If your horse is pulling bits into their molars, these bits won’t last. Just as an FYI.
The Old Man got downgraded to cheaper bits after ruining one too many VERY expensive ones. If he’s working, his mouth is dead quiet. It’s only when he’s standing around that he chows down on them. For him, it is straight boredom - he’s done this since he was a 3 year old.
Yeahhh I’ve been stalking the FB marketplace for some of the bit recs throughout the forum haha. If the bit fits (first order of business because that’s an “easy” fix) and its truly boredom like we think it is - I’m just going to let him be.
I have a Busy Buddy. I got it for my lesson horse who was fretting, sidling around, always shifting from one foot to another and otherwise being a pill when in the cross ties (28 yr. old set in his ways Appendix QH).
He got, uh, really expressive with his mouth the first time I used it. The second time I used it he was a little bit less expressive with his mouth. There has not been a third time because he stopped fussing in the cross ties except for an occasional “watch it lady” tiny movement.
When it was on him I talked with my riding teacher. Properly adjusted it went across his tongue approximately where the Weymouth curb of a double bridle goes when the mouthpiece of the bit is right above his curb groove. My riding teacher agreed with me when I wondered out loud if the two bits of the double bridle acted somewhat like the Bridle Busy Buddy when used on a bitted horse (I have not tried the Bridle Busy Buddy since I do not need it with this horse at all with the double bridle.) Previously I have had fussy horses calm down with the double bridle, could having a mouthpiece of a bit further down on their tongues be why they calmed down? Snaffle bit–fussy to super fussy (depending on the mouthpiece), double bridle–calmer mouth.
The Bridle Busy Buddy for use when riding with a bit is certainly MUCH cheaper than a double bridle. It may even escape being chewed on since the regular bit is closer to the horse’s molars.
A woman in my barn got one of those Busy Buddy things because she is intent on fixing non-existent problems. I think she did create a problem with it that needs fixed. It’s her first horse; anything like that she’ll buy in a heart beat.
Have put a chewing bridle on your horse? Just put a bit on a snaffle hanger while he’s in a stall or paddock and just left him alone?
Re: the leather bit recommendations, just a warning I have heard stories of them getting chewed through and breaking in the mouth while riding. Only with the ones that are leather through and through though. They make some that have a wire core, which could arguably be worse if it gets chewed to. But, Jump’N makes a few leather covered metal options which help solve that issue. Farmhouse Tack carries them.
Valid point, however I’ve never had a horse actually chew into them even if they previously left marks in other bits, such as young horse who all but ATE an NS bit but never left a mark on her leather bits.
So ironically enough, I just got finished reading your thread about bits for your hard-mouthed new horse. Is the leather where you ended up landing?
Yes! Leather loose ring, though if that isn’t “the” bit I am thinking of trying the Baucher leather bit as I think that mare is super sensitive over the poll. So far, she really loves the leather! I will be putting it to the test Friday when we trailer out.
keep me posted!!! i’m invested at this point lol
I had an anxiety chomper and found a bit with rollers/disks at the center lozenge gave him something to mess with that wasn’t the ENTIRE bit. In retrospect I think the anxiety was pain related - he was an in-barn lease, not my horse.
I also had a chomper recently who was uncomfortable because he had a teeny tiny mouth, and a very slim NS bit solved that.
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