Which bit for evading contact?

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sandr

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My horse evades contact and plays with his bit with his tongue, his teeth were check this morning and no significant problems found. He isn't strong at all, and we are only happy hackers with odd RC walk/trot test.

I have had a NS Demi Anky suggested, any others?

Currently has a loose ring French link snaffle.

Thank you
 
Look at the horses mouth conformation. Otherwise suggesting a bit is like asking people to look in a crystal ball!
 
sandr said:
My horse evades contact and plays with his bit with his tongue, his teeth were check this morning and no significant problems found. He isn't strong at all, and we are only happy hackers with odd RC walk/trot test.

I have had a NS Demi Anky suggested, any others?

Currently has a loose ring French link snaffle.

Thank you
Click to expand...

See, fussing with the bit thread below, just in case.
What you're using is what I would recommend or maybe a sweet iron/copper similar, depending on how green horse is?.
 
Agree with TeddyT, but its worth considering a french link will dig into the tongue a bit, and is quite a "floppy" mouthpiece, so will encourage fiddling.

A lozenged mouthpiece will give a more stable contact straight away, and is more comfortable for the horse. If the horse has a large tongue, or a small mouth, I would look at a shaped mouthpiece such as the KK dynamic, NS Team up or starter bit. My mare is naturally quite fussy, but goes well in a KK Dynamic snaffle as it is shaped well, and gives a relatively still contact :)
 
i had similar problems with my mare.... it was trial and arror though and ongoing! :rolleyes:

she was a hideous giraff in a single link
bit better but still fussy in a lozenge loose ring...
better again in a lozenge eggbutt but still evaded a bit... felt like you were walking on egg shels and never truly relaxed through the jaw...
went nicely and began to accept contact for first time in a flexi-mouth mullen eggbutt - but it feels a bit wooden if that makes sense?

so just about to try a myler mullen eggbutt that allows for independant side movement but still the stability of a mullen eggbutt....

may that will give you ideas...?
 
I'll keep an eye on this too (sorry to hijack!) as mine sometimes does this. I currently have him in a loose ring snaffle with a lozenge.
 
thank you everybody. RE mouth size - i sure it was said he had a thick tounge, I fairly new to all this!!
 
I like the Jeffries Eldonian revolver bits - the hanging cheek one is good as it tends to keep the bit stable in the horse's mouth, which can help if they are fiddly or sensitive. My horse is dreadful at evading contact, flapping tongue around, pigeon breasted and giraffe head high. He comes down with this bit, fiddles less, mouths nicely and I can 'feel' him in front of me and ride him into a fence better. I've also got one for my daughter's pony who is sensitive and a head shaker and he loves it too (he was in a kimberwick when we got him).

http://www.centralsaddlery.co.uk/product/eldonian-centre-revolver-hanging-cheek-bit/
 
I'm a bit like a broken record on this but before thinking about changing the bit have you considered making small changes to your riding - keep your hands steadier (use a Jesus strap if you have to) and give and release just with a squeeze from your fingers...always, always backing up asking for relaxation of the jaw with a forward leg aid.

Sorry if you've tried this already, but generally just being more aware of what you are doing with your hands could potentially solve your horse's issues without you having to spend a bean!

No offence intended btw
 
Ive just bought a Jefferies Eldonian loose ring snaffle which has a curved mouthpiece. I have ridden him all week in it and he is like a different horse. Mick is irsh and has a full mouth and big tongue and I think the curved bit sits more comfortable on his tongue. I even jumped on it last night and I don't jump in a snaffle as a rule.

He just seems more settled in his mouth.
 
My horse does exactly the same, Ive tried to much expense probably every type of bit going! We had a major breakthrough this weekend. Its me :eek::eek:. Ive an awful habit of giving away the contact, I dont realise Im doing it so my hubby bought me a back brace plasticky thing for xmas which keeps my elbows next to my sides and prevents them being pulled forward. Its a miracle. Im now going to work hard at it as the difference in my horse was fantastic. At first he just didnt want to go forward as I suppose he wondered what was going on but once he and I got the idea it was great. For the first time ever (8 years) he had a frothy mouth which he never ever got before as his mouth was always open and shut, tongue playing and drawing back the bit.
 
Lol Louby this is where I grin like a cheshire cat and feel a warm glow. Glad to hear you had such a breakthrough

Sometimes if a bit really doesn't suit a horse, yes have a real good look at their mouth conformation and research what may suit them better, but really truly and honestly most contact issues are down to riders.

And I know because I've been just as guilty in the past
 
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