Biting Advice

[cryapakah]

I have had Khan for just over around 20 months now and when I had him he was in a dutch gag with phelum roundings and a bungee to keep his head down correctly.

After a few months of having him I learnt to hate the bungee and soon replaced it with a running martingale. He is a typical high head carriged Arab and I like his head up pretty high.

I was told to try him in a phelum which I did and found him extremely responsive. But I didn't like having him in such a strong bit, as he has a very sensitive mouth.

I soon just put him in a normal eggbutt snaffle and he goes well in it just doesn't have the best breaks out there.

When too much pressure is applied he shakes his head. I don't know how a snaffle works and if its the wrong shape for his mouth. Khan has the typical small mouth and large tongue.

I have also been told that the eggbutt snaffle has the nut cracker effect and may be digging in to the roof of his mouth.

Any help is appreciated! I don't have a clue when it comes to bits.

[olivia]

If Khan is shaking his head around when you use the reins I guess he doesn't like the nut cracker action - many horses don't (to see the nut cracker action put the bit over your arm, then pull on the reins. The bit will squeeze your arm like a pair of nut crackers around a nut - ouch!) The other thing that single jointed bits can do is fold up and bash the roof of the mouth - ouch again!

For this reason I'm not the worlds biggest fan of single jointed bits. My preference is for either double jointed or straight bar (and I include in that ported bits, mullen mouth bits, etc etc).

You need to beg borrow or blag several types of bit until you find the one that suits your horse. I would recommending going to the library and ordering in a good book on bitting (libraries can order in nearly every published book given enough time!) and reading up on the different types of bit and the actions they have.

For example true gags (such as the cheltenham gag) have a raising action on the head so maybe not appropriate for a horse like Khan (I am not sure if this applies to gags like the belgium gag). On the other hand the pelhem tends to encourage the head down and in - so wouldn't be suitable for a horse who over bends and sticks their nose on their chest.

good luck on your search

[harleydales]

I have just discovered and love a 'Tom Thumb Sweet Iron with Copper Rings' bit - I got mine from www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk , you'll find it under sweet iron bits in the bit tab.



You can have the reins on the snaffle or bottom ring, or both, or use roundings.

Harley hates pelhams and throws his head about, but he seems to respect this bit and likes it. My life is much easier with it!! He can be a git in company, always wants to be ahead of everyone but I hacked out with a friend in this bit and he walked nicely alongside the other horse - bliss.

[loopylou]

Maybe worth trying a hanging cheek, french link bit. Not all, but most ponies prefer the french link to the horrid single jointed bits. It will give you some poll pressure, but you may not find it will have enough break,s but well worth a try. The difference in mouth piece might be enough to keep your pony listening.

Bits are a mind field, and everyong has so many different ways of thinking, it can it way to confusing. Maybe someone you knows has one or two bits you could try or contact a bit bank so you can change the bit and try others if the one you have doesn't work.

[cryapakah]

Apr 1, 2008 18:38:40 GMT -1 harleydales said:

I have just discovered and love a 'Tom Thumb Sweet Iron with Copper Rings' bit - I got mine from www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk , you'll find it under sweet iron bits in the bit tab.



You can have the reins on the snaffle or bottom ring, or both, or use roundings.

Harley hates pelhams and throws his head about, but he seems to respect this bit and likes it. My life is much easier with it!! He can be a git in company, always wants to be ahead of everyone but I hacked out with a friend in this bit and he walked nicely alongside the other horse - bliss.

I have heard that this bit is very severe? Have you found it severe or do you think it comes down to how much the rider uses their hands??



OLIVIA

How do straigh bars work?

LOOPYLOU
I will ask around and see if anyone has a hanging cheek and see how he goes.

[nars]

The Neule Shule demi anky bit is excllent for this type of issue. The Saddlery Shop sell it on line and will have it to yo in 48hrs.

[cryapakah]

Nars
I like the sound of that bit. Shame I can't try it first. I think I will get it anyway!

[harleydales]

I know the Saddlery shop do a hire before you buy service with horse boots, maybe they do the same with bits?

I find that with this bit, one ask to stop or slow and he does, rather than getting into a tugging match as with the dutch gag. I think any shanked bit can be severe but it is how you use it.
I find I can ride on a reasonably loose rein with it, because as soon as he feels it coming into play he steadies so I don't have to heave and pull to stop him. I was wary of it too, but am pleased so far.

[JoM]

I use a straight bar mullen mouth snaffle for D - he is very soft mouthed - but the braking with it resembles trying to stop an arctic truck with the brakes off a robin reliant!!! HOWEVER, it is a nice schooling bit. To ride out in company, I use either a mullen mouth straight bar pelham, a loose ring french link or hanging cheek french link which is my dressage legal bit as well.

The straight bar puts equal pressure on the tongue and the lips (corners of the mouth). Obviously a horse with a fleshier tongue will 'feel' it a bit more.

The pelham stops us quite well and is only as strong as you want it to be. I tend to tie the curb rein off and use the top rein - but it is in easy reach if i need it. I would rather give one good tug to stop, than stand there heaving and sawwing.

The loose ring french link and hanging cheek he likes as well, so if i want to put draw reins etc on I use this one.

I recently tried him with a ported bit and we had a right old teddy out of cot about it!

My only issue with the straight bar (Pelham as well) is that Dance is a monkey for getting his tongue over it! So, even with the curb done up on the pelham, I have to have a a well fitted flash to stop him!

I was very anti pelham to begin with - but the bit is dormant in the mouth until you decide to use it. Its not the strength of the bit - its the person on top. Ultimately though - if he likes it, it makes my life much easier! ;D its all trial and error!! I would have thought a dutch gag was up there in severity though if you use it on the bottom ring?

[olivia]

I did a similar thing to Jo with Tilly - for schooling and general work she has a fairly thin KK Ultra snaffle (it's a bradoon thickness, but with full size rings - she has such a fleshy tongue that the thinner the more comfortable). Then for jumping, or situations where I might need better brakes she has a mullen mouth pelham. If I'm out hacking I just tie the curb rein in a loose knot and leave it on her neck unless I need to pick it up. For jumping and the show ring I do hold both reins for correctness sake (and for jumping I KNOW I will need it).

The straight bar is a completely straight bit, where as a mullen mouth has a slight curve which I understand means there is less tongue pressure and more on the bars - but I don't have my reference books available to double check that. Ideally I would like the very thin bradoon KK Ultra mouth piece with rugby peham cheeks, but as Tilly has such a wide bit I would have to have it made for £200 or £300 - so she has to make do!!!!!!

Olivia

[cryapakah]

JoM the gag is very severe I hate riding in them. I went to BOSJ yesturday and got a few bits so will see how Khan goes in each of them. I will keep you all updated.

[SuzieP]

Sorry to bang on about it - but a bit is as severe as the hands of the person using it.

[greydales]

Have to agree with Sue - ANY bit even the simplest snaffle can be an instrument of torture in unsympathetic hands.

I have some bits which I used to use for showing, which have extremely long shanks and the thinnest of mouthpieces - but if you use them with respect and a light touch then it's far better than to be pulling on a snaffle bit which the horse is leaning on. Single jointed snaffles are among the worst bits I've used, due to the nutcracker action.

There is nothing wrong with a pelham - if your horse goes well in this I can't see the problem if you use it sympathetically.