Best bit for yearlings on the line.

[La Gringa]

What bit do you guys show in and introduce the bridle on your yearlings??

I know its best to use a D ring.. but what mouth?? Happy Mouth? KK? What's best to show in??

:)

[lauriep]

Just a plain old D snaffle. No need for anything more elaborate. We just put the headstall/bit on and let them wear it for an hour or so at a time while in the stall. They can eat, drink, chew on it and figure out that it isn't any big deal. Works fine.

[talloaks]

French training bit.

[TKR]

I have a little brass bit with mouthing keys. It's just straight across, not a broken mouth snaffle with small rings. It has a chin strap with a ring in the middle to use for the leadline. It is one I got when I worked a Thoroughbred sale at Keeneland alot of years ago and they use them also. The yearlings like it and it's gentle. I know the Chifney is also used, but it's more severe and alot of youngsters don't tolerate it well. You could probably get one from a tack store in Lexington.

PennyG

[LivviesMom]

I have a plain old D snaffle on my filly. I tried a happy mouth but it was too thick for her small mouth, amd shes fine with the regular snaffle anyway..
Her first bit was a 3.5" pony d!

[staceyk]

My yearling started in a plain D ring -- he was reacting to it "okay" but he drooled a lot and was very mouthy/snatchy when we worked him in hand. I got a (pink!) loose ring happy mouth. Vive la difference! He was easier to bridle and very quiet in the mouth. He was in that for about a month, and when we showed him in the D ring this spring, he was fine in that one too.

[Edgewood]

Plain D ring snaffle.

Sometimes you will see a full cheek in the HB classes, but not too often. It would have been too overpowering for my filly

Also, I had to buy a pony bridle that I matched to my horse bridle and had to takes bit from each to fit my yearling. I used the browband and noseband from the pony bridle and the cheek pieces and headstall from the horse bridle.

Here she is all braided up
http://pets.webshots.com/photo/2898864850098184669elSDqj

[Samotis]

I have a similiar question involving bridles.

I noticed edgewood that your foal is very dark, but you chose to go with a medium brown bridle.

If you have a very dark colored foal, is it not ok to use a dark brown bridle?

Only because I have a brand new cob sized dark brown bridle that I was going to try to use next year for my colt. He is very dark bay. Would it be weird to use that bridle? Should I just get a medium brown bridle?

Just thought it might look better if it is closer to the horses color, but I have never actually showed in the hunter breeding, so that is why I am asking!!:)

[Hunter_Rider]

Darker is always better, on any color horse IMO!!

[Edgewood]

[quote=Samotis;3355414]I have a similiar question involving bridles.

I noticed edgewood that your foal is very dark, but you chose to go with a medium brown bridle./quote]

Mainly because that is what I had. Being that I do not show hunters, I had used this bridle on other horses that were lighter. I didn't feel like purchasing a new bridle. The judges didn't seem to care and they still really liked my filly.

[lauriep]

A good dark mahogany brown. Very dark, but still clearly brown, not black.

[Showsheen]

I have a similiar question involving bridles.

I noticed edgewood that your foal is very dark, but you chose to go with a medium brown bridle.

If you have a very dark colored foal, is it not ok to use a dark brown bridle?

Only because I have a brand new cob sized dark brown bridle that I was going to try to use next year for my colt. He is very dark bay. Would it be weird to use that bridle? Should I just get a medium brown bridle?

Just thought it might look better if it is closer to the horses color, but I have never actually showed in the hunter breeding, so that is why I am asking!!:)
Actually matching the tone of the leather to the color of the horse is the best thing to do if you can. Black looks best on greys and dark brown and black horses, dark brown on bays and liver chestnuts, on reds, the lighter brown looks best. In the Hunter Breeding arena you want the tack to blend in and disappear. If your horse has a mediocre face or a roman nose, use a wider noseband to shorten the look of the face and "flatten" the nose bump.

I wrap a little latex on the middle of my bits for the babies and I dip them in molasses beforehand and it makes the bits a little more friendly when the babies are getting used to them.:yes:

[Jesse'sMom]

FORGET THE BRIDLE!!!
WOW!! LOVELY filly!!! Just lovely & has such a swet kind look to her.
nicely tuend out too- kudos to you.

[lilypondlane]

I agree -- she looks beautiful! The bridle seems to fit perfectly and she is just stunning. And that's two lovely fillies you have, edgewood.

[Edgewood]

Thanks for the compliments on my filly - I am really pleased with how she looks as a yearling:D. The braider I hired did a super job on her mane and tail.

I do agree that if I was buying a bridle, I would pick a darker colored leather for this filly. But since I only show HB a few times and show dressage regularly, I didn't want to purchase a brand new bridle that would then just sit around in my tack room gathering dust. But I agree that a darker bridle would look better.

Also, if you yearling has a dainty head, you might now want to choose the big D rings (since the D part comes in different sizes). You want it too look good but not too overpowering.

[lauriep]

Black tack is NEVER appropriate in the hunter ring, especially in HB. A dark brown bridle will look beautiful on any color horse, and light leather is unattractive and gaudy looking.

[Fairview Horse Center]

I am old school, but I prefer to see a full cheek. D rings are so overpowering (the look), and too much metal on a pretty head for my taste.