|
|
Post by klouisem on Mar 9, 2012 13:05:12 GMT
Some say 1years old some say younger some say older! When do you think you should bit a baby?
|
|
|
|
Post by carrie17491 on Mar 9, 2012 13:12:19 GMT
there are lots of these posts about at the minute makes me wonder....
I think it's up to the owner when to bit but I personally won't bit until they are at least 2. I have a yearling colt that is a handful at the moment but won't stick anything in his mouth simply because a bit is not something that should be used because the handler cannot control the horse.
Bitting yearlings is lining you up for future problems with teeth in my eyes. My 3 year old was bitted at 2 - she is now having nothing whatsover in her mouth as her teeth are falling out and so she will be re-bitted once her adult teeth have grown and know that they are all in the right place! I think that putting a bit in her mouth now would be cruel and cause her a great deal of pain.
|
|
|
|
Post by klouisem on Mar 9, 2012 13:17:01 GMT
Yeah, I feel two is the age to bit them IMO. If you wanted to a 1 1/2 I guess it wouldn't hurt just to put the bit in don't lead them off it and take it out but yes 2 is the age i'm thinking of starting mine!
|
|
|
|
Post by carrie17491 on Mar 9, 2012 13:26:57 GMT
Yeah I think that age would be okay, but keep an eye on the teeth. As I say my fillies have just started to fall out and so no bits will be going in her mouth until she has a full set again! A little nylon bit should be fine, just be mindful of how sensitive their mouths are  |
|
Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
|
Post by Deleted on Mar 9, 2012 13:41:23 GMT
My youngster was bitted at 11 months for showing, no harm done, he had to have jointed snaffle as hated little inhand showbits and happy mouths
|
|
|
|
Post by hollyandpebs on Mar 9, 2012 13:45:20 GMT
my gelding is very strong so i bitted him at 1 and a half, with a little rubber bit. Now he is coming upto 2 and im thinking of putting him in a jointed snaffle as i dont think he likes the one he is in at the minute. So im undecided but i dont suppose theres halm in trying a happy mouth snaffle and just not put any pressure on it? do you think this would be ok he is 2 in may so almost 2 thanks x
|
|
|
|
Post by Dipsy on Mar 9, 2012 13:50:36 GMT
All of ours have been bitted as yearlings as we show them In hand for a couple of years before taking them out under saddle.
But this is the only time that they wear the bit and we always use loose ring snaffles
|
|
|
|
Post by carrie17491 on Mar 9, 2012 14:24:14 GMT
my gelding is very strong so i bitted him at 1 and a half, with a little rubber bit. Now he is coming upto 2 and im thinking of putting him in a jointed snaffle as i dont think he likes the one he is in at the minute. So im undecided but i dont suppose theres halm in trying a happy mouth snaffle and just not put any pressure on it? do you think this would be ok he is 2 in may so almost 2 thanks x I would think that is fine, that's what I did with my girl. You yourself are the best judge, if you feel that they could handle a bit in their mouth then bit them with a nice soft bit for them to mouth - I put honey or treacle on my bits when getting them to mouth Showing wise, I bitted my filly for this purpose however she was 2 and so I felt it came at a nice time. A lot of colts cannot be shown in halters due to them being strong but a bit is not something that should be used to handle a strong horse - if you have a youngster teach it how to be handled correctly! If it pulls, halt it and back it up and repeat each time. It does work, but I personally think too many people are too quick to shove a bit in because they themselves either cannot handle the horse or have failed to teach it how to be handled/lead correctly. modified to add my filly had to be bitted for showing as she wasn't a pure bred that could be shown in a white halter nor was she small enough for a filly slip. |
|
|
|
Post by klouisem on Mar 9, 2012 17:01:05 GMT
I shall bit my colts at 2 or 1 1/2 if I need to. I might have to bit my mini shetland sooner as I can't show him in a halter? Any ideas what to show him in!? My Welsh C foal is in a halter with a chain and very respectful of it, doesn't pull or anything so he shouldn't need a bit for a while!
|
|
sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
|
Post by sarahp on Mar 9, 2012 18:41:46 GMT
If possible, not until they are broken, usually at 3 1/2 yo. Only before if required by showing considerations - colts in hand, and we have started doing the BEF Futurities which require them to be bitted. Always a double jointed snaffle though, careful preparation and as little work in a bit as possible.
|
|
|
|
Post by brookviewequine on Mar 9, 2012 19:28:14 GMT
sometimes people are in such a rush to either bit their horse or get a saddle on them.
