring.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would try an eggbut rather than a loose ring one of mine doesn't like any type of loose ring bit and will fidget in one.

 

[soloequestrian]

Try bitless? I school in Transcend and hack in an English hackamore.

 

[black and brown]

It may be worth getting a bit fitting expert to assess your horse and advise on suitable bits

 

[Horseysheepy]

Had a mare like this.
She went much happier in a JP (curved mouthpiece) eggbutt single jointed snaffle. Cost £28 I think.
She liked the tongue relief, stability and clear signals of the eggbutt.
It was the loose rings and lozenges that she disliked.
Also another horse I rode liked the myler hanging cheek low port comfort snaffle.
This bit suspended the mouthpiece above the tongue rather than resting on it and had the curved mouthpiece to minimize nutcracker action.
Mylers can be a little too sharp for some though, but good for horses with fleshy tongues.

 

[cauda equina]

If the suggestions above don't help it would be worth trying a Micklem bridle; they are meant to keep the bit more still in the mouth

 

[spotty_pony]

NS verbindend or Cotswold sport tongue relief snaffle - second one is a lot cheaper and does the same thing. Sounds like she doesn’t like tongue pressure so I’d go for something reasonably thin (14mm thickness maximum) and these bits are shaped to allow roof for the tongue. If she’s still not happy then I’d look at a bit with a port.

 

[ITPersonnage]

TBH you could empty your bank account trying all the bits mentioned so far or get a bit fitter out and buy once. You need someone to look into her mouth and watch you ride to recommend something suitable for her mouth/tongue, I found this was a good solution anyway.

Best of luck.

 

[maya2008]

I have had two ponies who preferred a single joint to a lozenge/French link. Inexpensive and worth a try. I would look for bits to try on Fb though as you can then sell on anything that doesn’t fit for what you paid, so no money lost.

 

[sbloom]

I would suggest a bit fitter, sensitive can mean anything, and mouth conformation varies a lot.

 

[Kaylum]

I would suggest a bit fitter, sensitive can mean anything, and mouth conformation varies a lot.

Yes this. It also depends where the bit sits in the mouth and the bridle.

 

[Highmileagecob]

I rode bitless for around ten years with no issues. Traditional cob with a lot of tongue and cheek and not a lot of room for a bit. if she is good on the ground in a headcollar, you should be able to teach her bitless pressure within a couple of days.

 

[MGKIRA]

I'm wondering if she might prefer an egbutt that sits stiller in the mouth. My new horse is sensitive and I'm still having a bit of trial and error with him but he's definitely happier in an eggbutt and seems to get quite tense in a loose ring.

Thank you - I have got an eggbutt so may as well give this a try

 

[MGKIRA]

Yes this. It also depends where the bit sits in the mouth and the bridle.

Yes definitely going to look into this as and get someone out!

 

[Spotherisk]

Is her tongue quite big? If you part her lips on the side can you see it bulging? These days I’d go for a recommended bit fitter, but 25 years ago I tried a port mouth Pelham with two reins and the horse was happy with it.

 

[Flame_]

JP curved eggbutt snaffle.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I rode bitless for around ten years with no issues. Traditional cob with a lot of tongue and cheek and not a lot of room for a bit. if she is good on the ground in a headcollar, you should be able to teach her bitless pressure within a couple of days.

Bear in mind that bitless doesn't necessarily mean less severe; before deciding to go bitless I would suggest doing a lot of research and particularly to examine the anatomy of the horse's head relating to where the various nerves are situated. This is vital IMO.

I tried my mare bitless - she is a gypsy cob and for a while everything was fine, then she started poking her nose out and hollowing her back in canter, and tanking. Changed her back to bitted and tried a happy-mouth straight-bar snaffle, and she was as happy as larry and has gone beautifully in it ever since.

It really is about trial and error; which is why I would echo the advice of those on here who are suggesting a bitting expert.

 

[Hepsibah]

My Ruby was like that so I have her in a low port Myler comfort eggbutt snaffle with hooks. I have the cheek piece on one hook to stop the mouthpiece resting on her bars and the rein just on the ring because she doesn't need any leverage. She is much more settled since i got that.