Which bit for my Harvey, my ID

CeeBee

CeeBee

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Apologies if you have read this already ...
I replied to a post recently about a horse who was throwing his head and I said I had the same problem too and that I was going to try the bitless Dr Cook bridle I used to use on another horse. So, this is the update:

I have used my Dr Cook with Harvey 3 times now and guess what - no head throwing...
I have had him almost a year and in that time, had his teeth checked 3 times.
I feel terrible now! I feel like he's been in pain every time I have ridden him!
However, whilst the Dr Cook has been fine for gentle, unexciting hacks, I don't think long term I would feel so confident with it. Harvey is a very big, strong horse.
The 2 bits I have tried, are a german silver full cheek snaffle with lozenge - a fairly chunky bit and a sweet iron loose ring snaffle - a fairly narrow bit.
Problem is, Harvey takes a good 6 1/2 in bit and there is not a huge range in this size. I have been advised to try a Happy mouth with lozenge.
Anyone any other suggestions? What do others use for big horses with big heads? It also needs to be 6 1/2in!
Thanks:)
 
IDs often have large tongues - a french link or lozenge that isn't part of a shaped bit can put quite alot of pressue on the tongue which can then result in head shaking, leaning and dropping behind the contact. Perhaps consider a french lozenge, but shaped? Should be more comfortable for your boy, and give you a little more security for more exciting stuff. Mylers are also quite good for their shape too - though they can be a little like marmite. Worth trying one from a bit bank before shelling out. Mylers come up big too so a 6inch might do it?
 
Try the NS Verbindend (sp) my pure ID and my ISH are both in them. They are nice and curved so they allow for the fatter and fleshier mouths/tongues.
 
AS i said on the other thread (but I posted after you, so you might not have seen it), my ID goes well in a PeeWee bit - it is thin, so fits well in her fleshy mouth and is supposed to fit up to 7". I used one on my ClydeX as well, she definitely needed 61/2". The PeeWee isn't dressage legal but you can use it for everything else.
 
I ride my ID in a rubber pelham with double reins for hacking out. Most of the time ride on the rubber pelham so thats gentle, but I have the back up of the curb if I need it.

Works for us - but I did get some help with making sure I was using the double reins correctly.

Good luck.
 
Thanks very much for your replies - I like the sound of all these bits! Very interested in the sound of the peewee bit and I don't do dressage, so that's not a problem.
Is there such thing as a 'bit fitter', who can come out and fit it properly for you?
I am a fan of the Dr Cook, as my old horse went very well in it, however I find that when using it with Harvey, if he wants to turn and stare at something with it, I just can't move his head back in line, so practically have to wait until he decides to go again! He has never as yet tried to go in the opposite direction of what I would like, but I feel with the Dr Cook, that if that is what he decided to do, I wouldn't be able to stop him.
 
I've tried so many bits for my Irish Draught I could start my own bit bank. The bit he is happiest in is a mullen mouth pelham but obviously not dressage legal. He dislikes the KK Sprenger with lozenge even though it's quite a thin mouthpiece and I was at a loss what to try next. A well known physio/cranial sacral therapist has been to see us a couple of times and saw what he was like when ridden. She said she has seen a lot of success with the nathe range of bits.
 
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