Which bit to try next…

[equidstar11]

Hi all,

I have a bitting question (which I know is entirely trial and error, but some advice on where to try first would be helpful)!

Said horse (large Warmblood) is currently jumped in a Winderen Butterfly Flip (curb bit) with their firm plastic ported mouthpiece - previous to this he was in a very slightly ported mullen metal pelham (short shank) with curb. He has always worked fairly well in these, however I feel they are bit strong for him (hence why I went to the plastic butterfly from pelham, but it’s still a bit much) - when taking a half halt into a fence he can overreact, and just feels all a bit too uptight, and not willing to take me into a fence (very bouncy and loses rhythm, also throws head into the air). The issue is he can get fairly strong/excitable at shows/when jumping. These two bits have helped pull him off the forehand (I know pelham/curb is usually the opposite of an elevator but they have worked for him) and not tank me along, so something in the middle would be a nice medium. I have tried using a flexi mullen Winderen mouthpiece with D cheeks for jumping, and this is what I flat him in, but he tends to lean on this and pull onto the forehand, including into jumps (and yes, we are doing millions of walk/trot/halt/canter etc transitions a week alongside lots and lots of hill work). I did also try an NS verbindend loose ring & also the NS D trans angled bit, neither of which I had particularly good feeling with.

I have had someone offer me to try their ported mullen Trust combination bit (short shanks), which has a fabric curb which he may like but also uses some nose pressure. I have used a hackamore in the past which worked to a point, I don’t think it was quite enough brakes to contain him at a show.

Other than that, any suggestions? I want him to feel he can take me to a fence, without tanking off and me being able to make small half halts without him reacting too harshly. I also don’t want to lose steering.

I would prefer a less is more approach - I don’t use a martingale as I don’t like the effect it has on the bit and I don’t like standing martingales as I feel they restrict movement over a fence.

 

[Identityincrisis]

Out of fashion but what about a kimblewick? You can get slotted versions to increase the action if needed, i would also try a chain cover to soften the effect of the curb

 

[Ratface]

The far-too-much-forn-me Egyptian Arabian that I bought as a terrified walking skeleton from the Belfast marshes eventually became more manageable when he was introduced to a kimblewick bit. Using that, he responded to a light sqeeze on the rein to come back to me, rather than the fight that he put up against all versions of a snaffle. He's now with a friend in Lincolnshire and still in a kimblewick, doing everything (jumping cross-country, endurance, hacking across farmland, riding club stuff) and she has no trouble in managing his still onward-bound enthusiastic behaviour. Perhaps try a bit bank trial first?

 

[gallopingby]

One of the Bit Banks would be worth a trial, although it may seem expensive if you don’t find one first time it’s definitely worth getting in touch with them.

 

[equidstar11]

Out of fashion but what about a kimblewick? You can get slotted versions to increase the action if needed, i would also try a chain cover to soften the effect of the curb

I believe the butterfly RnF I currently use is a Kimblewick. I don’t use a curb chain, just a nice width leather strap, none of it is tight/harsh inc the plastic mouthpiece - in fact I was rather shocked when I first tried it as to just how sensitive he was in it, considering there isn’t very much leverage and the curb is soft.

I did manage to try the trust combination bit today (with sheepskin on the nose and the fabric curb) and he was far better, still had control and took a rhythm into a small fence. I have a jump lesson soon at my local venue which I’ll give it a try there.

I would however like to explore more simple options and move to a snaffle type mouthpiece when his training increases. What would be good to try then?

I know the Pelhams have some height above the shanks like a hanging cheek (and the Pelhams etc I’ve tried are very small levers), so I could try a hanging cheek with a Mullen mouth as he has right now.

 

[Ditchjumper2]

Out of fashion but what about a kimblewick? You can get slotted versions to increase the action if needed, i would also try a chain cover to soften the effect of the

I would also try a kimblewick. Very useful bits, I rode my shire cross in one for many years including hunting.

 

[avthechav]

Have you tried a trans universal with a backstrap? The backstrap made all the difference to my horse. I think it helped to stabilise it and stop mine from over reacting.