Which bit for traditional cob?

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katherine1975

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I have had my cob for 3 years and we are mainly happy hackers, with the occasional lesson, show and a bit of hunting/fun rides. I originally had a myler eggbutt comfort snaffle and she became unhappy when being tacked up and I noticed that the bit had made the corners of her mouth sore. I went to a bitting clinic and bought a neue schule verbindend (loose ring), she became much happier and seemed to really like it. Over the last week she has become reluctant to have the bridle on and I checked her today and her mouth looks a bit sore. Any suggestions for a bit I could try and why this bit is now making her sore? She is not strong and out hacking she is generally ridden on a loose rein.

Thank you for your help.
 
Have you had her teeth checked? Is the bit pinching her if it's a bit small?

If she's not strong, I'd just stick her in any 'normal' snaffle with bit rings added.
 
Teeth have been checked and it's not too high up in her mouth. Maybe they could be too small?
ChristmasSparkles - she prefers a lozenge snaffle to the 'normal' snaffle.
 
Traddie cobs can look rough and tough yet have the most incredibly sensitive skin, esp legs & bit/lips area. My boy can and does develop sensitivity and soreness to all sorts of daft things that you'd think he'd be OK with.

Normally I put him in a French link snaffle with long cheek-pieces (simply because he can be a nappy git so this gives him a bit more guidance if he does try a spin or whatever).

I have also got a Happy Mouth lozenge/double jointed snaffle with long cheek-pieces which I'll put him in occasionally too. Sometimes Happy Mouth bits can be a bit dry tho' and can actually make a mouth sorer than a metal bit.

If we're doing any work where he might get strong then I'll use a Waterford. Some times he's OK with this; the next time he'll get sore lips - seemingly for no reason, ditto all the other bits we use.

Oh and we've also got a French Link Rugby Pelham which he likes and goes beautifully in; again for work in the school and/or occasions where a bit more control is needed maybe.

Hope this helps??
 
Having tried many bits over the years, the one Shy likes best is his D ring copper roller. It seems to suit his mouth well, and he goes really well in it. He has a fleshy tongue and a sensitive mouth.

Just to add another bit into the mix. ;)
 
katherine1975 said:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/270972501...eName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

Looking at this one.
Click to expand...

Yep that's like the one I've got for mine, only mine has the long-shank cheek pieces.

Somewhere, there's a place where you can hire bits to see if they fit. Also....... (me is thinking here....) you're local aren't you (I mean Exeter area???) - coz T&C are now doing a bit-hiring/trial service I think. Although it might be just the Neu Schule bits, I'm not sure, but you could ask??

But there is a place where you can hire/trial bits - someone on here might know??
 
Will go and have a look in T&C. Just out of interest what size bit do your cobs take? She is 14.3hh and has a full size bridle, worried that her bits have been to small :(
 
I didn't notice her bit was too small yesterday and I usually notice things like that!!
Why don't you try rubbing vaseline into the corner of her mouth before you bit her,we used to have a horse with sensitive lips, just like some people do XX

ps I would definately use rubber guards with a loose ring as they can pinch the corner of the mouth XX
 
Thank you DD might invest in some rubber guards. Apparently the Neue Schule ones shouldn't pinch! Her previous bit was an eggbutt snaffle but still made her sore. Will try vaseline as well.
 
I have a similar problem occasionally with my lad... He has pink skin on one side of his 'lips', and that side rubs occasionally, whatever bit I have been using. It was worst with a 'tongue saver' snaffle, which I think might actually have been a bit small for him given the shape - like the NS bits.

He sometimes even gets rubs with the eggbutt bit... An instructor suggested wiping his mouth with salt water to toughen the skin a little, and to put a little vaseline on that corner if we were doing something where he might get strong - ie competition or any fast work. He hasn't ever gotten a rub in the pelham though...

I just change bits occasionally to try to prevent rubbing - pelham for any showing type stuff or fast work, then either eggbutt with copper peanut, or myler comfort loose ring, both of which he goes nicely in.
 
Not your fault she has been funny to put her bridle on the last few times, so trying to tell me! She has been really good for ages. I'm sure all the hair doesn't help lol, winter coat has made her mouth wider lol x
 
When shy is/was mouth sore (teething really) I use a bitless bridle. If the sides of the mouth are sore, this may be worth trying (I use an english hackamore). Peeps may tell you the mouth needs to "harden up" and stuff, they did me, but I don't believe this at all - a good, sensitive mouth should be left as it is. The right bit, and the right hands are what you need.

We love being bitless every so often, so may be worth a try for you ?
 
I wonder if that's why she was stretching out of a contact with me, as although I wasn't pulling or yanking, I was riding her on a contact xx Poor Saffs, give her a load of treats from me !! XX
 
I've had my boy in all sorts.

He has to have a Mullen mouth or a French link (with or without a lozenge) as he has a shallow palette so can't have a nutcracker action bit.

I currently ride him in a 6" hanging cheek French link. But he also has a sprenger kk ultra 2, a brass loose ring French link snaffle and a rugby Pelham which is Mullen mouthed.

He used to get sore when he was leaning and I used bit butter which is fabulous stuff. I always give him a treat now when I bridle him to get juices flowing and sometimes use tasty bit paste.

I'm going to try him in a hackamore just for fun!

Ps I would really look at getting a bigger bit.
 
katherine1975 said:
Will go and have a look in T&C. Just out of interest what size bit do your cobs take? She is 14.3hh and has a full size bridle, worried that her bits have been to small :(
Click to expand...

Mine has a five-and-a-half. Yours at 14.3 is gonna be a difficult size tho' I'd try a five-and-a-half and see how it fits. My boy is a big chunky lad of 15.1. I did try a 6" bit but it was way too big for him.
 
was thinking about this thread when were out plodding today - my lad is definitely the happiest in his copper roller D ring - and he always lets me know if he's not happy. Hope you find what works best for your horse, it can just be so confusing. :)
 
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