Which English bit for my mare?

Becky S.

2011-06-20 12:24:48 UTC

I see why she is getting worse. The twisted wire is putting too much pressure on her sensitive mouth. Here's what I would do:

1. Remove twisted wire bit from bridle.

2. Throw twisted wire bit in the trash, never to be removed.

3. Find a good quality eggbutt snaffle, full cheek snaffle, or D ring snaffle. Single joint or french link is up to you, and whatever she likes. (Basically, any of the pictures you showed, but I don't think a pelham in necessary).

4. Give her some time to adjust to riding with the new bit.

5. She should be able to collect better with a softer bit in her mouth.

You will probably fix most of your problems with collecting, running off with the bit, and evading the bit simply by putting her in something a lot more comfortable for her. Simply running up to a stronger bit will only create a bigger problem when she learns to ignore that bit.

Spend some time letting her soften back to a gentler bit. You and your horse will both greatly benefit.

**EDIT: I agree with BLW, a tom thumb isn't necessarily a good bit either. They tend to give confusing cues to your horse due to the fixed shanks and broken mouthpiece.

BLW

2011-06-20 19:31:29 UTC

You have WAY TOO MUCH bit in her mouth, she's doing what she's doing because she's in pain and miserable from a too strong bit. Of course she's getting worse, the bit is too harsh and she's trying everything she can think of to avoid the thing.

The Dr. Bristols and gags are severe too. The Dr. Bristol link digs into the tongue when you pull on the reins, a gag rides up on the mouth and adds poll pressure. You don't need this.

What this mare needs is LESS bit, not more. If she doesn't stop, a stronger bit isn't going to solve the problem for more than a week or two, it will just make her harder-mouthed and a head-flipper.

Frankly, a Tom Thumb is not a great bit too (shanks on a jointed mouthpiece make it too severe), but at least it's a smooth mouthpiece.

Get a simple, smooth snaffle, dee ring, eggbutt, full cheek, it doesn't matter (though keepers with a full cheek are a good safety measure). If she is bad about stopping, use turns and lateral movement to get her to respect your commands, don't just pull and pull. Examples:

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-01178&ids=951193488

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-0175&ids=951581509

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-0194&ids=951581509

The other possibility, given that she's used to a tom thumb and if she goes well in it, is to get a short-shanked pelham like the one you noted here:

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-0148&ids=951580885

You have to learn to ride with four reins for English, but that isn't all that difficult.

If she's particularly strong, a simple running martingale on a simple snaffle bit can help some as a temporary tool, you can still move her laterally, but you have a bit more leverage.

FREEDOM

2011-06-20 20:02:57 UTC

She is saying "ouch!! ow ouch!! my mouth! ow!!" The twisted wire snaffle is a harsh bit and she is telling you that its hurting her and making her very uncomfortable.

When you ride her in a tom thumb shank- she "collects" becasue she is affraid of the bit. she doesnt dare to put her head up, or really anywhere...becasue she knows if she does move her head- it will hurt her mouth. So the shank bit that you ride her in western, is only forcing her into collection. she really isnt learning anything about collection when you ride her in that bit. she is just thinking about how to avoid pain. Shanks are very harsh as well.

I suggest trying her out in a regular eggbutt french link snaffle bit.

http://www.statelinetack.com/item/korsteel-french-link-eggbutt-snaffle-bit/SLT900229/

http://www.statelinetack.com/item/ss-engraved-copper-western-d-ring-snaffle-bit-5in/SLT735511/

http://www.statelinetack.com/item/korsteel-copper-mouth-eggbutt-snaffle/SLT900230/

http://www.statelinetack.com/item/jp-french-mouth-eggbutt-bit/SLT733154/

http://www.statelinetack.com/item/korsteel-oval-link-eggbutt-snaffle/SLT900903/

?

2011-06-20 19:16:09 UTC

try a rubber bit. her mouth may be hurting her and a rubber bit is soft on her mouth but can get the job done