struggling to decide on a bit for my horse

[islauren]

my horse has just had a year off due to personal reasons and upon bringing her back is a total nightmare so have been recommended to changer her bit to gain some moe control. only problem being i have no idea where to start. she currently in a hanging cheek double jointed with a flash. she's very strong when asking to canter rather than canter she will gallop and when asked to stop will not do so until she decide it time. She also has no regards fo accepting the bit and working into a contact and will gp round the school with her head in the air. i am aware a but will not fix this and will come from her working correctly through her back which we are working on. find;;y she has a bad habit of sticking her young over the bit hence the reason for the flash to try and stop this. the flash isn't done up tight as she can still punch a snack of grass when out on a hack shall i tighten the flash and see if this improves.

Any suggestions would be a great help !
thank you !

 

[Gloi]

If she's unhappy with her tongue look for something designed to give more tongue space like a ported snaffle or a ported pelham type.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

It sounds more like a schooling or pain issue rather than a bit problem, after her year off have you had her saddle back and teeth checked? If yes maybe have some lessons and get some help from an instructor they should be able to advise you on what may work or help, I personally don't flash nose bands at all and a lot of horses don't like single jointed bits so maybe try a similar bit with a lozenge to start with.

Sounds like she is getting her tongue over for more comfort horses can't swallow if the tongue is clamped down so the flash can cause this have you tried her without it?

 

[vhf]

If you've just brought her back up, it may not be a bit issue at all, in which case, changing it won't help and might make things worse. When did she last have her teeth checked by an EDT for example?
She may have forgotten some of her manners and developed weaknesses which you have already identified, so a bit change might help in the short term but might be an unnecessary expense after a few weeks. Schooling (including on hacks) and fitness would be my next thoughts after teeth.
Is she fit enough to be cantering yet without thinking it's the most exciting thing in the world... and so on. Always worth wondering is it an evasion rather than rudeness - hence you check teeth, saddle, and so on and so forth.
If she's never been happy in her mouth, then that's a whole other thing that you need to think about - is it the right thickness of mouthpiece, is there room for her tongue, dos she prefer a still bit or one she can move about. Might be worth seeing if someone can video her head when you're riding to see what she's doing to compare with how it feels? Often shutting the mouth with a noseband is at best hiding the real problem which can be solved a different way.

 

[WelshD]

My gelding was similar, we use a Myler ported kimblewick which has given the rider much more control.

I would say though that he had ulcers which contributed to him 'being strong' and his getting the tongue over the bit was a stress response to going showing so there was work to be done behind the scenes to resolve those too

 

[islauren]

It sounds more like a schooling or pain issue rather than a bit problem, after her year off have you had her saddle back and teeth checked? If yes maybe have some lessons and get some help from an instructor they should be able to advise you on what may work or help, I personally don't flash nose bands at all and a lot of horses don't like single jointed bits so maybe try a similar bit with a lozenge to start with.

Sounds like she is getting her tongue over for more comfort horses can't swallow if the tongue is clamped down so the flash can cause this have you tried her without it?

She's had her back checked as the physiological came ut and said she was a little stiff but with the exercise she gave us was a little stiff. and yes have tried her without the flash and she worse than when it is on

 

[islauren]

If you've just brought her back up, it may not be a bit issue at all, in which case, changing it won't help and might make things worse. When did she last have her teeth checked by an EDT for example?
She may have forgotten some of her manners and developed weaknesses which you have already identified, so a bit change might help in the short term but might be an unnecessary expense after a few weeks. Schooling (including on hacks) and fitness would be my next thoughts after teeth.
Is she fit enough to be cantering yet without thinking it's the most exciting thing in the world... and so on. Always worth wondering is it an evasion rather than rudeness - hence you check teeth, saddle, and so on and so forth.
If she's never been happy in her mouth, then that's a whole other thing that you need to think about - is it the right thickness of mouthpiece, is there room for her tongue, dos she prefer a still bit or one she can move about. Might be worth seeing if someone can video her head when you're riding to see what she's doing to compare with how it feels? Often shutting the mouth with a noseband is at best hiding the real problem which can be solved a different way.

teeth have been check as she had a full Mot before ebrough her back into work after having such a long time off. her fitness is almost there however i wouldn't say she's at hr full fitness therefore you could be right with the cantering. she has always been ver head strong with all the bits that we have tried her with as was told when we got her she had a soft mouth so have only ever really used the bit she is now and the bit that she cam with a single jointed snaffle. but took her out of that pretty son as she used to throw her head in the air and i thought it could be due to the nutcracker action.

 

[islauren]

My gelding was similar, we use a Myler ported kimblewick which has given the rider much more control.

I would say though that he had ulcers which contributed to him 'being strong' and his getting the tongue over the bit was a stress response to going showing so there was work to be done behind the scenes to resolve those too

hadn't though of ulcers could be something that may need to look into. thank you

 

[LJF0664]

I got a Bit Fit consultant out to help with bitting my mare, and was really impressed with the results, even more so that he didn't recommend a £100+ bit! It was definitely worth the investment for me - there are so many different variables in bits now and this took the guess work out. I also think it cost less in the long run as I didn't keep buying bits for trial and error.

 

[Mari]

Take the flash off. Get a bit person (Eg Horse Bit Fit) to come & assess her mouth / jaw conformation & recommend suitable Bit. Get an instructor to work on basics with you.