I know bitting is a very personal thing (for both horse and rider!) but I want to experiment a little with my horse - I’ve found bits he likes more than others, but have always stuck to the old fashioned designs. He is pretty sensitive and also ever so slightly prone to suck back behind the contact.
I was wondering whether the new anatomically designed snaffles (myler, sprenger etc) are worth the money and if you have found them to be kinder than the traditional ‘straight armed’ snaffle?
My mare likes to both be heavy (lug on your hands because she can) and avoid contact on the left rein if the bit isn’t perfectly still. Over the 4yrs she’s been in work, we have tried 2 and 3 piece snaffles with both fixed and loose cheeks, but nothing encouraged her to take 100% contact without pulling. FWIW, She already goes honestly in the double, but I prefer to do our learning/schooling in a plain snaffle. So, I recently tried an anatomical mullenmouth loose ring snaffle, and it’s been the best bit we’ve ever used.
A cheaper alternative is the JP Korsteel bits. The mouthpieces are curved.
It really depends on your horse. I’m a large fan of the double jointed snaffles, the ones with a bean of some sort in the middle, rather than the regular “nutcracker” snaffles. There are tons of these bits out there.
The next thing to consider is the width. Thick mouth snaffles are easier for the horse to lean on than thinner mouth snaffles. But horses seem to like what they like, so experimenting with different bits can be key.
But no matter what, your leg and seat keeps the horse off the bit. Don’t forget to keep them engaged while trying the other bits!
I like the curvature of the JP Korsteel, too, and the price. When all said and done, it is the hands of the rider to finesse, and not so much small changes in the bits.
If I was a horse, I’d like the way the JP bit fits, and I like the lozenge styles, too - my horses all seem to.
my guy has always been very light on the bridle (too light often). He has gone in a variety of bits and most recently I needed to buy a thin double joint for him (thick bits he can be a bull about). I was just going to get a KK ultra but they didn’t have a 14mm one when I was there, so I got the dynamic version (the more anatomical one) and he was even better in that then the regular kk so I do think it made a difference.
Always best to try them first though as they aren’t cheap. I believe bit of britain does a herm sprenger rental, and i think there is a mylar rental thing as well through a different site.
i REALLY like the neue schule turtle top.
my 3yo was backed in it,and he has a super mouth-light but not dropping behind you and bends evenly both ways etc with no rooting or mouth open.
I’ll second the KK Dynamic, my young one loves it.
My bit search ended when I found the Balkenhol snaffle which is single jointed and curved, almost ported, and a ported jointless bit which is the KK Correction.
I had a moment of self doubt this weekend and popped in what I thought looked like a really nice comfy double jointed bit. Maybe she would like it even more than her current bits? Show season is over so maybe let’s experiment a bit?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA. We didn’t make it 200m before I turned around and changed it out for the Balkenhol. I had all but forgotten how my mare likes to try to chew right through double jointed bits. My bit search is now officially over until it’s time for double bridle. That’s going to be fun. Not.
I have a mare that cannot wear a jointed snaffle. Double jointed elicits behavior worse than with a single jointed. I use either a Glory mouthpiece or a PeeWee bit. The PeeWee is most certainly not dressage legal but the bit she is happiest in. Both are mullen mouth with a curved mouthpiece. Myler’s (mullen mouth–I have a straight MM and a ported one) I can get away with for a day or three and that is usually what I do to show (IF I show) but eventually, she starts objecting. I think because they are relatively straight and do not provide enough tongue relief for her.
She has a refined head with a mouth just chock full of flabby cheek tissue. She doesn’t like tongue pressue and picks it up with her tongue and pulls it back in her teeth. In doing that, she pinches the flab. Before I figured out the problem, she would get blisters in these areas. No wonder her behavior tended to TENSION, spooking and bolting.
Since USEF dictates what my horse is comfortable in…NOT…I most likely will no longer show. It isn’t worth it to sore her mouth for the sake of a show. I have spent years trying and I’m done. I will keep her in what she is comfrotable in.
Susan
This is all so interesting!
I tried my guy in a Neue schule loose ring (it’s double jointed but not sure what the lozenge is) and he was really backing off from it. We had some nice canter where he had enough impulsion to take the contact forward but the trot was a bit disconnected. Got an HS Novocontact coming in the post (loose ring single joint, not what I was originally after but a good price!) so we will see if he prefers that. I hope so, because it was still flipping expensive 
The Sprenger RS Dynamic is a great bit, I haven’t used my KK ultras on anything since I bought it. All my horses like it better. I still have one that goes in a Duo best but he will accept the Dynamic fine. he is a hot curling mess in a KK ultra.
My arab has always been downright fussy in a bit. He is fantastic in a hackamore that we use for riding out, but dislikes anything in his mouth.
I had tried single jointed, french link, oval mouth, mullen, 3 different JP mouthpieces, KK Ultra, and he was clearly irritated by them all. No seeking contact, incessant chomping even on a light rein at the walk.
I recently bought a Myler forward tilt ported snaffle, and he likes it much better. I also bought a Korsteel pelham with a smooth gentle port and use just a snaffle rein. He is a bit heavier in that one, though I’ve not used it in a few weeks because I hate the web reins on that bridle.
Apparently he just hates anything on his tongue. If I have the time to get him back to second level and can continue up the levels, I don’t know how he would ever handle a double. It just may not be an option for him.
Myler does offer a trial program. I got mine from Cheshire Horse’s ebay store. They said they would still take it back if it was like new, and would only charge $1 per day if he chewed it all up. The pelham I found for $25 on ebay. If I ever decide to show in it, I’ll have DH cut the shanks off to make it a ported boucher. The mouthpiece is dressage legal.
I had my mare in the KK Ultra RS Dynamic for her first year and a half. She took to leaning on the bit and really lugging. Tried the new Sprenger Sensogan bit the was advertised as just the bit for a horse that likes to lean on the bit. My mare said no to it, made very little, if any, difference. So I went to a Myler MB-09, I believe, that has the wider middle part. That has been the answer. I think the combo of a thinner bit, plus the shape on her tongue made her more comfortable.
Okay, tried the Novocontact!
It arrived yesterday, so hacked in it. Today was a qualifier where I needed to get over 65% - so I was a little apprehensive about using a new bit!
He really liked it! He got a little leany at times, but this is a horse that wouldn’t let me touch his mouth until fairly recently, so I really can’t complain! He felt very nice and stable in the contact, and I definately could ride him more uphill in it without him opening his mouth etc. I think leaning is easier to fix than ducking behind the contact. So two thumbs up for this bit if you have one of those horses who fuss in the mouth.
We came second anyway, with 66.something% 
[QUOTE=sascha;8345190]
My bit search ended when I found the Balkenhol snaffle which is single jointed and curved, almost ported, and a ported jointless bit which is the KK Correction.
I had a moment of self doubt this weekend and popped in what I thought looked like a really nice comfy double jointed bit. Maybe she would like it even more than her current bits? Show season is over so maybe let’s experiment a bit?
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAA. We didn’t make it 200m before I turned around and changed it out for the Balkenhol. I had all but forgotten how my mare likes to try to chew right through double jointed bits. My bit search is now officially over until it’s time for double bridle. That’s going to be fun. Not.[/QUOTE]
I luuuuurve the KK Balkenhol snaffle!
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