I say the same thing sometimes. 
But in all seriousness, I think we are collectively better horsemen & women than we were 40 years ago. Forty years ago, a good horseman was someone who could stay on and ride a horse through all his protests, which we didn’t acknowledge as protests. We just thought these horses needed incredibly experienced riders.
You are probably right. We didn’t have saddle fitters, so we did the best we could with what we could buy. There were no horse chiropractors or body workers back then, either!
I think we just now care about their feelings too! Previously we’d just muscle them onto the bridle or send them to the knacker if they didn’t comply.
I think you are talking about the Winderen gel bits 
Exactly. I will gladly take the more horse comfort oriented tack.
Watch old videos…a lot of horses are very unhappy in the mouth and back compared to now.
Hi! OP HERE!
Are there any knock off options for the Neule Schule? In particular the turtle top tactio or turtle tactio styles?
I am not aware of any knock-off options, but I do know a bit fitter that will mail those Neue Schule bits out to you to let you trial them before you commit to purchasing.
Yes. I bought the “comfy mouth bit” and it is nice. Shipping was very reasonable and fast.
I don’t think there are any knockoffs for the turtle bits. There are some for the older NS models on eBay.
I thought I would pop in and update that my mare is continuing to get more confident in the contact with the Turtle Tactio. I was toying with the idea of trying a Bombers mullen mouth, but sticking with the tactio, and if she gets too strong or just a little fixed in position (that is kind of her go-to) in it eventually I’ll go back to her NS Tranz eggbutt.
The Duo came yesterday and I tried it this morning. It made a big difference! Thanks so much for the recommendation. It was bit #9 and I think it’s a winner.
Thoughts on this one?
YAY!!! Happy for you!
Yes!!! It is very interesting.
If you’re looking for something similar to the NS Turtle Tactio, this bit would not be it.
The Turtle tactio is shaped quite differently. The arms of the bit actually almost meet underneath the “turtle top” and they’re shaped to provide relief for the tongue near the bars, not necessarily for the middle of the tongue.
From the NS website:
" This bold Tongue SMART ™ design focuses rein pressure to the central part of the tongue whilst diverting pressure away from the sensitive regions near the bars. The unique central ‘Turtle’ link brings the proximal ends of the cannons to their closest separation possible. The Flex ™ concept of widening the surfaces that lie parallel to the plane of the tongue reduces the pressure further. With any kind of noseband the closed mouth easily accommodates the mouthpiece whose effective thickness in the region of the interdental space is the smallest in the Neue Schule range. To reward horses that want to work with you."
Yes my horse doesnt like bar pressure and I was told the tactio would have less pressure on the bars. I tried one and he likes it so far!
ok…there is little difference between a 5 and a 4 3/4. Either would work. I usually put them in 5s…most of my horses just train with me in a 5". BUT!!! in measuring for a pricey Fager bit i could see the dimensions as either! If i wish complete clearance on the sides of her mouth, i could stick with a five inch, but it i want the sides to touch with a barely noticeable indent of skin, then 4 3/4. So, here’s what i am wondering…seems to me that more friction occurs with a bit of clearance. (thinking how socks will get a hole in the heel if there is room to rub).
hmmm…maybe i’ll order two cheap bits in both sizes and test ride them. Not that i could tell much. I’m not that good! And she doesn’t react to little things. (saddles/pads/girths…none of that phases her, because she’s not sensitive about her apparel)
And no, there is no saddlefitter/bitfitter around.
I am riding a 4 3/4" mouth mare in Fager 125mm bits. This mare is always ready to vehemently cuss me out if she ends up deciding she does not like a bit.
She does not approve of all Fager bits in my hands. The Fager tongue relief bits–NO!
Her owner, mainly a Western rider, has told me that she wants me just to ride this mare in the Fager titanium double bridle bits. Today I am changing her double bridle back to the Fager Victoria Weymouth, titanium 125mm, and the Fager Alice titanium bradoon. I tried some other Fager Weymouths with her (the Elisabeth and the Felicia) but she started getting much antsier, so I am switching back. Unfortunately Fager is no longer making the Victoria Mullen Mouth Weymouth, luckily I bought them earlier.
This mare found a 125mm Bianca titanium double jointed with a roller in the middle snaffle pretty much acceptable. The Alice titanium bradoon has the same mouthpiece (different color, same metal) and comes in 120mm, the metric 4 3/4" equivalent. Could you stand the smaller rings of the bradoon on your mare if you want to use this bit as a snaffle all by itself?
Fager does sell silicon bit guards which are VERY easy to put on, and they were very easy to take off when I realized I needed longer fingers to keep the bit guards out of the horse’s mouth when bridling. I have rather short fingers (as do my riding teachers). If you have long fingers these bit guards may work better for you.
A bit that measures a true 5" is actually 127mm wide, something to consider if the bit does not fit exactly right.
As of right now I have introduced 5 or 6 horses to titanium bits. These lesson horses “go on strike” if their normal, often identical bit, is put back in their mouth. I find with the titanium bits the horses stand my problem hands much better even if the bit is a little bit too wide, over a stainless steel or sweet iron bit that I used to use on them with no problems and which fit their mouth width exactly. Because of my MS my hands are iffy, and the horses I ride say go with the titanium bits even if they are a little bit too wide, as long as the horse likes the mouthpiece.
i’m looking at Fager’s Fredrick Titanium Baby Fulmer…and the Carl Baby Fulmer…cannot decide, thinking prob Fredrick. So that cheek piece will do the same thing a guard would.
If it matters to you, the Carl is not dressage legal, but the Frederic is.
thanks! My coach sent pics/links of both of them over to someone she knows within the bureaucracy to find out for me. Still awaiting a reply
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