A "bit" of a problem...

[jsydney5]

One of my resale horses has one of the most sensitive mouths I’ve ever had to deal with. He’s a thoroughbred, small mouth, slightly low palate…probably about a 5 1/4 or 5.5 depending on the type of bit. Under saddle he gets aggravated with the bit and chomps/opens/braces. Tonight I spent a good amount of time just standing him in the cross ties and popping different combinations in his mouth. He was clearly not having any of them. I’ve tried different bits and three different bridles, with combinations of all of them. When I purchased the horse he went rather quietly in some type of loose ring snaffle (I asked what bit, thinking nothing of it as the horse gave no indication that he had a bitting issue). I also looked at some of the sale video, and he went perfectly quiet, happy and round in a bitless bridle. I had to zoom in and really do some detective work to see it… But sure enough, jumping 4 foot grids and galloping away on xc without a bit…happy as a clam!

I have tried
-a regular bridle with no drop down flash/figure eight
-a figure eight bridle
-micklem bridle–disappointed that it didnt help

It’s not a bridle issue. I’m almost certain it’s the bit. He doesn’t have very thick/chubby/wrinkly cheeks. You can’t get a good two wrinkles in there, because it pulls on the sides of his mouth. So i thought a hanging snaffle would help… nope. I’ve played with how high the bit sits and how low…it only makes him angrier.

I have tried the following legal bits:
-loose ring french links in two different sizes with different thickness
-regular snaffle (single joint)
-hanging snaffle (single joint)
-d ring rubber snaffle (single joint)
-egg butt mullen happy mouth
-loose ring rubber mouth piece

My next thoughts were nathe bits or some type of myler bit. I’ve always been an anti-expensive myler bit kind of person. But I’m starting to cave… which is the best place to start for a bit chomper? There’s no pressure being applied when he gets irritated…he’s just standing in the cross ties.

I’ve also considered bitting him up and letting him get over it while he hangs in his stall. But that doesnt seem like the accurate solution. He’s a green, but well broke gelding. Has competed successfully at novice and has done the 3 ft jumpers. His teeth are fine, and he was done within the past six months. He was happy when I went to purchase him. I think he has video of him being ridden in a bitless bridle for a good reason…because that’s what he goes best in. Bitless.

I’ve emailed old owner with no response.

[fordtraktor]

So…I would get a nathe or Duo for dressage, and jump him in a bitless, if he goes great in that.

[judybigredpony]

Did you have a really good Dentist do a comprehensive extensive exam…it might be something as simple as frequent floats.
I love the Mylers…also alternative to metal try rubber and plastic …add a Pelham to your list.

[Doctracy]

Along with dental, has he been checked for ulcers?

[scubed]

Bits that have worked best for my super fussy:

Egg butt or D-ring KK (most of my fussy TBs do not like the loose ring as well)
Myler comfort snaffle in D-ring or Boucher
KK Butterfly B (not legal for eventing dressage)
happy mouth french link
Nathe duo

[SoonieOTTB]

Have you tried a lozenge instead of just a regular french link?

My mare hates french links, but loves lozenge bits.

[Jealoushe]

[QUOTE=Doctracy;7875487]
Along with dental, has he been checked for ulcers?[/QUOTE]

This!

Plus, just sitting it in their mouth isn’t going to be enough of a trial. I would try 2-3 rides unless the horse is really bad like head flipping.

Then there is the issue I just had - a tooth splinter under the gums. You have to X ray the head though, and most people don’t want to do that.

[Saskatoonian]

Wish I had the solution for you - I’ve temporarily settled on a single jointed D in my similar search - but wanted to suggest that you borrow a myler before buying one. I bought the comfort snaffle D a couple of horses ago and fussy horse just doesn’t like it at all. Good luck!

[Simkie]

I’m a little confused–you say he’s got a small mouth, but a 5.5" bit is pretty big??

I have a very fussy mare who sounds a lot like this horse. She goes best in a micklem with an eggbutt french link. The first time I used the micklem, I was a little disappointed because it wasn’t some mindblowing, angels are singing, curtains are parting, sort of difference. But she really improved with several rides over a couple weeks.

