Which bit would you suggest.

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Smith88

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I have a rather strong mare who came to us this autumn, with a pelham and Waterford bit as well as a flash and standing martingale, ive taken both her flash and martingale off and am trying to get her bit down the levels. I've started at the bottom and ive given her two rides in a French link snaffle which she doesn't seem to like that much, she is a bit dead in the mouth, so did take a while to stop when asked. how long should i try a bit out for to know it hasn't worked? she didn't give any violent reaction but was slow to respond and a bit difficult to control in trot, i want to keep her in something soft, but something i have a bit of control with.
Thanks very much in advance
or should i keep going with the french link?
 
The bit is only going to work in conjunction with schooling so as long as you have enough control then stick with something that fits her and suits the shape of her mouth and spend time on the education she requires, the feeling of her being dead in the mouth is going to take time to change as she starts to work more correctly through her whole body her mouth should gradually relax and soften along with the rest of her, no bit will work without the rider input.
If you are planning on doing fast exciting things then you may need to up the brakes again but for now put in the hours schooling and you should see and feel the benefit over a period of time and so should she, it must be lovely for her to get rid of all the hardware.
 
I don't know but you're very brave. I used to ride in a mullen mouth Pelham and had to upgrade to a 3 ring Waterford, there is no way i'd have ever considered riding my mare in a standard snaffle after those bits haha
 
If you go on twitter and follow Matthew @thebitexpert you can ask him about bits and he is very very good.
 
Thanks everyone I am so proud of my girl, she has been so good She's just coming back into work from an injury, so has been off 3 months so considering we've gone from a three ring Waterford to a snaffle she has done incredibly well- although I'm sure it'll be a different story when we canter her .... she seems to enjoy being ridden much more now so I will keep the bit the same for now and school her some more, I'll also go to my local tack shop who are very good and ask around x
 
My old cob came to me on a dutch gag on the 3rd ring, no brakes. I went to a waterford to get away from the poll action, and then we had a loose ring fench link , but settled on a hanging cheek French link which he seemed the happiest in. People say those are as mild as they come but it was the only bit that could stop him in a gallop and jumping.
 
Would you have a problem with using the Pelham with two reins? That way you don't have much curb action unless you need it, but it is there if things get interesting. I'd rather do that than have to get heavy handed in a milder bit.
 
I wouldn't have a problem with it but she definitely would, she will constantly fight against her Pelham and gets very worked up. At the moment I'm torn between a loop snaffle or a Dutch gag, it all depends what she thinks of course!
 
Have you tried a snaffle with a ported mouthpiece? One of my guys is really strong but a friend suggested trying her ported fulmer it has a plastic mouthpiece and he schools amazing in it! It's the first bit I have managed to school him in where he works consistent and soft and I have basically been thru the alphabet in trying bits and hackamores, so it's a relief when you finally find something that works!!
 
I haven't tried a ported mouth piece or ever used one, i will definitely keep it in mind and see if i can burrow one, hopefully we will find a good bit soon it seems to be a long process at the moment!
 
Keep the pelham if she is happy in it and school her correctly in that until she understands then move her down the odd bit.

I know a snaffle mouth is "desirable" but if the horse is comfortable in a pelham then leave it.
 
Smith88 said:
I haven't tried a ported mouth piece or ever used one, i will definitely keep it in mind and see if i can burrow one, hopefully we will find a good bit soon it seems to be a long process at the moment!
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It's definitely worth a try, I bought a Beris one with the harder mouthpiece. They are quite expensive but don't mind spending the money when you finally find something that works!
 
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