Some boring bit advice please?

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somethingorother

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I know, i know it's boring, sorry!

The lad was in a pelham before i started sharing him but was changed to loose ring lozenge snaffle just before i started with him and has been in that for the last 3 months (can't believe it's been that long!
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). Apparently he was changed from the pelham because he kept pulling his head down and they thought it was too strong. Which could be true as i have not had any problems stopping him, he seems to like a very very light hand when schooling too.

However he has another sharer and she has just bought him a french link eggbutt as she said he was strong on the gallops and she had no control. I wish she had spoken to me beforehand because although i can see how she thinks this bit is slightly stronger i don't think it will make a substantial difference and i also think the fixed rings do not help with his giraffe head and pulling as he then has more to fix against.

Am i correct in thinking this? He seemed a bit fussy in his mouth schooling tonight but i can't be sure it's not because he was just full of energy.

I really really wish she hadn't already bought it because i feel terrible asking her to change it now.

If it were my decision i would like to try him in a hanging cheek with a french link, or some form of double jointed bit anyway. What do you think?

Any suggestions? Anywhere you know of where you can try before you buy? Any help in general muchly appreciated! And rewarded with cookies!

Thanks
 
Sorry, no technical advice hun but I do think you need to tell your sharer immediately. She may be able to exchange the bit she bought. If not, tough. He's YOUR horse and it's YOU who have worked so hard to get him light as a feather and happy in his mouth. I'd also think about borrowing a horse and riding out with your sharer to see how she rides when galloping your boy. Somethings not right and you owe it to your boy to keep him happy x
 
Gosh what a situation to be in! This sharing malarky doesn't sound it's all it is cracked up to be
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personally I think you need a word with her and come to some mutual agreement, the horse can't keep going through different bits all of the time. Naturally (s)he will be stronger along the gallops! It's exciting!
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So when she next takes her/him out in the french link along the gallops and (s)he becomes too strong again... will she change the bit again?? You will end up sharing a not so happy neddie! Which bit was (s)he happier with schooling? I'd stick to that personally until there's real need to play around! xx
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Hi something-or-other,
I think that bit is always last thing to worry about.

We need to work a horse forwards, straight, + in a rhythm.
If we can achieve this, this makes us a decent rider.
There are no short-cuts, + i remain appalled that some bit manufacturers have the marketing gall to say otherwise, as only a good trainer can advise.

Most people haven't a clue about when a horse works correctly.

That's my boring bit advice, as requested! BS
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x
 
What does the owner suggest ..... or has she taken a step back and left you both to it?

Personally, I am quite fussy about bit changes .... wouldn't be happy if somebody who shared my horse just decided to change the bit
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well, a french link eggbutt is not a strong bit at all... unless you have a very strong sawing pair of hands on the other end of it. i'd worry as much about her riding as about her bit choice, personally... and if she doesn't want him to get strong, she shouldn't take him on the gallops!
 
There is no reason why the horse should wear the same bit for every activity. If I were you I should use the bit I am happy with for the activities I wish to do with the horse and let the other sharer use the bit she feels happiest with for the activities she does with him.
There are many people on here who use different bits for different activities on their own horse.
If I were the owner of this horse though, I would be concerned that some-one was changing his tack without discussing it with ME (not the other sharer) first.
 
Hi, thanks for all the advice.
He's not mine, but the owner doesn't ride at the moment so it's just us two sharers for the foreseeable future. She doesn't seem bothered about the bit changes as the other sharer has been going much longer than me and knows him pretty well. He seemed ok in his mouth in the loose ring although he's always funny with his head when he's excited, i don't know if he was just more mouthy and fussy last night because of the new bit so will have to see how it goes.

BS- I'm working on getting him going correctly, i always try to be very light in the hand and i've been working really hard since our first awful schooling sessions to get him going properly from behind. Things are improving slowly. I wouldn't personally have changed his bit from the loose ring, but i've never taken him on the gallops and if he's not in control i suppose something needs doing. At the same time i want him to be happy with his mouth. The most important thing to me is a comfortable horse, hence why no one understands my tack cleaning obsession- but if there's anything on the horse it should be as coumfy as possible imo.

I know the Eggbutt isn't a very strong bit, which is why i'm a bit baffled.

Maybe i should have a chat with the owner, but she's not been on him in ages so will probably just have to go off what we say.
 
Just listen to the horse, friend, + why ask us when you are a very competent rider? (Speaking as one with very mucky tack!! No horse complaints so far.....!)

I really don't think that the answer is in the bit, any more than you do!

The answer is in correct riding (+ if necessary, correct schooling). That's 'boring bit advice please' from BS. With X, cos none of it is easy to learn, takes lifetime.
 
Thanks, I guess i just wanted some reassurance.
As if to confuse me he was pulling head down lots when schooling tonight- exact opposite of usual problem. grr!

He's never the easiest of chaps so it's hard to tell what/when there's a problem!

Will just see how he goes and might change back next week to see. Thanks for advice =)
 
Hi again, somethingorother, x

Let's look at this logically.

You've got a problem with a horse who is owned by someone else, now shared between 2 of you? All with different ideas?
Some may have different riding problems?

Any wonder the horse is confused?

You sound like you know what you're on about, so just believe in yourself, is my thought x

My best suggestion, which i know will work (while boring, also, yawn!) is that you get a good local trainer to sort you all out asap (BHS.org.uk will give local BHS qualified ones, who do have a sense of humour also!)

With my very best wishes, + let's forget bit intricacies + just ride em! (Otherwise, i've gone to sleep). BS X
 
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