Which bit for a tiny mouth?

[crystalrocks]

Hi, we have recently bought a 6 year old connemara x thoroughbred. She is really good in lots of ways but is very fussy with her mouth, now I know it is good for ponies to mouth their bits but she is almost preoccupied with her bit and seems to be struggling, she is ridden in a loose ring snaffle with a cavesson noseband, i think the snaffle is rather thick. Today we had her looked at by an equine dentist and he said her mouth is seriously very tiny, he was not sure which bit to recommend as obviously a thinner bit tends to be more severe and she doesn't need a severe bit. She is ridden by my 12 year old daughter. Any advice would be welcomed

 

[ThePony]

I found something similar in my connie cross, hardly any room for a bit, but no need for anything harsh. I found even a french link gave her too much tongue pressure and was uncomfortable for her. What we found helped was something with a ported mouth piece, with eggbutt cheeks to keep it nice and steady in her mouth. The neue schule ones are fab, think we have the verbind (sp!) (which is just a french link lozenge but with a bent shape to it so it doesn't cause such tongue pressure) and she is really relaxed in it, we have the narrower one, not for strength but just for less in her mouth. That with a cavesson and light hands works really nicely for us. Heather at Neue Schule gives fab advice and you can try one on a bit bank service too so it saves you shelling out a fortune in wrong bits! Good luck!

 

[crystalrocks]

Thanks, will give Heather a ring and have a look on Ebay!

 

[Cliqmo]

Failing that the hippus should work well for her

 

[KatB]

it's a myth that narrow bits are harsh, actually they are comfortable for a majority of horses due to the lack of space in a horses mouth! A NS team up or verbidend will work well, my coloured had a 12mm verbidend and loved it, he also had a tiny mouth and didn't like tongue pressure.

 

[almorton]

have you tried a peter wilky magic bit? specially made for sensitive small ponies!

 

[the watcher]

You could look at the Myler range, they seem designed not to take up too much space.

 

[crystalrocks]

Thanks, you have all give me lots of ideas, going to try a friends myler and definitely like the sound of the NS bits, think I am going to start having a bit fettish!!!!