I have an ultra sensitive gelding - like sensitive to everything. His MO is to carry all his feelings in his shoulders and suck back behind the vertical. This is not a training issue, it’s not pain related, it’s who he is and I have grown pretty fond of him and all his quirks.
The bit DOES make a difference to him. He has made me much more aware an considerate.
I have found a bit he will reach for and work into, but I am always open to trying new things.
What are your go to bits for a horse light in the bridle who tends to carry himself behind the vertical?
Would you happen to have some photos or descriptors of his lips, tongue, and palate? That can also be a factor in determining suggestions. It could also be worth looking at investing in a virtual bit and bridle fitting. I know A Bit Above does virtual fitting and bit rentals where you only pay shipping. (edited for spelling; my coffee had not kicked in yet)
Probably not handy, but I can take some. He’s a little fleshy, moderate to low palate, and a pretty standard but long tongue. Nothing outrageously difficult anatomically.
We have done a fitting and everything was well enough across the board. He’s a weird dude with a lot of preferences. He prefers a figure 8 for dressage and an ergonomic flash bridle for jumping. He seems to prefer the stability of an eggbutt over a loose ring, but in consistent work he builds enough confidence to work in a loose ring.
I’ve had good luck with my horse like this using a Herm Sprenger Duo. I wanted to try a plastic bit and my horse has a smaller mouth. I chose the Duo since it’s a little thinner than a Happy Mouth or Inno Sense bit.
Ah, my apologies! I should have asked if you had a fitting done before suggesting that. Have you tried a baucher cheekpiece? He may like that extra bit of stability. Cavalon has really nice bits at affordable price points for you to experiment with.
My go to with sensitive horses is a boucher. The stability gives them confidence to reach forward and trust the contact. Usually can transition out of it in 6 months but sometimes go back when starting new skills for a new level.
My horse sounds similar and he’s happy in the Fager Maria D-ring. He needs a thin bit and he likes to be able to move it around in his mouth to get it where he wants it. He really hated the mullen and baucher options I tried, I think they were too stable for his liking, but he does prefer a D or eggbutt over a loose ring. Each horse can respond so differently to the same things, I always want to try as many different options as possible to see what sticks.
You can rent bits from Mary’s Tack for $10 plus shipping. If you like it you keep it, if not you swap it out. It’s saved me probably thousands of dollars over the years.
I’ve had good luck with a Sprenger mullen mouth. Mine happens to be a loose ring.
My VERY light and sensitive mare likes the stability of the mouthpiece and doesn’t seem bothered by the loose ring.
Anything with a joint (or two) seems to create a little worry. I think she’s always wondering if whatever movement she feels in her mouth is supposed to mean something. Less is more for her.
Have you noticed any preferences/ played around with different bits yet? My initial thoughts would be: non metal, Mullen, some type of fixed ring (baucher, D, eggbutt), and maybe a thinner bit. I have yet to have a horse that loves the happy mouth or old style black rubber bits, they just seem too fat. Truthfully, I love me a good solid leather bit. The horse I’m riding now is a chewer and I still have him in one because they are just good bits. Nathes are good, Trust flexi is similar, Beris has a similar mouth piece as well. Depending on how schooled your horse is or just his preference/ personality, you may find you need a little refinement over a Mullen. Bombers makes a cool bit called the molded Mullen (molded contact?) which seems closer to a jointed bit than a true Mullen WRT flexibility. If he is not as much a fan of the non metal options, Fager makes excellent bits. I haven’t had a Mullen of theirs but have ridden in a few of the jointed mouthpieces and all have been well received.
For horses who hide or curl, I go to a Duo or Nathe. Something soft and unjointed that encourages the horse to hold the bit and push into it. I also ride these types with a neck rope, which limits how much the rider can pull. These sensitive types are all about LETTING GO with your hands, but that’s hard to do when you also need some brakes. A neck rope, fitted such that it has enough slack for 1-2" of elbow movement when your hands are in normal riding position, will make you more aware of keeping your hands softer and using your body more for half halts.
These sensitive types are usually very responsive to the neck rope too, and tend to be easy to transition to bridleless (which gives you both a ton of trust and confidence).
My horse quit curling in a bridle that buckles over the crown vs on the side. Saddlebred with the super bendy hide behind the vertical type. He’s very sensitive around his poll and tmj.
He goes in a trust flexible loose ring or egg butt or an older nathe bit I picked up. He likes a thicker bit to hold onto and almost lean but he doesn’t lean.
Here is a video of me on a pony mare I worked with 5yrs ago. She had been ridden in draw reins and had no trust of the bit or rider’s hands. Curl and hide, or brace, was all she knew. Her owner/rider felt insecure when the pony braced, and felt “safe” when the pony rolled up, so the pony learned curling was what her rider wanted. I spent several months encouraging up and out, down and out, anywhere just OUT. We put her in a rubber mullen D-ring and a neck rope (hay string). The pony was really sensitive, a bit hot, but genuinely tons of fun once she trusted her rider to let go. The neck rope gave some brakes without overusing the mouth, and it was very useful for the owner/rider to have a limit on how much she could pull.
https://youtu.be/6DX-eCabHxw @pokesaladannie Here’s a video of another horse years ago. OTTB grandson of Storm Cat, sensitive and quirky, picked up on ANY tension in your fingers, wrists, elbows, or shoulders. He was going bridleless after about 3 rides in a neck rope. He went best in a nathe, but truly loved his neck rope. I used to hack him all over the neighborhood, and even trail ride out on 1000 acres without a bridle, just a hay string.
I almost thought you were talking about my gelding there for a minute
I love your note about letting go, it’s something I make a very conscience effort to do with him. He does not like to feel boxed in and I imagine that’s from being held with draw reins on the track.
Funny enough, this horse HATES a boucher. Like, will flip over backwards. I was very surprised by that reaction because typically that’s on of my go tos as well.
He doesn’t seem to like anything that has too much movement in his mouth. I’m not writing off all three piece bits, I just don’t think I’ve used the correct one. I would be interested in trying the HS dynamic? I believe it’s called. It’s a locking three piece.
Before I found his now bit, I was riding him in a duo and that did seem to agree with him. I planned on getting another flexi type to have - I think I’ll go the bombers route after all your suggestions! I would love to find something ever so slightly ported - does that exist? Right now he’s going in a Myler type (Expert Bits comfy barrel) eggbutt and it has eliminated 65-75% of our curling and all of the teeth grinding.
Has anyone tried the Sprenger Flex Control? That has also piqued my curiousity but it’s not one I could find much feedback on.
Eventer AJ, you are a beautiful soft rider. Love the baler twine neck strap - we used to zoom around on ponies without bridles. Just a bit of twine to stop and steer. Amazing how even hairy fat ponies can tune in to that kind of subtle cue. Had completely forgotten about that.
There is a Beris soft bit with tongue relief that I have been using on one of my horses. IIRC it comes in two thicknesses, but is only available in the thicker variation for the larger sizes (> 5”).
