Which Bit for Breaking Please?

[Toaster]

I have a 3yr 4mth old quite fine Welsh sec A who has been bridled and long reined by his previous owner, the bit used was a chunky eggbutt single jointed snaffle but it was rather bulky in his tiny mouth

I'd like to continue his education once he has settled in but feel a different bit may be best

At my disposal I have:

double jointed eggbutt with a lozenge (this was my original choice before I started to get more and more confused by the options!)
loose ring, small ported 'magic' bit
black cheap nylon straight bar loose ring snaffle

Or should I be looking for something else perhaps?

Any advice would be appreciated, he takes a 4'' bit

[sarahp]

I'd start with your first option, the double jointed snafffle, and see how you get on.

[elmere]

Ive just bought this bit bit:
www.horsebitbank.com/loose-ring-comfort-snaffle-wide-254.phtml
Its a thin mouthpiece and also sweet iron so will encourage them to mouth, you can try a few on trial from the bit bank.

[Toaster]

Thank you both

Elmere - my local shop does thise but not as small as a 4'' but its certainly food for thought - I hadnt thought of the bit bank thank you

[elmere]

Well theres this one in a 4"... www.horsebitbank.com/performance-pony-tranz-loose-ring-10.phtml
I really like the NS bits and this mouthpiece is only 10mm.

[rubydoo]

id go for a eggbut snaffle with a french link , they mouth better on copper it warm up in there mouths .

[GinaGeo]

I used a loose ring mouthing bit with keys for the initial mouthing and then moved onto a loose ring copper lozenge for the ground work and backing.

[wildnative]

I always start off with a loose ring french link snaffle. I like this bit because there is plenty of play in it which encourages a youngster to mouth and relax its jaw.
I prefer this to starting with a mouthing bit with keys, then changing to whatever you use for your early ridden work...the pony gets used to one bit from the beginning, rather than starting in one bit then having to adapt to the different action and sensations of a new bit for ridden work.
The only exception to the above is that I use a nylon in hand bit with a 3 way coupling on 3 year olds, when I take them out to one or two small in hand shows as part of their education.
If, after allowing the pony enough time to get used to the loose ring french link, it becomes a little bit too mouthy, (playing with the bit too much to the point where pony becomes distracted from "work"), I'll try either an eggbutt french link or a standard eggbutt snaffle. The fixed cheeks on these allow less play on the mouthpiece. I choose a mouthpiece of a suitable diameter for the pony's mouth conformation..no point in using a fat mouthpiece if the pony finds it too bulky and uncomfortable.
With long reining at first, before starting ridden work, have the pony/horse walking forwards into a soft contact. Teach transitions from halt to walk/walk to halt, turns left and right, large circles and changes of direction. Once confident in walk, introduce a little trot in straight lines. Keep the lessons short and use lots of praise, and you should have a pony/horse who is willing and relaxed..settled in its mouth and ready to step up to early ridden work.
Once the horse/pony is confident to work as above in the school with a rider, lots of quiet hacking teaches them to be confident, forward and relaxed.
I personally give them a break after this.
Lastly, I prefer to take time with backing and riding away. I won't ask a youngster to try cantering in the school until it has cantered out on a hack in a safe area. They need to learn to balance with a rider on board before being asked to work within the confines of a school. Also, I prefer to allow them to work from behind into a soft contact, rather than try to have them working in an "outline" before they are ready.

[sarahp]

I hate those straight nylon bits - why don't you use the french link, following your own preference of not changing bits as explained when discussing why you don't use bits with keys?

[wildnative]

Sept 3, 2012 22:08:07 GMT sarahp said:

I hate those straight nylon bits - why don't you use the french link, following your own preference of not changing bits as explained when discussing why you don't use bits with keys?

I've never really thought about it that way .
I spend a bit of time teaching them to lead and trot up in hand in a rope halter. Occasionally, I'll use a dually if the pony gets a bit strong. I had one that would set her neck and try to tank off, she responded very nicely to the pressure and release of the dually.
For showing in hand, and I've only ever shown at local level apart from a couple of times at the Royal Highland, I like to use whatever shows their heads off best. Last pony, it was an in hand bridle. Current pony was shown in a rope halter for her first ever show last August. Her head is now too chunky for the halter and my in hand bridle is too fine for her. I used a flat hunter bridle with an eggbutt snaffle and 3 way coupling this August (19th), and will use the same this weekend coming. She has only ever had the nylon bit in once, just to try it for size and to see how she coped with having something in her mouth. Literally for just a few minutes, then we went for a lovely walk through the neighbouring country park with her in a headcollar and lunge line.
As I attach the 3 way coupling so that I am leading from the noseband, the nylon bit is only really there to complete the picture if you know what I mean. It is very light weight and is not too bulky in a 3 year old's mouth, and is only puting very little, if any, pressure on the bars of a young pony's mouth.
I only take my 3 year olds to one or two shows for experience/education, then they are turned away. Next time they experience having a bit in their mouths is when I start to prepare them for backing, and that's when I use the loose ring french link. As they have previously had a little bit of lightweight nylon in their mouths and led from the noseband several months previously, I've found that they readilly accept having a bit put back in their mouths. I like the independent action on either side of the mouth that the loose ring french link gives. I've found that it helps the pony to understand more clearly what I am asking when it comes to long reining then early ridden work.
Effectively, they haven't actually "done" anything in the nylon bit other than walk around a showring a couple of times with it in their mouth but being led from the noseband.

[sarahp]

Any I've tried in one of those nylon ones hates it and tries to spit it out - not the same thing as mouthing in it! First bit here is always a french link, and they are properly mouthed and educated in it before going to a show wearing it - I teach all my foals in a rope halter and show in them unless I have to bit them (I have Welsh), ie the colts. But I do like them to be properly educated to a bit if they are going to be wearing one, and I'd rather they were going happily in a snaffle than fighting with a nylon one. I've never had any comment about it in the show ring and I don't think it has ever affected the results - surely a pony going happily and kindly in a snaffle gives a better picture than one fighting with a nylon bit? I suppose I'm just independent minded and don't do things just because everyone else does, I like to see the point and if I can't, don't do it.

I do see your point about leading from the noseband using the coupling though, and have often done this with youngsters that have to wear bridle and bit, but even so if the pony is hating and fighting the nylon bit it won't be a pretty picture.

[Kaseyleigh]

I always use a fulmer breaking bit with keys and all mine have very soft mouth.

[Toaster]

Thank you all for taking the trouble to reply. There is a lot of useful information here and interesting discussion