bitting up babies.

[Ryan&Dizzy]

as it seems rather topical atm i thought i would put a thread up.

how do people bit up there babies?

im getting to the point where im begining to think about doing things with Dizzy. she has had a bit in and learnt to accept it but plays with it alot when it is in (shes only had it in a few times for short periods). she has only been longlined off a head collar. im very tempted to invest in a dually and work her off that at least for the time being and will also probably back her in that when the time comes but i do need her bitted at some point to do dressage (which is why she has had one in). i was read on the 'on the bit' thread about people using a bitless and then transfering from bitless to bitted using two reins.. which sounds like a very clever idea.

so how do you do yours?
also what do you use? i chose a fairly thin lozenge bit for Dizzy as she has a huge tounge and not a great deal of room in her mouth and i dont like single jointed bits. but ive already had people critisise mebecause 'all babies should be started in a big fat eggbut snaffle'.

[misty]

No point using a thick bit if the horse has a small mouth. Did most of my stuff in a head collar then sidepull. Then used a french link but not until she could do most thing I wanted without a bit. I would just say don't rush into riding in a bit unless you've got feathers for fingers.

[sarahfox]

Much the same as misty,I agree re the thick bit in a small mouth too.Some babies seem to prefer a straight bar happy mouth or similar though and I also like to use either kk 'gold' or sweet iron as I dont like the thought of steel,and they definitely prefer the taste.
I would say dont rush into riding her in a bit even if you have got feathers fro fingers though as it is inevitable that she will lean/pull/argue until she begins to understand what you want and that is best done in a halter rather than ruining the mouth imo.

[Cheryl Walmsley]

I don't know much about this but just wanted to highly recommend the dually for longreining. It works well for sherb and has done since he was started.

[Azrael]

Depends on the horse.

Jay is naturally very nosey and likes playing with people and doing new stuff. She had a bit in at a year old.. she was determined to chew on Roxy's bridle while I was trying to tack up so I decided she might as well chew on the part that should be in her mouth. She accepted it really easily, I'll probably pop it in occasionally and start to teach her to move off bit pressure when she's 2 but plan to back her in something bitless.

Mia I first bitted at 2 1/2 but she's not keen on new things and takes her time to accept anything new so its taken her a while for her to get used to it. She was backed bitless and I plan on riding her bitless (most likely Dually) at first when she starts doing some work again. She started off in a french link, played too much with it so switched to a happy mouth then nathe. She was ok in the nathe while getting used to the idea of something in her mouth not needing to be faffed with constantly, now she seems happiest in Roxy's JP snaffles, especially the hanging cheek one.

First choice of bit for me is normally something gentle that happens to be handy unless the horse has a difficult shaped mouth to bit, then depending on initial reaction to whatever I pick up first figure out what to use next.

[Ryan&Dizzy]

also... is it possible to get a dually (or simalar) in a sensible colour? this is the only thing putting me off atm... i dont want to have to ride my beautiul baby in bright red monstrosity lol!!!

[sarahfox]

pmsl!!!
I dont use them,but Gem has a nice blue one!

[sara]

It totally depends on what size they would need. The red one is the small size, black is full, and blue is x full

[Ryan&Dizzy]

ooo thts not too bad then i think she sould be a full. black isnt too bad is it? i thought red ones were full... but there big sizes arent they?

[Azrael]

I use a black one on cob size horses, its generous but very adjustable.

[arabheaven]

ori has had a happy mouth loose ring snaffle to chomp on a few times. when i show her next summer she will have a small bradoon type bit on her in hand bridle as its nice and small xx

[Hannah]

I would recommend using a dually for longlining and initial ridden work, a great piece of kit

I have started using JP hanging cheek snaffles with a french link, I wold prefer a lozenge, but can;t find one. They support the weight of the bit, preventing the bit resting on the tongue. It also keeps the bit stiller in the mouth. My 2 in work seem very happy with this arrangement