Hippona
Well-Known Member
OK...could be long.....
Our pony ( highland of unknown breeding) is just turned 8. We have owned him since he was 4- he had been backed and ridden away at that point.
He was bitted with a single jointed loose-ring snaffle and was wearing a flash- he has some white hairs on his nose (only 2or 3) which looks as though he has at some point had his noseband used too tightly. I was told when I bought him that he had a tendency to open his mouth but reckoned it was an age thing.
Well.....he has consistently resisted the bit. He constantly tries to get his tongue over it, opens his mouth....is heavy in the hand and is distracted.
2 different EDT's and 2 vets have all given the same opinion- no problems with his teeth- just he has a thick/large tongue and not much room in his mouth.
I have tried all possible bits...double jointed, ported, hanging cheek french links -he's had Mylers, Nueue Schules....the lot..... he is currently in an Old mac Pee-Wee bit and I thought we had cracked it but after only a few weeks he is back to his old tricks. Teeth were done a month ago - no problems. He has a cavesson noseband only loosely done up.
He is a lovely pony- never strong, does as he is told- on the lazy side if anything- will hack out and pop a jump- will school nicely until he starts messing with his mouth and then its game over- he's just so distracted.
I'm thinking bitless may be the only option I have left....has anyone else had similar problems ? Did bitless work for you?
Have a cuppa and a vanilla slice
Our pony ( highland of unknown breeding) is just turned 8. We have owned him since he was 4- he had been backed and ridden away at that point.
He was bitted with a single jointed loose-ring snaffle and was wearing a flash- he has some white hairs on his nose (only 2or 3) which looks as though he has at some point had his noseband used too tightly. I was told when I bought him that he had a tendency to open his mouth but reckoned it was an age thing.
Well.....he has consistently resisted the bit. He constantly tries to get his tongue over it, opens his mouth....is heavy in the hand and is distracted.
2 different EDT's and 2 vets have all given the same opinion- no problems with his teeth- just he has a thick/large tongue and not much room in his mouth.
I have tried all possible bits...double jointed, ported, hanging cheek french links -he's had Mylers, Nueue Schules....the lot..... he is currently in an Old mac Pee-Wee bit and I thought we had cracked it but after only a few weeks he is back to his old tricks. Teeth were done a month ago - no problems. He has a cavesson noseband only loosely done up.
He is a lovely pony- never strong, does as he is told- on the lazy side if anything- will hack out and pop a jump- will school nicely until he starts messing with his mouth and then its game over- he's just so distracted.
I'm thinking bitless may be the only option I have left....has anyone else had similar problems ? Did bitless work for you?
Have a cuppa and a vanilla slice