Bits - what do you all use.

[The Moo]

I am having to get a new bit for Cherry - she has a smaller mouth than anything else I have had.
There is sooo many to choose from!!!.

Who uses anything other than stainless steel, what is it and does it make a difference.

Also, should a bit just hang in the mouth or should the pony hold it.
I have found Cherry holding a french link with her tongue, I was checking the size and it seemd okay from the outside but when I looked inside she was holding it so I guessed it was too big. Since then I have read on a classical orientated site that the horse should hold it. Any ideas?

She is quite mouthy, can easily get her tongue over the bit and back again even when the bit seems high enough in the mouth and what looks to be the right size, only 1/4'' too big if that. I don't want to just strap her mouth shut.

I do know the old saying 'There are a hundred bits in the owners mind but only one in the horse mouth' but am confused about what to try first if I am having to go out an actually buy something LOL

[alisonduke]

I shall be interested in people's opinions to this too.
I think quite a few people opt for the pelham for everyday as it gives a light contact but more control if needed. I've used the Happy Mouth straight bar version which is a much thinner mouthpiece than the rubber one and so leaves more room in the mouth.
Does Cherry have a big tongue? You can check by looking in the side of her mouth to see if the tongue bulges through the teeth.

I am personally torn between a french link snaffle that Bill can lift with his tongue and so doesn't stop him swallowing but is apparently also quite a harsh bit as the tongue pressure is quite hard and a mullen mouth pelham that seems to push into the tongue when the curb is on (not really tight). Neither seems ideal!!
Sorry if I've confused you or/and hijacked your post but I would value people's opinions on this too. ;D

[The Moo]

Def not hi-jacked, I'm interested in everything.
I wasn't thinking of going down the pelham route as she is still quite green and was hoping to use some sort of dressage legal bit in case I set myself the task of entering a prelim (yeah right) and to have lessons. I know the EE lot like pelhams for schooling, and so do I, but would she develop 'feel' with a non-jointed bit?
Maybe she has too much 'feel' and a non-jointed bit would be better...... now you see why i am confused....LOL

I asked the dentist about her mouth and he said it was normal and that a normal bit would be fine. Normal is great if you know what normal is.

[rebeccajane]

I use a Myler Pelham for Moll - after 10 years of searching we finally found the perfect bit - she hated any form of contact with any bit up to the point I bought this bit.

Bouda doing OK with a full cheeck French Link snaffle

[harleydales]

Harley does in a french link 3 ring snaffle, with the reins usually on the bit ring so no poll action. He also has a french link full cheek which helps withthe steering, and I drive him in a french link Liverpool. He doesn't like straight bars.

Apollo has a hanging cheek snaffle and a 3 ring gag for strong moments!!

[JoM]

Dancer is the opposite of Harley! ROFL

He isnt a 'jointed bit fan'!! LOL

I can get away with a french link with him (loose ring) but he just spends all his time fiddling with it and not concentrating on the job at hand.

For dressage I use a straight bar mullen mouth snaffle (fixed ring), with a flash as the tongue is straight over otherwise! And for everything else, I use a straight bar mullen mouth pelham, with curb chain, and on Sunday the sw*ne got his tongue over that as well!!!

[harleydales]

H goes along with his nose sticking straight out with straight bars, and no brakes. Pelhams make him go up! Not nice!

Little monkey with his tongue - could you get him a port mouth bit maybe?

[juliansteve]

Cobweb was quite difficult to find a suitable bit for. She has a D ring snaffle with rollers recommended by another Dalesfan LOL and she is really happy with it. We have the same for Zoey with copper rollers and she seems to be fine with that aswell.

[jay]

For hacking out, schooling (what little we do!) and jumping I use one of the KK ultra snaffles for Jay...its a loose ring snaffle with lozenge and made from aurigan. He seems much happier in this than any stainless steel ones I tried, as he salivates a bit more rather than being bone dry and we manage to get the odd moment 'on the bit'!

For fun rides etc I'd been using a dutch gag with the reins just on the 2nd ring. He had always been alright in it, but when I tried it recently he seemed to be throwing his head around the place, so I've not tried it again since.

For showing I've got a straight rubber pelham which works really well. He seems pretty happy in it, and I feel safe knowing I've got more in reserve if necessary! lol. I need to really try and get used to jumping with 2 sets of reins then I could use it for the fun rides etc aswell, but I've been too chicken to try yet! I need to pluck up the courage though because I could do with using it for working hunter classes. At the last one I kept him in his snaffle which was fine for the jumping and individual show, but the group canter was INTERESTING to say the least!!!

[dalesponyrider]

I use a myler comfort snaffle for lunging and schooling but a mullen mouth pelham for hacking which gives me the ability to have a little more control if needed but ride on a fairly light contact.

[greydales]

The bits I use for Dancer and Saturn are a KK sprenger double jointed and the other a Neue Schule of a similar design. The KK is made from Aurigan and the Neue Schule is a gold coloured metal but I'm not sure what it is!

I've found that with horses who get their tongues over the bit the straight bar is the worst. I personally prefer thinner bits as when I've used thicker bits they just get leant on; I also prefer loose ring to eggbutt as I feel you have a bit more fine tuning.

But all horses and ponies are different and I am afraid it is usually a matter of trial and error (and a houseful of bits!) before you find one your horse is happy with.

[akehurstannabel]

Holly has a kk ultra pelham which i tghink might have made her go up.I have just bought her a loose rinbg french link kk aurigan snaffle and i am going to try starting her off again in that. Jo x. Sandy ghas occult wolf teeth so wears an english pattern hackamore. Jo x

[carolinec]

Sam is ridden in a Waterford Baucher bit.
I find it gives more control if required but I ride on quite a light contact in it. Sam seems to like it as it's very flexible.

[harveydales]

Harvey is in a thin KK Ultra (the lozenge sort). Use it for everything and never tried any other sort of bit - if it works, don't fix it. I used to ride Quest in one of these also, but a really thick, heavy one which is odd as he has a small, fleshy mouth but it's what he liked best. A matter of trial and error I guess.

[mrsh]

All of mine are in the KK ultra snaffles for all their work. They are all very soft mouthed and i have super brakes on to of them, but the 3rd needs a bit more schooling.