I currently have my mare in a kimberwick for hunter and she’s going amazing, always on the bit, never fighting my hands, and her brakes are amazing! But kimberwicks in ontario are illegal for the lower dressage and I wanted to start doing dressage, I’m hoping to find something like the kimberwick, I don’t want something weaker as I loose her attention when I do, I have tried a myler relax bit, she runs threw it and throws her head as well as the loose ring snaffle and full cheek snaffle. Any help would be awesome!
Kimberwick is a leverage bit, so anything dressage legal will be “weaker,” in that you will have no leverage and no curb chain.
But, since you asked, I was going to post… I read somewhere that the WH Ultra is good for strong horses as well as for tense/busy horses. This was just an opinion, but had anyone had that experience with it? Just curious (and I thought the response might help the OP).
[QUOTE=Perfect Pony;3568842]
How about a boucher?
http://www.bitofbritain.com/v/vspfiles/photos/770-2.jpg[/QUOTE]
Thanks! It looks alot like the bit i’m using now. I wasn’t sure if its because she likes the ports? She is in a low port but like I said she’s amazing and very responsive.
ports are not dressage legal either.
Is there a bit like a port? I have heard of mullen mouths but I don’t know if that would work?
A mullen mouth is straight across, no curve.
[QUOTE=Ambrey;3569067]
A mullen mouth is straight across, no curve.[/QUOTE]
Actually, a mullen mouth IS curved. The whole bit has a gentle curve (no port, and it sits in the mouth differently; not even port-like). This as opposed to a straight bar, which is another bit.
But I digress…
Try to remember WHY some bits are legal for low level dressage. It is not to make it difficult for you to pick a bit, it is to get the training issues addressed by training and NOT the bit. Don’t get me wrong, I use all kinds of bits. I’m just saying, instead of looking for a substitute for what you have, try a regular snaffle (jointed or un-jointed) and see what kind of horse you have; then you’ll know what you most need to work on in your dressage training. If you need an in-between bit for training because you need the brakes, so be it, but train with the idea of giving them up.
One advantage to a dressage bridle is the dropped noseband. You might find you can ride her in a milder snaffle this way.
It might not even be how mild it is, but she perfers a port, I have heard horses with different pallets perfers different bits, I think a regular snaffle is just to much bit for her, she will listen but will throw her head.
Have you tried a French link? I’ve had really consistent good luck with the Sprenger French links for the small-mouthed, low-palatted, thick-tongued beasties.
[QUOTE=citydog;3569236]
Have you tried a French link? I’ve had really consistent good luck with the Sprenger French links for the small-mouthed, low-palatted, thick-tongued beasties.[/QUOTE]
Yes, I agree! I am a big fan of three piece snaffles. All my horses love them.
I like the KK training bit.
For the french link what would it be like compared to the kimberwick? Is it stronger or weaker? Does it have the same actions?
[QUOTE=Mistynightacres;3569307]
For the french link what would it be like compared to the kimberwick? Is it stronger or weaker? Does it have the same actions?[/QUOTE]
Its a completely different bit. No port or curb chain. But you said a snaffle was too hard on her, I’d assume its the nutcracker affect of the two piece jointed snaffle. The extra little piece in the middle of a three piece, or French snaffle lets the bit lie flatter on the tongue. Its more comfortable for a lot of horses, especially if they have a thicker tongue. That may be why she likes the port, it doesn’t squeeze her tongue.
Kimberwick refers to the cheekpieces, not the mouthpiece. A kimberwick has cheek pieces like this:
http://www.tackroominc.com/korsteel-kimberwicke-uxeter-cambridge-mouth-bit-pi-6955.html
and can have any type of mouthpiece.
French link refers to the mouthpiece. A french link mouthpiece can have any type of cheekpiece.
http://www.tackroominc.com/korsteel-loose-ring-snaffle-french-link-pi-6598.html
http://www.tackroominc.com/bikorsteel-french-link-baucher-bit-pi-6987.html
The bit I mentioned above, the WH, has a lozenge center link with a roller and supposedly is gentle on the tongue but gives more direct messages.
http://www.tackroominc.com/bisprenger-whultra-bradoon-snaffle-bit-16mm-pi-3471.html
[QUOTE=Perfect Pony;3568842]
How about a boucher?
http://www.bitofbritain.com/v/vspfiles/photos/770-2.jpg[/QUOTE]
Has anyone used this bit? Any feed back?
Baucher is also a cheekpiece, so can come with any mouthpiece.
I have one for my horse- I don’t find it any “stronger” than a regular snaffle.
If the horse has a low palatte the single joint of that boucher will still hit her in the roof of the mouth.
Just a little note. You REALLY DO NOT have to answer EVERY question about bits. There are actually people on this forum that have had experience in bits outside of pelhams that actually know what they are talking about ( as pointed out about the mullen mouth). 
Thanks guys, I found a baucher that comes in a french link and a low comfort port. Either legal?
