Any experience with these bits?

[skipollo]

Bit 1:

https://www.ridingwarehouse.com/Acavallo_Jumpe_Alupro_Bit/descpage-AJAM.html

Bit 2 (or something similar, this is just an example):

Leather Hunter Dee Snaffle Bit | Etsy

Horse in question is very sensitive and light in the mouth, he seems to be objecting to his current bit which is a full cheek double jointed Happy Mouth. He’s happy to flat around on a looser rein or with light contact, but more contact is making him want to invert either upwards (giraffe-style) or curling his nose behind the vertical. He is a busy-minded horse who worries. The bit itself is in good shape (no chew marks/pieces sticking up/etc.) so something about that bit itself is not agreeable to him.

I’ve never seen either of these bits in person so I have zero experience with them. Any information from folks who have used them before is much appreciated. Thank you!

[Spud_amp_Saf]

I have not used the bit in question but have you tried the Sprenger Duo in a Dee ring cheek? This is my fave bit for 95% of horses, it is super soft but more durable than leather.

[skipollo]

Do you mean this one?

https://www.doversaddlery.com/hs-16mm-duo-d-ring/p/X1-011921/?cpos=3&cexp=155&cst=herm%20sprenger%20bit&kcid=0011921&ctype=Search&cpid=res21032216238313833362569

It’s actually on my list as well, I am just hesitant because it’s a higher cost. If I felt more confident in choosing it I would have no problem spending the $ on it.

[Night_Flight]

My very sensitive-mouthed mare hated contact and I had very good luck with putting her in a leather bit for a couple of years until, for unknown reasons, she suddenly decided she didn’t like it any more and we switched to a Myler instead very successfully.

She was a very forward horse and the leather bit actually greatly improved her brakes since she accepted the contact better and was no longer throwing her head up in the air and running away from the bit pressure.

[Rel6]

Funny - I just ordered the D-ring leather bit from SweetBillysBits!

My mare sounds similar to your gelding. She is super sensitive in the mouth, but also pretty green. She would invert to evade the bit, and anything metal was too much. She also doesn’t like anything jointed. She was going well in a loose ring nathe (somewhat flexible) and I wanted a D-ring to show in but I didn’t want to spend $140 on the Herm Sprenger Duo (especially since she’s a chewer and I would just have to replace it eventually).

I bought the rounded leather D-ring from SweetBilly’sBits and wrapped it in a layer of sealtex bit wrap. I’ve only ridden her in it twice, but I was really impressed with how soft and light she was in it during our first ride. She was happy to take contact and was soft and round pretty fast. For almost half the cost of the D-ring duo it was totally worth it - I’m really happy with it so far, especially since I can replace the sealtex instead of the whole bit.

[skipollo]

Ahhhh thank you so much @Rel6 and @Night_Flight that’s so helpful. That’s exactly how I would describe him, he’s throwing his head around to avoid bit pressure. He’s naturally a lazy-ish horse but can be anxious/worried and once contact is involved, he becomes tense and hot. I jumped him over some tiny 18" verticals this afternoon and he was a hot mess, the more contact I took up, the worse he got. If I popped him over a fence on a looser rein and just left him alone? So much quieter and happier.

They sell an oil that’s supposed to be used on the leather bits–did you guys use that? Or do you just use vegetable oil or something?

[Rel6]

My horse is the same - naturally lazy, but has a bit of a nervous/anxious brain sometimes. She never gets hot or forward, but she’s a sensitive mare who becomes will also become tense and will just invert or drop out from under me when she gets upset.

I did not purchase the oil - I knew I planned to wrap it with sealtex so I did not see the point. Also my horse is a little picky about taste (she HATED a happy mouth) so I didn’t want to add anything to the leather.

[Tackpud]

I have used leather covered bits on a couple of horses and love them! My mare HATES metal in her mouth - like land and flip her head so she’s almost unrideable. I’ve always used a Happy Mouth in her and she loves that but when she was leased the trainer didn’t like the look of the Happy Mouth. After I mentioned she’d have better luck without a metal bit in her mouth she changed to a leather covered bit and all the problems disappeared. She’s won quite a lot with the leather covered bit and no one has ever questioned it. We just wash it off with water after each ride. She doesn’t chew on it so I haven’t noticed any wear on the bit.

Had another horse that just inverted anytime you tried to create any sort of contact. He also liked the leather covered mullen mouth and was happy to hold soft contact with it.

[bluepece2]

I have a sensitive mare and I thought we had the bit thing sorted but realized nope, so my first try was the leather D. She HATED it with a fiery passion (see picture after one ride). She started doing all sorts of things that never does with that big. I really though she would like it, my trainer thought so too.
We’ve ended up with a plastic single jointed D ring. image|281x500

[Night_Flight]

I just used the canola oil I had on hand in the feed room if I felt it needed some oil, but leather bits really don’t seem to require much maintenance. They soften in the horse’s mouth quite a bit anyway.

I think the reason why we don’t see more leather bits is that most people assume it will break/be chewed through or that it’s just too flexible to provide any control (a lot of people were shocked that I used one and told me how brave I was to try it). Unless it’s right up against your horse’s teeth somehow, it shouldn’t be a problem for most horses since the leather is actually very durable.

[Jealoushe]

This sounds like it could be more than a bit issue. Usually a horse rejecting a bit that severely shows an underlying issue like mouth/teeth/back, hock or hoof pain or ulcers.

[Spud_amp_Saf]

Yes that’s the one.

[enjoytheride]

I purchased this bit for my mare. I’ve had a terrible time getting her to take contact and she can get light in front and throw her head around when you make her. You really had to force her forward if you wanted to take any contact at all. She’s gotten her tongue over the bit twice and I have pics of her tongue sticking out.

This bit was like the angels came down from the heavens, smacked me in the back of the head, and showed me the light

She took contact, got soft, round, went forward (she’s very lazy), leg yielded, and even changed bend to her hated direction without a meltdown. I even had a nice canter on her where she tried to take the bit, usually you can’t touch her face at all.

I hope it sticks as she has been really unpleasant to ride and I just had the nicest ride on her tonight.

[BlueMoonJumper]

Could you please specify which bit are you trying? There’s been a couple mentioned in this thread and I’ve lost track, but I am intrigued by your results!

[skipollo]

Well @BlueMoonJumper here it goes haha.

So I tried a bunch of bits either we owned or the barn had for lesson horses, it’s free to try them so why not? A thick oval link? No. Myler comfort snaffle? No. Plain single dee? No.

I ordered an HS Duo dee, BIG no. I had way too much braking power like he was backed off by it if I so much as thought about squeezing my fingers. He would just hang his mouth open like it was too thick/rigid for his mouth.

What bit did he end up liking? A cheap Korsteel full cheek French link that he wore as a baby

I sent the Duo back and said fine, if you’re happy horsey then I’m happy. So that is where we ended up, a basic full cheek French link and a much more relaxed horse.