what bit would you use for this horse????

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el_Snowflakes

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Ok, so what kind of bit would u be tempted to use on this horse;

She is heavy on the forehand
Doesnt flex at the poll very easily
Has sensitive mouth-prone to cuts in corners (due to pulling)
is very stong & is very hard to halt- walks right through most bits
is a warmblood and has a high palette
needs help to keep head lifted as tends to want to put her nose at to the floor without any poll flexion

Obviously there are other considerations but just wondered with this info what you could suggest? any advice would be great! :D
 
If you want her off the forehand/head lifted then a snaffle or a gag are your only options. These are both head raisers. Curb bits are head lowerers.

Reading through that list I'd be trying a Waterford Cheltenham gag, on two reins, so that you have the snaffle rein for normal use and the gag rein for emergencies!!!
 
the above sounds good to me!

i would use some sort of snaffle or gag for the reason above (raising action) i would also make sure its jointed to stop her taking hold of the bit and leaning on it.

if she had a soft/sensitive mouth then i would use a happymouth type mouthpeice, rather than metal, or at the least a sweet iron or something to encourage salivation. this should reduce injury to her mouth, and might encourage her to soften.

good luck! ;)

xx
 
I'd look at the Myler combination the saddlery shop has some good explanations on which mouthpiece is most suitable for which problem but I had some amazing results with them and they are ideal for the strong but sensitive.
 
Cupcakes and Horses said:
I'd look at the Myler combination the saddlery shop has some good explanations on which mouthpiece is most suitable for which problem but I had some amazing results with them and they are ideal for the strong but sensitive.
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The Myler combination bits are generally head lowerers which is why I didn't suggest one. It takes a lot for me not to recommend a myler!!! ;) ;) ;)

I have got a long shank MB04 for Jazzy when I need to remind him what a bit means and I love it. I don't think it'll work for OP though :(
 
Depends on the mouthpiece my friend has a long shank high port on hers he has a habit of over bending and can be very strong and she can lift him up with it and stop him which helps! She raves about it she had a few scary experiences before she found it.
 
Cupcakes and Horses said:
Depends on the mouthpiece my friend has a long shank high port on hers he has a habit of over bending and can be very strong and she can lift him up with it and stop him which helps! She raves about it she had a few scary experiences before she found it.
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Yes, that'd help! I find the MB04 useful as it has a small port but also turns to a solid when rein pressure is applied. I am trying an MB05 out on Jazzy at the moment but I don't think he likes it as much . . .
 
I've put both my new boy and my daughters pony in the 33 04 and had fab results, mine is responding to it like he does to the hippus (ears out of my mouth and daring to take hold of it!) with the added bonus of more control when his blood is up and my daughter has now got such control over hers her confidence is soaring and the look on his face when she catches him mid tantrum is a picture :D
 
thanks all for your replies! This is all so confusing lol....right now I have a french link loose ring and also an eggbut which is the worse of the two. I also have a NS tranz lozenge elevator for jumping which she leans on also but to lesser degree. However she is still extremely hard to halt in this:( i dont want to shove super strong bits in her mouth. Do you guys think a single jointes snaffe would help? i was thinking maybe a baucher? what do u guys think? ;)
 
Well I certainly wouldn't use a single jointed snaffle, it can be very uncomfortable for the horse. I also have a NS tranz but the mare leans on it out hacking, although I can school in it quite well. The Universal isn't dressage legal but is very effective without any pulling. the mare is much more responsive to it. She came in a Dutch gag with a French link mouthpiece, she leaned on it and although it had the single rein on the middle ring, it wasn't very effective for stopping. We don't have any steering/stopping problems now and she is coming off the forehand.
 
SplashofSoy said:
For a leaner try waterford snaffle very useful bit imo. If this doesn't solve it cheltenham gag will raise the head.
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Thanks :)
I believe she has been ridden in a waterford before she came to me but for some reason I always shy away from using one as i worry that she will not respect it and just pull until she injures her mouth and I also worry if we are jumping that i accidentally jab her in the mouth (not that i have a habit of this but we cant all be perfect all the time lol) we have some small jumping competitions coming up and quite frankly im bricking it as when she goes on the forehand i cannot control her speed and it makes for a crap jump ;cue jabbing in mouth! :S what do u think....is it a harsh bit or is it only as harsh as the riders hands?...also if i ride her in a waterford will she be hopeless when i put her in a plain snaffle for dressage?....or will the waterford help teach her to respect the bit and to halt when asked and not 3 circles of canter later??!!! :o
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Well I certainly wouldn't use a single jointed snaffle, it can be very uncomfortable for the horse. I also have a NS tranz but the mare leans on it out hacking, although I can school in it quite well. The Universal isn't dressage legal but is very effective without any pulling. the mare is much more responsive to it. She came in a Dutch gag with a French link mouthpiece, she leaned on it and although it had the single rein on the middle ring, it wasn't very effective for stopping. We don't have any steering/stopping problems now and she is coming off the forehand.
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thanks pearlsasinger:) the reason i thought a single jointed mouthpiece might be better is the fact that she has a high palette. Just a thought?
 
I find they lean on a baucher and I dont like the feel they give I find it too fixed with little movement again not helping with a low head.
I would use a thin single jointed loose ring, possibly with a drop noseband to allow the horse some more movement rather than a flash which can also close the mouth and encourage a firmer hold.
 
be positive said:
I find they lean on a baucher and I dont like the feel they give I find it too fixed with little movement again not helping with a low head.
I would use a thin single jointed loose ring, possibly with a drop noseband to allow the horse some more movement rather than a flash which can also close the mouth and encourage a firmer hold.
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thanks BP :)

That makes sense....She is currently ridden in a flash but she does tend to cross her jaw. I actually thought about trying a grackle but i may also try and borrow a drop to see if it makes any diffrence. I suppose i could try changing the noseband to see if that makes a diffrence b4 i go changing bits :)
 
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