What can happen when you over-bit your horse?

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DonskiWA

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Do people have stories or examples of what has happened when you have a used a bit that in hindsight was too strong? What were the short or long terms consequences?
Im just asking because my horse has backed off jumping and is refusing
and I'm just considering over-bitting as a possible cause. I know there are many other possible causes, but I'm just curious about exploring this particular issue at the moment.
 
Had you changed the bit recently, before the horse began stopping?

I tried riding my horse in a bombers blue bit for a while - he was very 'grabby' at the contact and a showing person said this is what she used. It was quite effective and he did become calmer in the mouth when on the flat. When I jumped him with it he started jumping horribly... flat, almost stopping and very unhappy. He was not a horse that would ever stop but he really didn't like it. On the flat it didn't feel like a harsh bit but clearly he found it restrictive. I expect a less genuine horse might have started to refuse.

https://www.athleteshop.co.uk/bombe...18-10mm-13-5?gclid=COLnrJaJvswCFUWfGwodK6oISw

So yes, I think it is a possible cause... what is the bit you are using?
 
We tried a myler comfort snaffle on our IDx mare once for SJing (she had previously gone well in it on the flat) but I think she had 4 tiny fences down, and put 4 strides in a 2 stride double....

As soon as we changed her back into her normal double jointed snaffle, she flew round the XC an hour later as if nothing had happened lol...

Fiona
 
We went from a snaffle to a universal. It worked brilliantly initially, but now I'm wondering if it is to blame for our run-outs and general lack of enthusiasm.
 
Probably not very useful but at my trainer's suggestion I tried my last horse in a double bridle. We just hacked in it for a few weeks to start with and that was fine as it was just walking. When I came to try him in it in the school, he just politely declined to go forward properly, especially in canter. I had never ridden in a double before and tbh felt a bit uncomfortable about it and not at all confident I was good enough to be riding in a double. I think the horse was agreeing with me so I didn't persist and wasn't very assertive about insisting he went forward. He was happier when my trainer hopped on him briefly in it, but not completely. In the end I went back to the snaffle. I suspect if I had wanted to continue I would have had to experiment with different types of Weymouth, and got some experience on a horse who was established and happy in a double. And I think I would have needed to make considerable further improvements to my seat in canter. Bottom line was my hands just weren't quiet and sensitive enough.
Like I say, possibly not very relevant to why you're asking.
 
Put my TB in a myler comfort snaffle - cue quite literal foot stamping and stropping refusing to go forward extremely unhappy.
Put her in elcheapo Shires Sweet iron snaffle with copper lozenge - happy horse
So yes can definitely be the cause.
 
Tried playing around with a previous event mare of mine, now retired. No control whatsoever jumping in a snaffl so put her back in the Pelham she came with. Could then understand why the previous owner had had a big falling out with her. Best way to explain the feeling was as if the mare stayed behind the contact all the time, so short tight neck and of course it impacted her jumping. Eventually I found she would jump happily in a Dutch gag (which I personally hate) but she would take the bit and I could still stop her. Steering was compromised so that was completely off leg and seat!
 
Mine expressed a hatred of the Pelham, tried for showing purposes, by not going forward and then rearing. She is very sensitive so switched back immediately. Problem solved.
 
Well. I have to use a two ring gag and grackle for XC on my boy otherwise he runs through the bridle and plunges down on to his forehand, but for SJ I use an eggbut happy mouth French link with a cavesson otherwise he just curls up behind the contact and bounces on the spot. For stressage I use a NS Verdibend (sp?) with a flash so I guess it's worth playing around with different bits for different disciplines.
 
I got my horse from sort of dealers and i remember them saying a previous owner had been too heavy handed and made her hard mouthed so they were using a french link snaffle or something like that to be more gentle. Ive had her years now and she still hates bits or too much rein contact really. I ride bitless now I will probably never get her history now but whatever went on with her bit wise she never forgot it.
 
Possibly. I changed my mare to a universal when she got way to strong when she first started going xc. She started to back off with it so I went back to a snaffle and she is, touch wood, much more forward into her fences. We have had a few episodes where she has been very strong coming out this season but I have resisted any suggestions that I use a stronger bit.
 
I tried going in the opposite direction.

I ride my 13.1 mare in a high port pro cutter with a 7" shank

Tried her in a French link D ring, just out of curiosity, well! You'd have thought that I had put barbed wire in her mouth, shook her head, scraped her mouth on her legs, and me, practically snarled at me, refused point blank to move and stood there with her lips drawn back and her tongue stuck out, I didn't even bother to get on.

The ONLY bit she is happy and relaxed with is the pro cutter, so, if she's happy, I am happy.

I once tried my arab in a loose ring Pelham, he literally sat down and refused to move, so yes, if they don't like a bit they let us know, one way or another.
 
My old horse didn't jump as well if i put too much in his mouth hunting. Which was a shame because he was really strong!! Odd time i took him with a stronger bit he had a couple of stops but my mum once took him and i told her not to jump if she was going to put an american gag on.. but she did and he ended up running out at a little wall off a track and jumping a massive gate instead (not sure what he was thinking!!) hit the top, stumbled and shot my mum head first into the floor. I've never seen anything like it! she looked like she'd done 10 rounds with mike tyson!!

Back in his snaffle he was fine, no lasting damage. :)
 
It is such a hard one but do agree over bitting can cause issues.

My cob is a tank in a snaffle and I have a hatred of being pulled into a fence with no control. I tried a vulcanite pelham which helped a bit, until he learnt to lean on it.

He is now in a universal gag which is fantastic for control and has lightened his forehand to no end - however if I overcheck into a jump (a bad habit I have), it almost 'stalls' him. Fortunately he is an honest lad and loves his jumping, but we have had some sticky cat leaps due to me being heavy handed, and imagine a less keen horse may put a stop in.

So back to the drawing board for me too.....will be watching this post with interest.
 
I think the bit can impact hugely on how the horse goes forward. I have known horses go up if they don't like the bit. My little mare will go in pretty much anything, but the bigger one is very funny about what she has, and prefers a hackamore, although due to brakes issues I may soon be trying a german as opposed to the English she usually goes in!
 
Old horse threatened to rear in a pelham but was fine in anything else and loved the waterford. Current beasty does everything in French link fulmer, once tried waterford mouth piece and he literally ran through it when I asked for trot from canter, swapped straight back to French link and happy again.
 
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