My 2 year old colt (and i m keeping him entire) will not get bited or saddled till i m ready to break him. there s so much more to do before then. Like can you control his head by putting a little pressure on his poll so he lowers it, or will you just be intending on wrestling with him at arms length.
build a foundation while he s young, you re in a fantastic position to grow with him
ant
|
|
|
|
Post by flo1 on Mar 11, 2012 1:16:50 GMT
My 2 year old colt (and i m keeping him entire) will not get bited or saddled till i m ready to break him. there s so much more to do before then. Like can you control his head by putting a little pressure on his poll so he lowers it, You must have a remarkably well behaved colt, there's no way my Sec D colt would have lowered his head with a 'little poll pressure' ;D in fact such pressure would have resulted in him rearing! I'm wondering how bitting a youngster can interfere with their teeth? My boy was bitted at 2 and a half, no fuss, no pressure and he was fine, accepted the bit ( a central revolver, full cheeked snaffle) without any problem. he's now started longreining with the voice commands he's learned since he was a weanling backing up the rein aids. This time next year as a nearly 4 year old we'll start to back him (all being well), he'll be familiar with the bit and rein aids (thanks to the longreining). I think leaving bitting until you're ready to back is adding more stress to the situation. Too much to take on board all at once. let them learn/get familiar with one thing at a time. And if you want to show, most clubs insist on 3 year old colts being suitably bitted. |
|
sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
|
Post by sarahp on Mar 11, 2012 8:58:26 GMT
If one of mine did that I'd get the physio to check for poll damage. I take my D stallion everywhere at home in a halter, I prefer to use correct schooling from weaning for control than brute force, and I expect good manners at all times when being handled by a human, no exceptions.
I'm no expert on teeth, but I think a bit could well affect the teeth if used a lot, why not ask a teeth specialist vet or dental technician? Bitting always used to be the first stage in breaking, which with me would normally be late in their third year, it doesn't take long to do and I teach voice and bit aids in the stable - well using already learned voice aids to aid in teaching bit aids. As I said above, if required they will be bitted to show, but only taught bit aids in the stable and led in hand in the way they already know, not worked on long reins or lunged. I agree, one thing at a time, but they don't have to be spread over years. Here they would be bitted and backed late in their third year, then turned out to mull it all over for the worst of the winter, and started on more schooling the next spring.
|
|
|
|
Post by carrie17491 on Mar 11, 2012 10:54:55 GMT
Sarahp that's exactly what I'm doing now....although my filly was bitted at 2 and a half for showing. When she came 3 she was lightly backed and now she is just chilling in the field for 6 months to grow and mature, it messes with their heads doing too much too soon.
I wouldn't but until a) you have to for shows b) you are planning to back the horse at 3.
|
|
|
|
Post by flo1 on Mar 11, 2012 18:57:10 GMT
If one of mine did that I'd get the physio to check for poll damage I prefer to use correct schooling from weaning for control than brute force, I'm confused here, is that aimed at me? If so i've never used brute force against an animal in my life! |
|
sarahp
Happy to help
Posts: 9,510
|
Post by sarahp on Mar 11, 2012 19:25:34 GMT
You said that poll pressure would make him rear. Correct schooling should make anything go kindly in a halter, so I regard using a bit in a baby because it doesn't as an unnecessary use of force. The same goes for chains under chins.
|
|
|
|
Post by nici on Mar 11, 2012 19:58:24 GMT
Our 2 year old gelding will be making a couple of appearances at shows this season for mileage, but will not be bitted. Fortunately as a Welsh C he can be shown in a halter.
He will be bitted probably next year or maybe the year after, as part of the backing process.
|
|
|
|
Post by flo1 on Mar 13, 2012 13:01:19 GMT
You said that poll pressure would make him rear. Correct schooling should make anything go kindly in a halter, so I regard using a bit in a baby because it doesn't as an unnecessary use of force. The same goes for chains under chins. Who said anything about using a bit on my youngster because he doesn't lead? My boy was bitted at 2 and a half as he was about to start longreining, not because there are any control issues. He leads just fine in a halter or headcollar thank you very much. The poll is a very sensitive part of the head and a horses natural reaction to pressure there is to pull back against it. To suggest a horse that reared in response to such pressure needs physio input is just plain daft. |
|
|
|
Post by carrie17491 on Mar 13, 2012 14:37:17 GMT
To suggest a horse that reared in response to such pressure needs physio input is just plain daft. I'm pretty sure I can apply pressure to my horses poll and it doesn't rear. In actual fact anti-rearing devices put pressure on the poll to make them come down from a rear or to prevent them going up at all. So the horse rearing in a reaction to poll pressure is very strange behaviour that I would have checked. |
|
|
|
Post by shell81 on Mar 15, 2012 21:54:21 GMT
i have a 3 year old filly i havent bitted her yet and wont until next year think they should be left to be babys
|
|
|
|
Post by brt on Mar 15, 2012 22:42:48 GMT
My 6yr old will be bitted this year, i'm lucky that i can show him in a halter and lunge on a normal headcollar.
