To bit or not to bit?

Fools Motto

Fools Motto

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I've been walking my yearling out over this summer, just a couple of times a week at best. I feel I have to keep her mind busy, little mind gets very bored, and gets up to mischief. The other 2 get very annoyed!!
Up until now, she has been on her headcollar with a lunge line, but madam is now getting far too big for her boots, and can be a handful! Although I am not worried that all of her approx 12.1hh status is going to over power me totally, I do not want her to think she can be so cocky and get away. Is is acceptable that a filly of her age can be bitted now? I know colts often are, but fillies? would a rubber snaffle be sufficiant?
 
I'm leading my big 16 month gelding out and I use a rope head collar to lead which has more control than a webbing or leather head collar and also has a longer rope. Over that I pop on a headstall (no browband) with a nice jangly sweet iron snaffle. I don't lead with the bit but he is getting used to carrying a bit without any pressure on it and it totally distracts him from playing up while he is led out.
 
I think you need to take a step back and establish some good groundwork. Get some useful habits and muscle memory instilled so that you don't end up fighting her, with or without more controlling headgear. Maybe some of the things in Perfect Manners? Get some groundwork lessons with an Intelligent Horsemanship associate or a good trainer?
I too wouldn't bit, because I think if you bit a youngster for control you're just setting yourself up to harden and ruin their mouth before you've even got on board.
 
Surely it would be better to solve the problem than over power it with a bit? Putting a bit in her mouth won't make her respect you any more, it's something you'll have to work on.
 
Yep, more groundwork - I've been wanting to take my 2 year old out and about all summer but I don't think we'd have full control so we've been working on our control issues at home so that if he does have a 'moment' when out I will fully know how to deal with him!

Don't rush your filly too much - if she is annoying the other horses by wanting to play then they will soon put her in her place much better than any human can!
 
I wouldn't bit a youngster unless they needed it (for breaking in etc), I'd just get stuck into some ground work, you should (in an ideal world) be able to lead any young horse/pony anywhere with just a head collar, if you can do this when there young, you'll never have issues when they grow bigger and stronger or through the rest of their adulthood, you'll probably really enjoy doing ground work with her as it will help in so many other ways too. :)
 
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