What bit would you suggest?

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dreambigpony

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My mare is a 5 year old cob...very green still. Just wondered what bit you would suggest? I am attending a bitting clinic with her in January but just wanted other people's opinions.

She has a very low roof and absolutely hates tongue pressure. She used to be in a neue shule tranz-angled lonzenge and it just wasn't right, she was constantly getting her tongue over to remove the pressure.
She is now in a myler comfort snaffle as it has a port and to begin with she went amazingly in it. She was like a completely different horse. She kept her head so still and wasn't fighting it at all. However she has begun it again. It's like she is trying to avoid the pressure of it. We have tried a flash band in the past and she absolutely hated it. she's not as bad as with the previous bit but it's getting more noticeable that she doesn't like it any more.
 
One of mine hates most bits but loves a myler combination , have put a sheepskin sleeve on the noseband, it has a low port and short shanks. he has exhausted my bit box, the combination is the only bit he doesn't play with. They rate it as mild but I have always thought that combinations are quite strong. However if he likes it it's ok with me.
 
Going to throw bitless into the mix have seen a few horses who have been really sensitive or evasive in the mouth totally turned around by this. Can't say I've tried it myself the fear of being tanked off at down a road with no brakes is enough to put me off and my boy is quite happy in his current bit*thank goodness!!*
Sorry Can't help overly much- have you tried just a straight bar happy mouth- super light in the mouth my boy loved his he is now is a jointed happy mouth. I'm sure others have much better ideas!
 
I have rode an extremely sensitive 14.2hh Connemara bitless (flat, jumping, even fast hacking in company). I borrowed a friend's bitless endurance bridle, which worked well, although it was a ghastly garish shade! The bitless bridle I used on the Connemara was a "Sidepull", which is significantly milder than an English Hackamore (and much milder than a German Hackamore). I highly recommend bitless - the Connemara was no less responsive without a bit, he just didn't shake his head, open his mouth and fizz on the spot. If you're nervous, just try it in an arena first.

Other than bitless, happy mouths are ok, but they need to be replaced all the time because they develop sharp edges as they wear down. Also, some horses don't like the bumps in the middle. 'Nathe' bits don't have the bumps (or at least some of them don't), and they have a bit more flexibility. If she has a big tongue try low port (you probably already know that). Also, even though thicker bits are often thought of as "milder", if she has a big tongue/low roof she might actually not have enough space for a thick bit and find a thinner mouthpiece more bearable.

I think it's lovely that you're considering a milder bit/bitless instead of simply continuing with a snaffle, strapping her mouth shut with a flash, and then attaching a running martingale (the ever-popular trinity, sadly).

Links:

Bit Bank:
http://www.horsebitbank.com/sprenger-duo-loose-ring-snaffle-2-561.phtml

http://www.horsebitbank.com/bombers-blue-loose-ring-700.phtml

I don't know where the lime green Sidepull came from, hopefully you can find a brown/black one!
 
My boy was the same. It took me 18 months (and a lot of money!) to find the right bit(s) It didn't help that he needed a 6" as he has HUGE lips as well as a very big tongue.
He hates anything with a joint - either single or double so for flatwork he has a Myler mullen mouth hanging cheek snaffle (to deal with his nose poking) It wouldn't necessarily need to be a myler, but the myler mouthpiece was much thinner than cheaper makes and it was the only one to do a 6".

For hacking he has a wateford hanging cheek - he seems to like the flexibility of it, and for exciting stuff he has a waterford gag with two reins. These are literally the only bits he's not put his tongue over (so far - but we're 9 years in so I think we're ok!)
 
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