Bit with tongue relief

[mady]

Can anyone recommend one as our pony once contact is made opens his mouth all the time

[sjw87]

Bombers bit happy tongue

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[mady]

I've tried one of these but it didn't work as pony didn't like it he just wouldn't bend

[sjw87]

Maybe try something like a NS turtle top then? Call one of the bit banks for advice and to trial different types

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[sarahp]

There are other possible reasons - does the pony need a dentist, vet or physio?

There does seem to be a modern trend to think that a change of bit will cure any problem which is not always the case.

[sjw87]

Aug 31, 2016 8:55:00 GMT sarahp said:

There are other possible reasons - does the pony need a dentist, vet or physio?

There does seem to be a modern trend to think that a change of bit will cure any problem which is not always the case.

I completely agree that other reasons need to be ruled out.

However, I don't completely agree with the second point - whilst no change of bit will resolve a schooling issue, no amount of schooling will completely resolve an issue if the horse simply isn't comfortable with the bit being used.

I have a mare who would back off the bit (simple loose ring with lozenge centre) even to the point of rearing on occasion despite very soft hands. A change of bit to provide tongue relief and you'd never believe it was the same horse. You have to listen to the individual horse.

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[cg]

I also agree with both of the above posts.

I have a horse with a fleshy mouth and tongue who constantly opens his mouth in a double and often in his snaffle, yet he is schooled beautifully and light in my hand. It took me a long while but once I had found the correct bradoon to use, problem solved!

[sarahp]

I never said schooling will resolve an issue if the pony is uncomfortable in its bit, of course it won't. But you do need to be sure it is purely a bit issue and not down to other reasons - often what looks at first glance like a bit issue may well be due to something else, so don't just jump to easy conclusions. The OP as posted could be due to any number of other reasons, any diagnosis on that information would be purely guesswork.

[mady]

Aug 31, 2016 10:37:41 GMT cg said:

I also agree with both of the above posts.

I have a horse with a fleshy mouth and tongue who constantly opens his mouth in a double and often in his snaffle, yet he is schooled beautifully and light in my hand. It took me a long while but once I had found the correct bradoon to use, problem solved!

What bit did you use cg?

I have tried him in a Verbindend which seems better but he just gets on the forehand in the ring hence open mouth. He's not too bad at home just mainly on the downward transition

[cg]

Yes he sounds very similar to my boy Mady! He is schooled in a loose ring French link snaffle so I found a nice eggbutt French link snaffle bradoon to use with my sliding cheek Weymouth.

I tried a hartwell Pelham which Is supposed to give room and he absolutely hated it, but that could be worth a try as they are all different?

If it is a double you are looking for I would try and find a bradoon as close to the snaffle you ride him in daily and see how he goes.

|Hope that helps xxx

[teamsaddlesdirect]

The Neue Schule Turtle top Bits has been designed and engineered for horses with difficult mouth conformations or are very fussy in the mouth. The Turtle top has had huge a huge rate or success due to its unique design as it is shaped to sit nicely on the tongue and neatly within the mouth without diving a downwards drop action as it does not flex down and collapse in the mouth like the average jointed bit. We offer the Neue Schule Bit Bank which gives you a 2 week trial with any of the bits so gives you a good indication on if it will work or not i hope this helps!

[ferraro]

Sept 17, 2016 13:03:43 GMT teamsaddlesdirect said:

The Neue Schule Turtle top Bits has been designed and engineered for horses with difficult mouth conformations or are very fussy in the mouth. The Turtle top has had huge a huge rate or success due to its unique design as it is shaped to sit nicely on the tongue and neatly within the mouth without diving a downwards drop action as it does not flex down and collapse in the mouth like the average jointed bit. We offer the Neue Schule Bit Bank which gives you a 2 week trial with any of the bits so gives you a good indication on if it will work or not i hope this helps!

With turtle top flex do you have to go a size up my mare is 5 inch bit and has lots of issue she sticks her tongue out and opens her mouth and will slightly turn her head and lean to avoid the bit ever since I tried her in a myler bit to give tongue relief. Now she won't accept any bit .her teeth and back all been checked and all good

[gillwales]

I would try a loose ring french link, give it a little while, obviously having made certain that there are no teething / back problems. You have not said how old your horse is or how much work he has had, if a youngster maybe he has not been properly mouthed, it might be wise to give him a break and start again.

[leighshut]

We had this problem and hes now happy in a ns warmblood show pelham. It is quite a thick mouthpiece though so if yours doesnt like a lot in its mouth the ns turtle top is another option. We had teeth checked first