Which bit - opinions please.

cptrayes

cptrayes

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 March 2008
Messages
14,748
Visit site
I am just about to move my baby, lightweight, light-mouthed Westaphalian out of a long cheek French link into something without the cheeks. I tried a Neue Schule Verbindend on him but he doesn't go forward to it like he does the French link, so something similar to that is needed I think. But I do not know whether to give him fixed sides - an eggbutt - or loose rings. He doesn't, at the moment, set on the fixed one, but will he in future? Will a loose ring pinch him (rubbers being dressage illegal), will he play with it too much, or will it keep him from setting on the bit?

Second question, the link. I like the look of the lozenge/peanut bits, they look like they would be nicer on the tongue. Shall I go for a lozenge, or for an old-fashioned Fernch link?

All opinions welcome, thanks.
 
Having got a horse that seems to hate anything in his mouth :( as in constantly draws his tongue back, I would do anything to have any bit that would stop this, so I would say dont fix what doesnt need fixing. Is there any reason why you dont want to keep him in his current bit. If hes happy in it, Id stick with it until you need to change as in starting to lean, excessive play etc.

A nice bit however is the Sprenger KK ultra. It has the lozenge you like, set at an angle to conform to the horses mouth. My friend has this on all her horses including youngsters and has never had a problem. It does come in different thicknesses, I think the thicker ones are too chunky.
 
I do want to get rid of the cheek pieces as he no longer needs them for emergency steering and they don't suit his face :) But I can see the logic in not changing the mouthpiece and sticking with fixed sides in an eggbutt. I don't put the long cheeks in keepers, so the action will remain the same in an eggbutt.
 
if it is the case of not liking the look off it try the same bit in a egg butt or a dee ring but i know plenty of horse that have been in a fulmer since they where baby's . i have a very fussy mouthed horse and would love it if could find a bit he is happy in :) good luck but remember don't change what's not broke.
 
I find a big difference riding my boy in a loose ring and eggbutt. I find he feels heavy in the eggbutt as he seems to lean a bit. Your horse may like the stillness of the bit with it being fixed cheeks and that may be why he backs off the NS loose ring. Id be tempted to try the eggbutt french link as you suggest or even a hanging cheek french link. They say the hanging cheek gives poll pressure so your sensative baby may not like that although I do think the pressure is minimal. It helps my horse as it keeps the bit still and takes the pressure off his tongue a bit.
 
I normally go from a french link with cheeks to a loose ring french link with a sweet iron mouth piece, I go for a fractionally larger size which seems to prevent any pinching. My last couple have not been happy in a fixed cheek bit, prefering the action of the loose ring. Both then went into NS loose ring with a lozenge as they needed a thinner mouthpiece (fat tongues!) but can't remember exactly which ones they are but have a curved mouthpiece for more "tongue room".
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top