I have a horse with a sensitive mouth. He goes in a straight snaffle happy mouth but I’m interested in possibly getting a Poponcini bit for him. He does not chew or tear up his happy mouth.
What are your experiences with these bits? They are costly so I love to hear if your horse liked/disliked the bit. TIA!
I don’t have an opinion about the Poponcini bits, but if you’re pondering different soft bits, I tried a leather bit on my mare and it was life-changing. She wasn’t fussy and the bit molds to her mouth. It comes in a variety of mouth pieces and you can buy them from Sweet Billy’s Bits on etsy for like $50. I recommend sizing up around .5" since leather shrinks with moisture and heat. It might be a cheaper option before taking the plunge on a $$$$ bit that your horse may or may not like in the long run.
I’ve tried mine in a Poponcini and it went well but it didn’t hold up and she’s not one to chew the bit. It’s simply such a soft material that if they are fed a treat coming out of the ring I found it started showing crazy wear and was no longer usable unless wrapped in the latex bit wrap. For the money I won’t buy again.
I recently ordered a Winderen bit which I am very excited to try - they are similar to the Poponcini bits but are a more durable gel material that in theory won’t wear out quickly! They also have the option to change out the cheek piece which makes it very versatile.
I had the exact same experience as Penny Lane- mine fell apart and then I had to wrap it with latex. The plastic is super soft!
I don’t know exactly how they compare to the Poponcinis in terms of softness, but I decided to try the Trust Inno Sense with my super soft-mouth gelding before splurging on a Poponcini and am glad I did because he loves it. I’d definitely recommend giving them a try if you don’t want to hefty price tag.
Wow, the Winderen bit system looks pretty cool. I hope you’ll post an update after using it for a while.
That does look super interesting… but I’ve got to say, the interchangeable cheekpiece makes me a bit nervous (as in…I’m picturing it “changing” to thin air mid-course :disillusionment:). I do hope @pennylane16 (or anyone else who has one) reports back.
I do agree with everyone else on the poponcini. Some horses do really well in them, but they do start coming apart pretty readily.
+1 For Sweet Billy’s Bits. My super fussy chestnut mare loves their bits! And the price is pretty darn good.
Oh yeah…good point, I hadn’t thought of that!
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