TB unhappy with bit!

[bekka101]

1st time on H&H forum so apologise if i get this wrong! I have a TB 5 yr old who has recently been brought back to work. Very forward going but not at all strong, however he seems to always be chomping on his bit! At the moment i have him in a french link half cheek bit as he often has his head in the clouds! I have tried him in a waterford but i think this is too strong. Any ideas as to what to try? Thought about one with rollers on? Any help much appreciated

 

[Melliie]

have you had his teeth done? I've had a few TB's one who hated anything but a normal eggbutt snaffle as that's all she knew she hated the frenchlink one. Others have gone better in a lozenge bit. head in the clouds is normal they don't know how to soften over the back in the way you now want them to go - assuming he / she is an exracer? It may be that your horse is getting aggitated about something or not happy with pressure on their head or width / thickness of bit in their mouth - also what noseband do you have?

 

[Max123]

My gelding had his head in the air and constantly chomping. A few weeks ago I bought a Hippus Eggbutt Bit which was designed by a Swiss Equine Dentist and can be purchased from their website for 215 Swiss Francs. It has a strange hinge but is very kind on the mouth. Its still early days for us but the chomping reduced a lot from the beginning. His head is still pretty much in the air but that will just take work. Defo get his teeth looked at.

 

[Tnavas]

Pop him in a Fulmer with keepers & a drop. The Fulmer is great at getting them to go long and low. Such a quiet bit they get very confident.

 

[bj666]

Hi , if he's chomping and head up I'd say he's trying to swallow . The link or joint rests on the horses tongue and they cannot swallow so thats when they do the head tossing , pulling downwards , chewing etc etc . I'd get in touch with a Myler Bit Bank and try one . There are several types of mouth piece and cheeks and when you get the right combination .... what a difference ! Well worth the money . You will buy loads of bits and find they dont work , at least with a bit bank all it costs is the postage and you can speak to an expert on bitting. Lots of people who understand Mylers rave about them , the ones that rubbish them have either had bad experience or no experience and/or bad advise .Its a phone call ...... well worth it .

 

[Miss L Toe]

You have a french link which is quite severe imho, I would get teeth done and check daily for inflamation, head in air indicates a problem, you have immediately gone to extremes in the bit department, where I would go back to basics with a soft metal bit with a lozenge, which is comfortable, and is curved to the angle of the mouth for comfort and contact, loose rings to allow the bit to move in mouth.
A roller bit is used for strong horses which take hold of the bit as a resistance.
TBs may need 18 or 16 mm bits, I moved from a starter (breaking in to basic schooling and hacking), bit with aurigon metal to a myler comfort starter, which is a starter for dressage! both fit very comfortably, you need to introduce this bit over a few short sessions.
No noseband needed, next thing you will be adding a grackle, with a standing martingale, then spurs to encourage forward going!. just joking, but this is the road you are going down,
PS I don't like the Fulmer bit, remember you are dealing with a young horse, not evading the bit, just not educated.

 

[Lynnskatz]

I apologise in advance if i am wrong but isnt a French link milder than a single link snaffle, as the whole mouthpiece is more flexible.
The single link snaffle has a nutcracker affect, whereas the french link lies flat so not as harsh. My horse definetly goes better in hers

 

[PapaFrita]

You have a french link which is quite severe imho,

On the contrary, the french link is a very mild bit. You may be confusing it with a Dr Bristol which IS severe.

 

[PapaFrita]

I apologise in advance if i am wrong but isnt a French link milder than a single link snaffle, as the whole mouthpiece is more flexible.
The single link snaffle has a nutcracker affect, whereas the french link lies flat so not as harsh. My horse definetly goes better in hers

This is correct

 

[PapaFrita]

1st time on H&H forum so apologise if i get this wrong! I have a TB 5 yr old who has recently been brought back to work. Very forward going but not at all strong, however he seems to always be chomping on his bit! At the moment i have him in a french link half cheek bit as he often has his head in the clouds! I have tried him in a waterford but i think this is too strong. Any ideas as to what to try? Thought about one with rollers on? Any help much appreciated

Loads of questions; have his teeth, back and tack been checked? How long have you been working with him? Playing with the bit is not a problem, but chomping COULD be a sign of discomfort. If your horse is just 'fussy' in his mouth, you could try something like a nathe or happy mouth which 'sits' more quietly. A bit with rollers will encourage him to mouth the bit more. I don't know how experienced you are, especially with TBs so sorry if you know this already, but at this stage you want to be getting your boy moving forwards in a steady rythmn, working from behind and not worrying too much about what his head is doing.
I love TBs, good luck with yours

 

[maggiesmum]

I've quite often found that TB's have fleshy tongue and lips, i've had a couple now which have gone much better in a ported bit.
And with a youngster something that sits still in the mouth can be good too.

My boy loves the raised one
http://markrashid.com/forsale_bit.html

 

[jj_87]

I would suggest you chose something that they simply can not play with, I have one that chilled through habit in a French link, so I popped her in a nathe full cheek with a grackle and voilà no chomping and a very happy, soft mouthed horse who loves working long and low! Good luck!

 

[Marydoll]

I have a t/b who was a bit like this, i put her in a neue shule team up bit and she now rounds up nicely when asked and works long and low easily, i can really feel her lifting through her back while going forword, still mouths the bit but works way better.