Yet another bit question !

[SouthWestWhippet]

I know there has been a bit of a deluge of these lately but please can all you bit experts take a moment to answer this one?

My pony is currently ridden in a single jointed eggbut snaffle with grackle noseband. She is very strong/forward but I am ok in this bit. I wouldn't want to hack out with much less tho

.

However, she tends to lean on the left side of the bit and counter bend, locking and crossing her jaw. I spoke to the woman who does her back and (after feeling around) she suggested playing around with a few different bits to see if she was objecting to the nutcracker action. She suggested trying french link and mullen mouth snaffles.

Last night I borrowed a hanging cheak mullen mouth snaffle from one of the riding school ponies and my horse went well in it - she was less resistant and stayed much rounder through downwards transitions etc. Will try a french link tonight.

So my quesitons are:

What is the action of a Mullen Mouth snaffle. How does it work?
How severe is it? Will it give me less brakes than the Eggbut (should I not use it for hacking for example)
Does anyone have any better ideas for a bit? It must be dressage legal and hopefully not massively expensive!

Teeth have been checked recently and back was done yesterday (and was fine).
Thanks!

 

[Gentle_Warrior]

I used a normal eggbut single jointed snaffle and mine used to hang on it and generally evade. I have changed to a NS Comfy Contact which allows you to 'pick up' the forehand with a rein motions on what ever side you require. Works brilliant. Had indipendat side action and no nut cracker action.

 

[SouthWestWhippet]

thanks. I'm interested in trying the NS bits cos I've heard good things about them. Would like to explore cheaper options first tho

Anyone got any opinion on Mullen mouth snaffles? What is their action?

 

[KatB]

Mullen mouth bits are "soft" in their action, they distribute pressure on the tongue and bars of the mouth, and would provide significantly less brakes in theory than a jointed snaffle! If she is objecting to the nutcracker action, try a french link snaffle that uses the same pressure points as a mullen mouth, with more action on the lips and bars of the mouth. Both are dressage legal. A myler or NS comfy contact as already mentioned would also be worth trying!

 

[dressagespain]

I would advise you to use a bog standard frenchlink snaffle - you could even try to see if they have a sweet iron one to encourage the horse to chew and salivate.

If your horse is a little bit strong you could put a hanovarian noseband on to encourage him to drop his head and therefore be more manageable.

 

[dressagespain]

The only other thing you could do is try a Dr Bristol Snaffle which has the link in the centre, gives a bit more control and is dressage legal.

I have one of my strong horses in Dr Bristol and hanovarian noseband. One in a sweet iron single jointed and flash and the third in the best of all bits - the KK ultra loose ring, slightly thinner for more control - (try ebay for expensive bits second hand - if you clean them, they are ok)

 

[KatB]

Dr Bristol isnt dressage legal.

 

[dressagespain]

I'm sure it is - I use it out here?? Maybe I am thinkg of a different one - they all have different names, gimme a minute

 

[dressagespain]

OK, yes it is a DR Bristol that I use and it is legal under the FEI rules that I ride under. I checked with the Federation and they said that provided it was a snaffle - which it is - and the part that goes through the mouth is one material, then it is legal.
Maybe different in UK??

 

[flyingfeet]

Dr Bristol is not legal under UK dressage, although, doubt many of the people checking would notice that it was different from a french link??

Cheaper NS alternative bit:
link

 

[dressagespain]

Well lets put it this way - I have it in writing they think its ok!!!!!

 

[flyingfeet]

Technically this doesn't have a Dr Bristol:
http://www.britishdressage.co.uk/_documents/rules_EquipmentandDress.pdf

 

[Rambo]

That document talks about bit configurations rather than names

What exactly make the Dr Bristol harsh and the French Link not btw....Is it down to the angle of the link in the middle or something like that

 

[dressagespain]

Well very bizarre but i am not going to complain cos I can control him in it and I don't take him to huge comps anyway. The ones that go to the big ones have a standard bit.

 

[SouthWestWhippet]

oooo, that looks really nice. And not too pricey either. I'll bookmark the page.

I'm gonna try the french link on her tonight (just waiting for the bridle with the french link to be free at the same time as I am riding - it belongs to one of the more popular riding school ponies LOL).

I'm really really pleased with the mullen mouth so far but haven't had the chance to hack in it yet or try the french link. Quite enjoying this bit experimenting. Watch this space for more news...

 

[ihatework]

Looking at it bit 2b could be argued to be a Dr. Bristol ? The diagram of the link doesn't look exactly like the usual DB link, but the orientation of the link is the same.

I always though DB's weren't dressage legal, but I would be tempted to double check with BD.

 

[dressagespain]

The Dr Bristol I have has a rounded link in the centre and looks surprisingly like a french link, the only difference being the link is longer and set at a different angle.

I agree B and J, you could defo argue that 2b is a DR Bristol.
I only suggested it cos I have never had a problem here - maybe BD is a bit more strict.