What bit to try..?

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Lucyann89

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I have only ever used the one bit that my TB gelding was bought in, and decided recently I would love to try a different one to see if it improves him at all?!

Right now he is in a copper, loose ring snaffle. The rings are rather large so it might even have be a racing snaffle which he would have been raced in.

His mouth is very sensitive! Main problems are getting too strong when jumping; rushing in and out of fences, sometimes with his head up when I try to slow him. He is fine in it with dressage, sometimes a little strong but managable.

So basically a dressage legal bit, snaffle? Doesn't have to be copper as I think that that is for dry mouths to help salivate, whereas before I thought it may have been because he is sensitive? Just something a touch stronger to work better when he pulls me, and to stop him throwing his head up and being very rude!!

Thanks a lot guys
 
A Copper drop snaffle? I got a neuse shule (sp) off ebay for £30 and its perfect for my mare! Also if you try a french link mounth piese, or the lozenge one u may find that helps also!
 
I doubt there'll be anything that will act stronger than a loose ring which is still dressage legal. But if as you say he is fine with it in dressage maybe go for a pelham style (which lowers the head) just for jumping, if you can be absolutely sure you'll never get left behind and hold on a bit tight. Gags raise the head, so no good.

Is that your TB the lovely grey? He is gorgeous.

If as you say he is very sensitive in the mouth, then really its just schooling him to calm down when jumping, and not be tense or excitable, and that comes from lots of schooling with fences, try and make it a bit more relaxing, verging on boring, for example, put a couple of fences here and there in the arena, sometimes jump one on a circle and keep on the circle trying to maintain a rhythm, sometimes circle without a fence, then pop it in, then exclude it, until he realises rhythm is what he has to keep doing. This has to be done many many times, for weeks and months, to make a difference.
 
Yes that is Eric in the 2nd and 3rd, thanks..he is a handsome chap but he knows it haha!!

I was reading up on it last night and is says a snaffle which is not a loose ring would be stronger, or maybe in the normal stainless steel..or does the material not make a difference?

I know a gag would be farrrr too much as my old SJ mare was strong enough to rip the skin off my fingers and she was in a gag. I think a pelham may be aswell but my Highland has one and they are about the same size I think so I could give it a try?

Schooling does tend to work but it is SO much work over a lot of time and I was just hoping another bit would make it a bit easier and quicker to get the same results?

Thanks though!
smile.gif
 
NOW now, you know really that quick fixes never ever work! Slap your wrist....... but, I thought that a non loose ring was more easy to lean on and a loose ring was more mobile therefore less easy for them take a hold.

The single joint has a little more brakes than a jointed (i.e. french link) The only difference in the material is that some can be a bit "sweeter" like copper thus encouraging salivation for a dry mouth and some can be warmer, so helping to get them to accept the bit, so they don't dislike it because it was cold going in, of course they warm up and most don't care/get used to the initial cold.
 
Hehe. I prefer to call it an extra bit of help rather than a quick fix! He's got a copper in right now but I don't know if he has a dry mouth?!
He's still at home now so will have to wait a week until I can try him in the fixed-ring jointed snaffle.

horsegirl: A few people have recommended that to me. Think I could go to my local saddlery, they'd probably give me a few to try and I could always take them back if they don't work.
 
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