I am looking for bit suggestions for my green hunter mare. We have tried several different bits (kk, regular snaffle, snaffle latex wrapped, happy mouth dee ring) So far she has preferred the happy mouth the most but is still chomping and chewing through them. She has had her teeth checked along with head xrays and a scope. There was nothing found to be wrong with her. I have also tried a padded mono crown bridle but she seems to prefer a regular crown piece. Please help me find something my mare will like!
I would try a loose ring/d ring waterford if I was in the same position. They are very soft bits, and discourage leaning and fidgeting.
2 Likes
Have you considered titanium bits, either coated with titanium or pure titanium.
I rode an OTTB gelding who, off contact, would try to gnash the stainless steel bits down to their individual molecules, he was quite devoted to this. He was better in a 20-25mm thick single jointed eggbutt snaffle, but the gnashing still continued off contact.
I tried him first in a titanium coated “rainbow” Mullen mouth bit and he gnawed on the bit less.
Later on I gave him a 20mm thick single jointed titanium coated “rainbow” eggbutt snaffle and now he gnaws on the bit a LOT LESS than he used to. My riding teacher says it is no longer a problem for him, with the titanium bit.
I have found that horses will settle for a stainless bit they like, then when I get the same style of bit titanium coated or pure titanium, contact and steadiness improves. Since I have MS my hands degrade in the heat of the summer, and before I found the titanium bits every summer I either had to go bitless or use a Wellep bit (no longer made.) With the titanium/titanium coated bits I have not had to change bits in the summer, with these bits the horses do not seem to mind my less than ideal hands as much as they used to (gaping, flinging the head, inversion, gnawing on the bit, etc. changed to a calm horse with nice, even, steady contact.)
I have a blue bit on order so sounds similar to what was suggested with the rainbow colored bit.
Any bit that does not specify, in print, that the bit is made of titanium or has a coating of titanium, is of another metal, often stainless steel or iron.
On Ebay, when I ask for titanium snaffle bits several come up, both pure titanium or titanium coated (usually rainbow.)
To me the rainbow bits looked odd, really odd, but my riding teacher thinks that they are beautiful and she really likes how the horses can improve with them.
Curious… how old is the horse/ how long has she been under saddle? Do you have video of the chomping?
1 Like
Try a thin(ner) copper single jointed snaffle. This worked beautifully for the one I was riding that was a busy body with their mouth. Still occasionally chomps, but not near as much
The mare is 8 and was just started under saddle about a year and a half ago. This has been an ongoing thing. It does not seem to be pain related she is just a busy body with her mouth.
As an expert in titanium metallurgy I find the marketing statements about these bit hilarious.
If they were real, high quality Ti/Ti alloy (e.g. Russian ore and not Chinese), correctly process (vacuum forged) we couldn’t buy them.
4 Likes
OP, you say it doesn’t seem to be a pain issue. How do you know? I’ve observed that a poorly fitted saddle can cause horses to chomp on the bit or go around gape-mouthed. Get a really good independent saddle-fitter to check–not a brand rep.
Try a leather bit. Soak in water before first use so the horse can do a bit of chewing to customize the fit. Look up Sweet Billy’s Bits on Etsy. I use leather bits on both of my horses and they love them.
1 Like
Phippsie62 she has seen a vet and a chiro, no issues found. She goes in my Butet that fits her well and the trainers CWD that also fits well.
My gelding is very mouthy - loves playing with anything he can get in his mouth and loved to chew on bits when he was first started. The best bit for him is the Myler comfort snaffle - it has enough wiggle to keep him soft on the bit, but not enough that it becomes a game. It comes in D, eggbutt or loose ring.
Most of the youngsters I have started are mouthy for the first year. I have the best success with willingness to accept the bit with double jointed copper eggbutts. My current filly is three, used to chomp like nuts when we started her a couple months ago, now is down to a bit mouthy with contact which is normal as they learn to accept the pressure.
I do use a PS Sweden bridle which has a noseband higher up, nearer cheek bones and wraps around somewhat similiarly to a figure 8. Very similiar to the Collegiate Comfitec.
The ‘flash’ type which I keep very loose, rests slightly against the sides of the bit and keeps it a bit more stable.
My previous youngster, who turned out needed his wolf teeth pulled (for a second time …weird), did well with the curvy happy mouth.
I tend to find changing my contact to be a cause for mouthy behaviours too. I have to be VERY consistent with my new filly, not too much but enough to steady the bit and she wont worry so much.
Good Luck!
