What bit do you use and why

linperrie said:
Neule schule verbinand for everything at the mo which is brilliant for dressage but it doesn't do much for jumping and fast hacks when she is feeling frisky! so I actually want suggestions for something else for that. She goes ok in a single jointed sniffle but what has more brakes than that but similar? Any suggestions??
Click to expand...

We use a Verbindend Universal for show jumping and XC, gives that little bit more but with the mouthpiece she is happy in.
 
A Neue Schule Demi Anky for everything at the moment but might need something a bit stronger for hunting as last time I needed a bit more to feel happy jumping but a grackle might be enough.
 
I use a loose ring cherry roller snaffle for everything. Including XC and mock hunting. It's just what he likes, I occasionally throw on the bitless, but he's been in this for 6 years now with no problems
 
Full cheek Neue Schule snaffle with lozenge for everything. He's got a very soft but fussy mouth but he can't stand happy mouth bits.
Old boy has a sprenger KK loose ring for flat & Neue Schule universal for anything even slightly exciting.

Pony in a eggbutt single joint.
 
When we bought saffy she was in a kimblewick eeek! The girl who had her before me was told too by her "instructor" to get her on the bit sigh!!!!
We kept her in the kimblewick while we got to know her but really focused on schooling correctly and then I tried several bits in a French link snaffle she didn't seem happy and even put her tongue over the bit one day when schooling! So we now use a straight bar hanging cheek which although took several persistent schooling sessions of her being very strong and evasive she now goes really nicely in it. I am to downgrade again over the summer as the previous owners mistake has given her a hard mouth and sadly I don't think she ever needed a bit that strong as she is perfect and the easiest pony to stop just by giving a squeeze with your knees now. I think she will always prefer a straight bar though. She is only 7 and I know they put the kimblewick in when she was four because she rushed in the school which was clearly balance and not being strong or silly!
 
Neue Schule Verbinand (sp?) for the TB as she prefers it to another other we've tried simply. Takes up a really nice contact and don't have an issue with breaks.
 
Monty is in an Egbutt snaffle with a lozenge for everything.
Archie has a mullen mouth hanging cheek snaffle for flatwork/dressage, a waterford hanging cheek snaffle for hacking and a waterford 3 ring gag with two reins for exciting stuff (fun rides/beach).

He has a HUGE tongue so can't have anything jointed and is much happier in the waterford than anything else we've tried (and we tried a lot!) He has the hanging cheek as he tends to poke his nose out. The mullen mouth is the only dressage legal bit he doesn't fight. He goes beautifully in the gag and seems very happy in it seeing how harsh it's supposed to be but I save it for very exciting stuff as I don't want him getting used to it and if I'm not careful it can pinch his very fleshy lips (lots of vaseline stops this). I ride mostly on the top rein on the snaffle ring and only use the bottom rein in an emergency!
 
Steel French link full cheek, can't use other metals ie sweet iron as makes her sore, full cheek as still a baby and needs the lil extra help with turns etc..
 
Nathe full cheek straight bar.
For everything from breaking youngsters, to hunting, and Novice xc.

I don't like metal in horses' mouths and I don't like the action of most jointed bits. I have a theory that if you never give a horse something to fight against, he won't fight :)

So far, it's worked very well. My horses have always had v soft mouths and aren't strong. Perhaps I've just been lucky, but ill carry on with it until my 'luck' runs out :D ;)
 
It sounds as though this lovely young horse doesn't yet understand what the bit is for.

A full cheek bit may help but I'd suggest that whichever bit you choose you spend some time long-lining from the ground (definately have an instructor show you how if you haven't long-lined before), as I've found that youngsters will quickly pick up reins aids in this way and it transfers easily to ridden work.

Lots of luck with your youngster. Would love to hear how you get on. :)
 
NS Verbindend and Myler Kimblewick. We don't often 'need' the Kimblewick anymore as she is far more balanced than she used to be and knows what brakes are now (usually!), however she enjoys being in this bit and works really well in it so I tend to work a few days in each bit. We compete in the NS as this is legal.
 
Interesting to read how many people like the NS Verbindend. My youngster uses this for everything, usually with a grackle (except dressage tests) My older boy also liked this but as he's semi-retired has a French-link with full cheeks.
 
Hanging cheek snaffle with french link, although used to go cross country in happy mouth straight bar!, also have a KK Ultra with lozenge which he goes ok in but he seems to prefer the hanging cheek.
Also have a rugby pelham which he schools very well in but i would never let anyone else ride him in it as he has a soft mouth and gets upset very easily if you pull him about.
Would happily hunt him in a snaffle :-)
 
Mine is in an eggbutt snaffle, he was bitted and backed in one and has never showed any signs of needing to be in anything else. I'm very lucky! Bits can be such a science!
 
Neue schule tranz angled pelham with the narrow mouthpiece for my fleshy mouthed large tongued WB and a hanging cheek snaffle for dressage (due to the poll pressure it offers).
 
cavalo branco said:
Interesting to read how many people like the NS Verbindend. My youngster uses this for everything, usually with a grackle (except dressage tests) My older boy also liked this but as he's semi-retired has a French-link with full cheeks.
Click to expand...

Mine won't take a contact in anything else, he is v fussy and it took a lot of experimentation with different variations of snaffle to find one he liked.
 
Loose Ring Eggbut Sweet Iron for schooling etc
Hacking when expecting a good speed he goes in a Loop Ring Gag i think its called, Looks like a wilkie bit but with the top ring is outside the main ring
 
The two mares are in a loose ring sweet iron.

The gelding is a bit stronger and after trying a few bits, is currently very happy in a happy mouth lozenge 3 ring gag, with a single rein on the middle ring. He's quite a sensitive chap, but seems settled with this combination.
 
Mine is in a dutch gag on middle ring. I understand that these can be a controversial choice, but if I'm honest I don't know the reasons why.

He was in a roller bit, but previous owner and instructor said that the gag would be better for him. He's a big boy and I assume she felt it needed to be stronger and safer? I don't hang on his mouth at all though and rarely have to, but when it's needed it does the job.
 
NS tranz angled lozenge D ring

I chose this because my horse prefers a fixed cheek but the eggbutt version was too thick.

He is in the same bit for everything
 
Both of mine go nicely in a straight bar rubber pelham with roundings.

They are cobs and although neither particularily strong, they go happily in them and work in a nice outline without having to ask too much.

I think pelhams are hugely under rated and sometimes percieved as only necessary for strong horses, but I think they are lovely bits in the right hands.
 
After a trying loads of different dressage legal bits on Fabio, the only one he went well in was the Myler hanging cheek comfort snaffle so use that for dressage/schooling.

For hacking alone and jumping i tend to use the PeeWee bit. He likes the thin mouthpiece (big fleshy tongue) and gets on well with the sweet iron. Only ever used on the mildest setting though.

Hacking in company - i use a Tom Thumb. Only recently started using this as always used a waterford before but it started to not be enough. He's fine if up front but behind he just gets silly. He's done it the whole time i've had him and has never got any better, although was stoppable in the waterford until recently. Went to a waterford gag which gave me brakes but didn't like how he felt in it, very on the forehand. So tried a Tom Thumb which he seems to be getting on well with and gives me control without him being mega strong!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top