Bit Advice

[flossie]

Gus is an ex-race horse and after a year off and then gentle work we've juststarted doing Dressage.

With lots of rearing so its all fun and games!!!! Told hm the answer is not up in the sky! He's slowly believing me!

Anyway he seems to be rolling the bit and trying to get his tongue behind it. Which he has a few times.

He's in a Myler Comfort D ring snaffle, what would be a good bit for this?

Preferabbly one I can school and hack in and is Dressage legal?

[lucia]

Hi!
Highly recommend you give Gills Bit Bank a call for advice - absolutely brilliant and they have a trial facility. They actually recommended a Low Port Myler Comfort Snaffle for my friends ex-racehorse who also had a tendancy to stick him tongue/behind/over the bit - gave his tongue a bit more room and seems to have really helped.
I've used them a lot for my mare who was rather fussy in her mouth and they even managed to recommend a bit for my Welsh Sec A who has an 'interesting' mouth (vets are fascinated by it!) its wave and he has an issue with teeth being cramped - we actually have a low port snaffle mouth for him too.
HTH's

[flossie]

Thats who we got the bit off and thats what the bit is, a comfort snaffle but with rings instead of loose rings.

Thank you anyway

[SarahW]

As a Myler fan you could contact Hilary Vernon at Informed Bitting - she may have a clinic in your direction or give you advice by telephone/e-mail. Lynn Chapman RA uses Myler combinations as a good half way house on the way to the comfort snaffle. I also use one on my own horse. They have to be used very carefully so you do need to honestly assess how good you are with your hands.

I hope that Gill's bit bank emphasised the need to transition your horse into the Myler - i.s. show the horse how it works from the gorund first. Does the horse do this when you are long-lining with the bit in?

I am presuming that you have had teeth checked and eliminated any other reason for the rearing itself?

[lucia]

Are you using the Low port snaffle with the reins on the hooks or sliding? Just wondered if you have the reins on the hooks he may be objecting to the poll pressure (as this has a gag action)? If you don't sorry don't know what to suggest! If its not working out call Gills again I have found them very helpful when I was trialling bits - the first one I tried on the Welshie he wasn't so sure about and they spent a lot of time with me finding one that worked. ;D

SarahW - I agree about the change over to a Myler needing time - Gills certainly emphasised to me that a gradual transition to the Myler bit was required (she told me to tack my mare up in it then walk her in hand a few times before I even lunged/long lined to allow her to get used to it) as it happened my mare took to the Myler beautifully and very quickly but my Welshie took a while longer and a bit more experimenting.

[rosiesfriend]

I have an ex racer too... she sucks single jointed snaffles up to her teeth and chews on them!! Cheeky begger! but when I did ride her - she did not try to be quite as naughty as yours... tho I probably was not pushing her as hard... tho probably too gently knowing me

I will be watching how you get on with interest... but I am in the process of trying to get a french link Baucher or drop cheek or something similar - apparently gentle - and will suit her narrow jaw. I'll let you know how she responds!

[Nessie]

Ness has been in a NS comfort baucher but over recent weeks has not been accepting it . Now switched to a Myler loose ring french link (Dressage legal). This has a smaller lozenge than traditional french links and the mouth piece is more shaped which sits better in the horse's mouth. She has been in this for the last 4-5 weeeks and much happier . Although the NS is a sweetiron, with roller in middle she did not like the action on her poll. See my post "Any one having problems with Gill's Bit Bank?" I have been talking to Bit World www.bitworld.co.uk - very friendly and helpful.

Good luck