Bit advice

[SwitchingDisciplines]

I have a mare who’s extremely strong and quite hard in the mouth. She’s prone to biting down on the bit and running through your hand at jumps. She’s naturally very bold and stubborn and quite hard against the leg. We’ve used all kinds of bits with her, twisted full cheeks, rubber gags, pelhams, 3 rings, segundas, draw reins, and lighter bits as well. She likes to lift her head in the air and develop this choppy canter when she feels any pressure from the bit. She’s far from sensitive but wants to completely ignore you to the jump. She used to be a jumper but we’re now doing her in the hunters so this is not ideal.

For the past 5 months I’ve ridden/jumped in nothing but a loose ring snaffle or a Trust innosence with no noseband or martingale. No matter what she’s like I’m not allowed to touch the reins really. Anytime she softens she gets to relax and finish. I love the approach and believe in fixing the problem from the bottom rather than “bitting up” but this behaviour has been allowed for so long before I got her. I can throw a pelham on and sit hard on her and ride the course with full contact but we’re trying to get her to maintain her own canter and stay soft no matter what.

I’m at the point that the loose ring is nice but really makes it difficult to get anywhere during jump schools. It’s just not enough to get around a course. I’m looking for a bit that is gentle and allows me to fully soften BUT gives me a bit more control/options while jumping. Something that she won’t react to by lifting her head and bracing against it. Looking for any recommendations on what might work without making her mouth harder.

What have you used on this sort of horse?

[Mouse_amp_Bay]

If she likes the Inno Sense, would the baby Pelham work?

The caveat would be that you must use two reins. Use the snaffle to establish softness and acceptance of the bit into your hand; the curb rein as an ‘e-brake’ when you need more control while jumping.

https://www.trust-equestrian.com/product/inno-sense-baby-pelham-flexi-soft/?lang=en

I’ve been eyeing this set up but have not yet had a chance to try it. In this type of situation I wonder if a drop noseband might help change the pressure and allow you to have more consistent contact and yet have enough whoa.

[blondewithchrome]

Did you try a Waterford and it didn’t work? I find that it works great for those that clamp on the bit and run or evade. It comes in a variety of cheek setups.

I also have had experience with some that just quite simply prefer to go bitless, even strong ones will respect it due to the pressure but relief in the mouth. You may have to try a hackamore and just pop in a rubber snaffle or Pelham for shows. Also, have you had her mouth checked? I didn’t see you mention it but of course eliminating pain and discomfort first would be a good think to rule out!

[anon510129]

I second the waterford. I ride my once difficult mare in a full cheek waterford and it’s the best bit for her. We have also tried everything you tried previous to the waterford. Give it some time. I like that it’s soft enough that they take to it, but also doesn’t allow them to run through it.

I also read somewhere to buy it a hair bigger than the rest of your bits. For example my horse usually goes in a 5.25” but my waterford is a 5.5”. It’s supposed to wrap around the corners of their mouth slightly.

[ace]

Another vote for a waterford mouthpeice. My sensitive but very strong mare jumps in a Neue Schule Waterford Universal. We started on the lower ring, and as she’s gotten better we moved the reins to the big ring. The universal is probably considered an elevator bit, so not ok for hunters, but there are several other Neue Schule options (loose ring, d-ring, full cheek, Pelham etc). I flat her in a Neue Schule Verbindend loose ring.

I too found that I needed to “size up” for the waterford.

For schooling, you could also try using a lever noseband with a waterford. Nunn Finer makes one. The metal makes it look a bit scary, but it’s quite gentle. Very effective, it’s been a game changer for me. I was told to not adjust it too tight, should be able to fit a finger between the noseband and the top of the nose.

Also not hunter legal, but you could switch back and forth with a plain noseband?

https://www.nunnfiner.com/Nunn-Finer…band-p/280.htm

[danosaur]

my first thought was also a waterford.