Bit Mavens - Dressage legal bit suggestions

[beowulf]

Plopping this in the event forum because that’s my primary discipline of focus.

I have a gelding who does his best work in a hackamore. If we could just trot down the centerline in one he would be the happiest horse ever. Over the last 11 years he’s made his preference for bitless work pretty clear, but a hackamore isn’t (dressage) legal, so…

I’ve played around over the years with different bit configurations to try to figure out which bit[s] serve him best, but now there are so many options out there so I’m really curious to hear from other folk what has worked for them.

Here’s his current lineup:

From left to right, arranged in what seems to be his preference: HS Baucher, HS Eggbutt, HS Duo, and a Fager Boucher.

He reacted poorly (in his polite way) to the Fager Boucher in our last ride - aggressively rubbing his head every chance he could get and trying to spit it out. In the HS Duo, he does not seem to like the lack of give in the mouthpiece. My guess is he doesn’t like tongue or bar pressure.

He does have a scar on his tongue from who knows what - he came to me that way. When I asked my dentist for bit recommendations based on his dental anatomy, she recommended a few western bits that aren’t legal for dressage

He has a very flat palate and a huge tongue. The bit sits exactly where the scar is.

[KBC]

Is this dressage legal? It’s on my list to try for the fussy red head I am leasing.

[GreyDes]

Have you tried a Myler with the comfort port? Several are dressage legal and it will give some tongue relief. Neue Schule Turtle Tactio might give you something similar as well.

I also had a fussy gelding that really liked the Neue Schule Verbinden. The shape is very different from most bits and it put it in the right spot for him.

The most popular mouthpiece with my crew is the Neue Schule Turtle Top. I don’t know if it would give you anything different than the HS bits you’ve already tried, but might be worth a shot.

[GreyDes]

If it’s eventing dressage you could also try a leather bit. They’re a no go for USDF though.

[Texarkana]

@KBC

Is this dressage legal? It’s on my list to try for the fussy red head I am leasing.

I use something similar with my fussy horse:

This one was dressage legal at one time, but I’ll admit I’m not up to date on any recent rule changes. I don’t think the one in your photo is legal because the port looks too high.

[dmveventer]

The people at Fager are pretty helpful, you could try shooting them an email to see what they recommend. The light weight and thinner profile of the Fagers seems to make a big difference for my horse. He likes the Maria but HATED the Baucher version, I think because it sets the bit at a different angle and he can’t move it around where he wants it. Might be worth another shot with a different cheekpiece, they carry it at SmartPak and you can return it if it still doesn’t work. A ported Myler would also be on my list to try (also available at SmartPak with a return option).

[weixiao]

@beowulf

The bit sits exactly where the scar is.

Have you tried adjusting the bit so it sits a bit lower in his mouth? I knew one who preferred the bit “too low” in his mouth. The theory was that seemed to give him a bit of freedom to decide where he’d like to hold it in his mouth and it worked very well for him. If I recall he went in a metal loose ring of some sort but I’d probably experiment with something soft and rubber if I were trying it out with one of mine. I just wonder if given his scar he might prefer a slight different bit placement.

[KBC]

Good call, reminds me how I found the magic for my Appy, threw his bridle on, rode out, marvelled at how quiet and responsive he was in his mouth. Wasn’t until I got back I saw that I hadn’t checked the fit, and had obviously ridden someone else in his bridle, the bit was a hole or two lower than I would usually set it. I must try that with the red head while we are trying to find her perfect combination.

[Janet]

For the one I had, who preferred to go “bitless”, I found she went well in a plain mullem mouth.

[luvmyhackney]

https://www.oldmillsaddlery.com/Mobile/en/us/Beris-Bits-Beris-Eggbutt-Snaffle-With-Tongue-Arc---UK-525inch-EU-13cm-Soft/m-s-70709-133297.aspx?PartnerID=1073&gclid=CjwKCAjwk43ABhBIEiwAvvMEB1Y_VVc6C_6B_qbWY82jbK_nyocdI1eBZTBLPqPy_HEGvq7My1LocxoCPiEQAvD_BwE&utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_campaign=UnitedStates

My horse likes this one and a straight nathe bit.

[DMK]

You might look into the bomber tongue relief (happy tongue?) similar to the port/arch shown above (the bomber is dressage legal for usdf, pretty sure the above ones are too, but I never say anything is legal unless I know it and checked the list just prior to hitting send on the post.