Something else to try, and something else my mare likes, is a french boucher. For mine, the tricks to make her happy are stability and hanging the bit in her mouth in some way, versus letting it rest on the bars and tongue. She does better with the bit higher than I would like to see, which I think has to do with her desire for stability.

The myler and anything single jointed were an absolute no go for mine. A Duo was tolerated…she might have done better in an eggbutt or full cheek with a nathe or duo mouth piece. She wasn’t happy with anything super skinny, super fat or light in her mouth.

Whatever you do, you may have to find something you think is fair, adjust it appropriately and give it a couple weeks. Swapping out daily or trying different bits one after another isn’t a fair trial.

[Hilary]

And another sort of out there thought - Sprenger makes a weird mullen mouth - but it is very ported. They call it the schooling bit.

My driving pony is totally happy in it but you’d think looking at it that any horse would hate it.

It gives plenty of space for the tongue, is heavy, fairly thick, and comes in an eggbutt.

It’s a very different bit than what we are used to seeing but you just never know.

[Simkie]

[QUOTE=Hilary;7876642]
And another sort of out there thought - Sprenger makes a weird mullen mouth - but it is very ported. They call it the schooling bit.

My driving pony is totally happy in it but you’d think looking at it that any horse would hate it.

It gives plenty of space for the tongue, is heavy, fairly thick, and comes in an eggbutt.

It’s a very different bit than what we are used to seeing but you just never know.[/QUOTE]

Yep, I think my mare would love that bit. I’ve never had the chance to pick one up (and they are pricy!) but I think it’s a really neat idea. Are they legal for dressage?

I’ve also had luck with a low ported pelham–hangs in the mouth, lots of room for the tongue, and very stable with the cheeks and the curb chain.

[pegasusmom]

I would have to look up the rules to see if it was legal for jumping (and I will bet it is not for dressage - but this might make for a helpful training tool), but I have encountered the same issue with my young driving pony.

He goes in a french link-type snaffle with a barrel in the middle. My trainer and I took a piece out of the standardbred manual and bought a bit strap for him. It looks a little like a flash, runs from ring to ring across the nose and lifts the bit off the bars of his mouth. The transformation was instantaneous and remarkable. He is now quiet, accepts contact, is through and over his topline. Have done three CDEs with him over the last six weeks and the change in his dressage from the first to the last is staggering.

I would also rule out dental, ulcer and TMJ issues.

Just a thought.

[Winding_Down]

Have you tried a very skinny snaffle? Myler makes one, in a loose ring with a small french link. I’ve found it work well with horses that are “bit-sensitive.” It is thin and lightweight.

http://www.amirashop.co.uk/acatalog/(2802)-Loose-Ring-French-Li.jpg

[californianinkansas]

Perhaps a mullen-mouth bit? Or try a bradoon bit?

[NorCal]

Since your horse has a small mouth, he may do well with a Myler to allow for some tongue relief. If you can’t borrow one, you can do a trial rental from Equestrian Collections or Mary’s tack and feed. Good luck!

http://www.equestriancollections.com/product.asp?ic=TOMBRENTAL

http://www.marystack.com/marysbitrentalprogram.html

[MickMac]

I second a myler comfort snaffle with a wide barrel and no port.
Or try my new favorite, the New Schule Verbinded. That seconds the poster who suggested a lozenge. Really really a great bit.

[tbchick84]

I see you tried a loose ring french link but not an egg butt. The loose ring allows the bit to move around too much for most TBs. Mine loves the egg butt french link since it sits more quietly in his mouth.

[Bogie]

@Hilary;7876642

And another sort of out there thought - Sprenger makes a weird mullen mouth - but it is very ported. They call it the schooling bit.

My Trakehner had a thick tongue and a low palate. Most bits were not comfortable for him. He liked the Sprenger Schooling snaffle. He also did well in the Happy Mouth Mullen Mouth and the Peewee snaffle. My horse also did better with fixed ring bits . . .

I will admit that I finally gave up and rode him bitless, which he vastly preferred. I foxhunt so he didn’t need to have a bit.

I also had an OTTB that I fostered for a few months. He also had real bitting issues, which I think came from having his tongue tied. Riding him in a Micklem bridle helped.