Need Advice on a Bit for Max

[SouthernComfortMax]

Hi there! I am in need of some help! I am trying to find a suitable bit for my big Shire/TBX. I am riding him in an eggbutt single jointed snaffle right now but he is VERY green (he is 4) and seems to be unhappy with it. He chews heavily and leans on the bit. I have been given advice from so many people I have been told I need a Boucher, a waterford mouth piece, an elevator Gag...I just have no clue! All of my other horses just went in a loose ring so I have never really had to think about it before. I hope to bring him along to do some lower level eventing and some dressage (just local schooling stuff). Can someone please shed some light on this ever confusing, tangled world of bits? Thanks!! :)

[SillyMe]

UGH! You don't need another bit - you need education. Your horse is not unhappy with the bit, he is unhappy with how it is being used...

It would take pages and pages to explain how to get your horse soft on the bit (any bit really) and it all comes down to the riders hands.

Flexing and giving at the poll is the tip of the iceberg, but unless you have some feel and release pressure on the bit at the instant your horse "gives" then you are in a downward spiral into a leaning, heavy horse...

Try this:

Get a lead rope and hold one end and have another friend hold the other facing each other. Then you both pull gently with equal pressure. Have your friend release unexpectedly. Do you pull towards yourself? Most people do. Practice so that when your friend releases you actually push your hands towards your friend. Then think about this as you ask for your horse to "give" his head either flexing or at the poll. Do you keep pulling when he "gives" or did you "give" back to him?

Or (yes I am being snarky here) you can spend endless dollars on bits that never get anything accomplished except put money in the pockets of bit manufacturers. But hey, the economy needs help. ;)

[deltawave]

So people here will give you lots more advice--what does your trainer think? :)

For a youngster my first instinct is to use as little bit as possible, and to educate them with the idea that no matter WHAT bit is in their mouths, it is wrong to lean on it. Chewing is harder--I've had horses that would, no matter what and horses that wouldn't, no matter what. I think that's sort of an individual thing.

I started my young mare in a happy mouth mullen snaffle, FWIW. She no longer goes in that because I'm asking a lot more of her now but it was just fine for what I asked her to do as a green-bean. :)

For a baby horse, it is far more likely to be lack of education and experience than want of the "right" bit.

[Gloria]

A Boucher, a waterford mouth piece, an elevator Gag, for a 4 years old? Oh my. Run away from those people who gave you those advices:eek::eek:

If your horse is unhappy with this eggbutt single jointed snaffle (I'm assuming it's smooth snaffle?), I will try a mouth piece that conform to horses' mouth anatomy better, something like Myler Comfort snaffle.

If your horse is leaning on the bit, he has lost his balance. You need to help him to regain his balance. One effective exercise is frequent (very frequent) transitions.

Also, make sure your saddle fits him, and make sure your are not leaning on his mouth to balance yourself.

[Percheron X]

Does the horse still have it's wolf teeth?

I would recommend having someone experienced checking your bit to be sure that it is a suitable bit for the conformation of your horses mouth.

Horses have mouths that come in different shapes and sizes.

Horses can have low pallets, high pallets, fleshy lips, fleshy tongue, narrow bit paths, etc... All these factors can effect the fit and comfort of the bit in the horses mouth, including the factor of how the rider uses the bit.

Some Horses go better in mullen type bits.

Some Horses go better in single jointed type bits.

Some Horses go better in double jointed type bits.

Some Horses may even go better in multi jointed type bits like a waterford.

Some Horses go better in bits with narrow Cannons/Shanks.

Some Horses go better in bits with wide Cannons/Shanks.

Some Horses go better in full cheek bits.

Etc..

I agree with deltawave that less bit is better when schooling young Horses.

My personal first training bit of choice (after starting the horse in a happy mouth mullen) is a full cheek french link.

[Come Shine]

I am trying to find a suitable bit for my big Shire/TBX. I am riding him in an eggbutt single jointed snaffle right now but he is VERY green (he is 4) and seems to be unhappy with it. He chews heavily and leans on the bit.

You have a BIG VERY GREEN 4 year old. Try and get some books and videos regarding development of a draft cross and how they mature in movement relative to how they are built. That's a lot of body to figure out how to move. :)

My guess is that he gets more heavy and lean-y as work progresses because he gets tired. Work on lots of walk/trot at this age and help him develop his musculature to carry himself as he matures.

Changing the bit won't help him mature any faster.

[sublimequine]

I'll make a few suggestions for bits that may make the horse more COMFORTABLE, not bits that will make him do anything, make him more obedient, make his training go faster, etc, etc. Patient and quiet hands do those things, not a bit. :)

Have you tried..

- A french link?

- A mullen mouth?

- A slightly thinner bit (NOT wire-thin)?

- A slightly thicker bit?

- Copper, sweet iron, rubber, or a happy mouth?

DEFINITELY no gags or anything of that sort! That's for a finished horse, not a baby who is just learning things.

[SouthernComfortMax]

My main concern is that he is comfortable, I am not worried about making him grown up or getting a bit to make him do anything he isn't ready to do. I have never had a horse I have started from the ground up so this is all very new to me. I was worried I was causing him some distress with my choice of bit for some reason. He does not have his wolf teeth anymore, the dentist was out about 3 weeks ago and he said everything looked fine. I do agree with you comeshine, I think maybe his leaning has a lot to do with him getting tired and the chewing I think may be him just being bored. He has the attention span of an olive :) He is a very sweet, willing horse I just feel like I am in the weeds a little trying to figure all this stuff out. I am still looking for a trainer, I rode and pony clubbed for many years...many years ago but have no experience with this sort of thing so any advice would be VERY welcome and gladly excepted! THANKS!!! :)

[Come Shine]

He has the attention span of an olive :)

LOL!!!

I totally hear where you are coming from. I have a tack trunk full of bits. :)

I don't think it will hurt to try different bits if you think he is uncomfortable but I would be wary of choosing something to address a problem (ie. leaning) that is more related to his stage of development, not a bitting issue.

Personally, I like a horse that chews.

All the best. He sounds like he is a lovely boy and in good hands.