I deal with fat tongue/low palate fjord and bitting has been a challenge because that might be the worst combination. Things I’ve learned is the Conrad style mouthpiece is his very good friend but only if the curb chain is relatively snug. If it’s loose and the mouthpiece can roll forward into more tongue pressure, he’s less happy. That also makes him less happy with the loose ring snaffle version for similar reasons. It only took me until this winter to work out why I got such different responses. If I want a loose curb chain or a snaffle I need what’s referred to as an arch bit in driving. Like the name suggests it’s a straight up arch (whereas a mullen has a slight forward bow and doesn’t rise above where it connects to the cheek piece), it’s more stable in the mouth than a Conrad style. I use a medium port trust for a snaffle, it’s a little forward slant, but not much. Driven dressage is in a pivot arch, but I’m not seeing much like that type of mouthpiece in dressage bit . Definitely not a pivot, but not even an arch.

[Hawks_Nest]

With scars on the tongue, I’d be looking for something that applies minimal tongue pressure. Double jointed bits and to some degree mullen mouths tend to apply more pressure to the tongue than the bars where a single joint can lift off the tongue a bit and act on the bars.

Perhaps try some of the shaped single jointed bits? My boy particularly likes the Fager Greta but there are many different brands and versions out there. I’d also suggest sticking with fixed ring bits, since the loose rings allow the pressure to stay more on the tongue.

[Mouse_amp_Bay]

@beowulf

He has a very flat palate and a huge tongue.

This I have dealt with! Tiny mouth (5”), big tongue and very low palate. Working with a bit fitter, we found that the turtle tactio works best and was least offensive. Spread the pressure/contact through the whole of the mouth, not concentrating on any specific spot.

[Posting_Trot]

I’d give the NS Turtle tactio bit a try as well. It comes in a lot of different cheek pieces, if your horse doesn’t like a loose ring. The biggest drawback–the price. But they’re nice bits. The Bitbank in Britain does (I think) sell them with the possibility of return–they have two price points, one (cheaper) if you don’t want the possibility of returning the bit and one (more expensive) if you do. I’ve bought from them and have gotten the bit very quickly.

Neue Schule Bits - Turtle Tactio Products - HorseBitBank.com

[beowulf]

@weixiao

Have you tried adjusting the bit so it sits a bit lower in his mouth?

Yes! I was doing the bit much lower for a while, but ran into two problems - people couldn’t resist commenting on it, and clinicians didn’t like it. I did notice when it was that low it ran the risk of interfering with his lower canines depending on the mouthpiece shape. The scar runs from up high and then goes diagonally down the tongue. Horses can’t make anything easy.

A photo from a few years ago:

Thank you everyone! He is a good boy and tolerates the bits but I can tell he doesn’t enjoy them.

I’m going to start with two - a mullen mouth and the Turtle Tactio since that seemed to be the overwhelming majority.

Greydes is amazing and offered for me to try one of her NS and Myler bits. I’ll report back with updates!

[Texarkana]

@beowulf

a mullen mouth

FWIW, a straight mullen and a ported mullen are like two different animals, so you might give both a try.

[poltroon]

@beowulf

I was doing the bit much lower for a while, but ran into two problems - people couldn’t resist commenting on it, and clinicians didn’t like it.

Gah! Stuff like that drives me bonkers. If I’ve found something that works for my horse, just trust me and let it be. You don’t need to walk up and tighten my noseband two holes and you don’t need to adjust my bit without asking me first why I have it like that, and LISTENING.

I think in general what we’re missing from our collective arsenal is a bit that is stable, with a soft exterior material, and without joints, but can completely conform to the horse’s mouth shape, and then once shaped, provide a very even pressure. Technically this is something we should be able to produce, and it could be very kind. Challenge would be getting it accepted and approved.

[Saskatoonian]

What about the Myler twisty turny D legal mullen ? Not sure what size mine is but can send it to you if you want to try it. It’s just sitting in my collection gathering dust.

[blue_heron]

I would give the turtle top Baucher a try.

[CatchMeIfUCan]

Throwing a Beris bit out there. It’s like a ported Mullen that has a different curve to it. I’m not a bitting expert but have seen some fussy horses really like it.