He looks better in an inhand bridle so thats the only reason i will be bitting him.
One thing i do though when starting them off, is use a chiffney headstrap, it's less daunting than a whole bridle and easier to put on and take off, so i can control the removal of the bit better too.
|
|
|
|
Post by carrie17491 on Mar 16, 2012 6:25:30 GMT
My 6yr old will be bitted this year, i'm lucky that i can show him in a halter and lunge on a normal headcollar. He looks better in an inhand bridle so thats the only reason i will be bitting him. One thing i do though when starting them off, is use a chiffney headstrap, it's less daunting than a whole bridle and easier to put on and take off, so i can control the removal of the bit better too. How are you riding if he isn't bitted  |
|
|
|
Post by brt on Mar 16, 2012 13:59:31 GMT
My 6yr old will be bitted this year, i'm lucky that i can show him in a halter and lunge on a normal headcollar. He looks better in an inhand bridle so thats the only reason i will be bitting him. One thing i do though when starting them off, is use a chiffney headstrap, it's less daunting than a whole bridle and easier to put on and take off, so i can control the removal of the bit better too. How are you riding if he isn't bitted lol, i don't he is my 11.2 inhand pony  |
|
|
|
Post by carrie17491 on Mar 16, 2012 14:20:56 GMT
ohhhh haha! I was wondering then for a moment aww aren't you lucky, if only they all behaved in halters! my friend's puts his head down and off he goes haha! but in a bridle he's perfect! Weird animals horses are! |
|
|
|
Post by klouisem on Mar 23, 2012 11:59:59 GMT
I've only just checked this! Interesting, my 9month old Welsh C colt has just realized he's a colt(literally over night, but he's not sure why he's acting like he is!) I lead him out on the roads and handle him in a halter, he's fine. Bit strong can have a leap and the odd rear but all in all he's ok. He's not been shown since he knows he's a colt but he's out on the 29th April so we'll soon see, a few people have said they bit theirs at 1years old, if my foal gets too strong and naughty at shows i'm not sure what to do....if I put a little rubber bit in him if he leaps, rears etc he's going to hurt himself and I don't want him going off a bit (plus I feel 1 is too young) but if he's too strong for a halter and too naughty i can't have him possibly hurting me, him or someone else! (I will not be gelding him) he has a halter with a chain.
I'm sure he wont be that 'wild' at shows at he tires quite fast! Maybe i'll just play it show by show day by day.
Thanks to all that replied! Lots of different opinions which is always good!
x
|
|
|
|
Post by elmere on Mar 23, 2012 13:03:43 GMT
I would bit if showing, having to take something on a busy road or for backing. Other than that I cant see why you would need to, if you want to long rein a youngster under 3 (which I honestly dont see why people do) you can do it off the headcollar.
|
|
|
|
Post by flo1 on Mar 23, 2012 14:28:16 GMT
For goodness sake! I say that my horse would rear if I yanked his head down and all of a suden I'm the Anti-Christ!
Others on here apparently bit their yearlings...which I wouldn't do!
Back their three year olds!...Which I certainly wouldn't do!!
I think that I'll put up with my horses's 'strange behaviour' Thank you very much and let you get on with backing your babies.
|
|
|
|
Post by carrie17491 on Mar 23, 2012 16:08:23 GMT
For goodness sake! I say that my horse would rear if I yanked his head down and all of a suden I'm the Anti-Christ! Others on here apparently bit their yearlings...which I wouldn't do! Back their three year olds!...Which I certainly wouldn't do!! I think that I'll put up with my horses's 'strange behaviour' Thank you very much and let you get on with backing your babies. I was merely stating the obvious, there is no need to take things as though I am having a go and there is certainly no need to get personal yes I back 3 year olds....and? Please get off your high horse (no pun intended) and don't fire off at peoples opinions. Why would you yank your horses head anyway |
|
|
|
Post by klouisem on Mar 23, 2012 18:17:33 GMT
Think i'll leave bitting him until he's 2(at the earliest) only for show if he's done earlier.
What about my Shetland though? He's one in just under a months time(colt) very good, currently shown in a halter would i be silly to bit him soon (only for shown reasons) so he can wear an in hand bridle as he shouldn't be in a halter. he's very good to show and quiet unlike the Welsh C foal!
|
|
|
|
Post by nici on Mar 25, 2012 22:21:46 GMT
You can show your Shetland in a leather filly slip or bitless inhand bridle. No need to bit him until he's 2, when he will have to be shown bitted if left entire.
|
|
