Bits - what do you all use.

[bella]

All ours are in plain eggbuts and go very well in them. We had one little mare a while ago who seemed to prefer a pelham but in general i prefer to use a simple snaffle.

[Deleted]

Merls in in a eggbut happy mouth snaffle and Tarran in in a stright bar happy mouth, I love these bits and the ponies seem to like them, for pleasure rides and hunting I use a dutch gag also a happy mouth on the second ring.

[peggyloo]

felix is in a sweet iron fulmer single jointed snaffle.He doesn't seem to like the stainless steel snaffles and mouths them too much.he seems really happy in sweet iron.

[jacquidales]

I love the KK bits. I always use them on youngsters and find it good for hacking and schooling

[Biggerside Benwell]

Danny has a JP Curved loose ring french link snaffle after having tried a lot of the mylers, I was going to try a neue schule bit but then figured if its not broken then dont try to fix it. I mouthed Duke in a mullen mouth myler, even though as a general rule I don't like mullen mouthpieces as he is quite mouthy Hilary Vernon suggested that a fixed mouthpiece would encourage him to accept a bit without chewing on it. Not sure what he will have when we progress to ridden work.

[ccc]

I've got Rose in fulmer single link snaffle. She didn't seem to like anything with fixed cheeks, but seems very happy with this bit. I will probably start Dilly in one of these too.

[jay]

I really like the KK bits too. It was my friend who suggested using one for Jay and he seems really happy in the loose ring kk ultra. Its a shame they're so expensive though. I'd like to try another in the range (probably the kk ultra universal) to replace my dutch gag...he's not as relaxed in it as he used to be, but i really need the extra brakes when we're cantering in company!!!

[bevbob]

Iv got the JP curved french link too Kristy, I think JP are the only ones to do the curved ones.
I have also got the JP curved hanging cheek, french link, boucher, that seems to give me a bit more control as it has more poll action.
Bobs doesnt mind either, he also likes the mullen mouth pelham too.

[harveydales]

years ago I tried a JP curved french link for Quest as his previous owner said she used one one for fast hacking but he hated it with me yet liked the KK. Strange how different they all are isn't it?

[r2oley]

I have had two Dales now with the big thick tongues and small mouths. Both are/were fine until they got worried or upset and then no matter how high in the mouth they are over the tongue goes and this can cause bruising and damage to the tongue as well as being painful I would think.

problem with first was sorted with ported liverpool that he went like a dream in and William has a weird curved straight bar liverpool that is german and we got from Andrew May. Its sort of mullen mouthed and sems to give him plenty of room for his tongue. (I am using it at present to long rein my youngster who has previously only had a mouthing bit in and he also seems to like it.
I have a book that lists the snaffles in order of severity and I often feel that sometimes people don't realise that some snaffles have a far stronger action than pelhams used correctly.
A french link snaffle is shown as the mildest but a dr bristol (which looks identical but has a differnt action cutting into the tongue ) is most severe. The copper roller bits which William came with are also listed as very severe.
I have found that where pressure on the tongue is an issue hanging cheeks do the trick and William is happily driving in his Liverpool and riding in a hanging cheek snaffle with a lozenge centre.

The first pony I had with the tongue over the bit problem had been ridden for years in a jointed snaffle that was too big and hanging so low in his mouth that it hit his teeth. he was so paranoid about the bit that I used a hackamore on him for a year before we started looking for suitable bits again.

Its basically about conformation and what suits your pony as well as light hands but there is so much choice these days its easy to get caught up in trying loads and its not cheap either!!

Sorry if I have gone on a bit(excuse the pun lol) but it has been something I have struggled with for a while now your right there is a bit that suits every horse you just have to find it.


Hope that helps a little bit.

[The Moo]

With the JP bits, how are they supposed to fit.
Do you measure around the curve of the bit or do you measure straight across as if you have put the down on a table.

[shaklana]

aaargh bits! they're like saddles: collect many, use few. arro is usually bitless but occasionaly wears a waterford snaffle. he seems to like how it molds to his mouthshape and is so flexible, allowing easy tongue movement and swallowing. taz has a thin, curved, sweet iron, loose-ring snaffle with a copper ring in the joint, making it like a french link. dior has a myler forward-tilt-ported snaffle. this seems to be a very, very mild bit, which suits my hyper-sensitive desert donkey who will explode in any of 5 directions if a bit squeezes his tongue or pinches his lips. i avoid single joint snaffles which i think are evil.