Menu

Stay in Touch
Sign up for ENews
Subscribe Now

Unlimited access >

Menu

Sprenger bits- worth the $$?

Dressage
#1

My guy has been through several bits. He’s very mouthy and tongue sensitive and head tossing if he hates his bit. I’ve found he likes the Myler comfort snaffle, or a quarter-moon (ported link) snaffle.

But the ported link isn’t dressage legal, and my current trainer is a very traditional guy. He’s going pretty well for my trainer in a basic loose ring snaffle- not too thick, pretty standard.

So the D-ring Myler goes and I need a loose ring. I am thinking to get a Sprenger 14mm. I like the Sprenger basically because of the choice you have both in width (he’s just between a 5 and 5.5, and Sprenger sells a 5.25) and diameter (he hates the thick french link eggbutt I tried on him).

So for a mouthy horse- is this worth the $$? Aurigan or german silver? And should I try the KK ultra or just stick with the regular jointed snaffle? Hoping some of you are using these bits and have BTDT experience :slight_smile:

#2

I’m not sure. I was working a 4-year old in an HS KK Ultra Full Cheek and he hated it. Switched to a loose ring (not HS) French link and he liked it but it pinched him a bit. I have him going now in a Nathe mullen mouth and while it’s sometimes not the best bit for turns, he loves it and I can get him to focus more and relax with it.

I love to read about how the Herm Sprenger KK bits are designed to fit better with the bean being angled at 45 degrees etc etc and I think many horses do great with this bit but I’m still not 100% sure about their efficacy as a general rule. I too would love to hear other opinions though.

#3

Yes they are, if you believe in the progress with a new technology.
No they are not, if you believe in the traditional, old time tried and trusted methods.
Personally for me the positive difference was about 10%-20% in the way how my horse went. You decide if small % worth your money.

#4

I’ve got an 8 yr old “race trained, broodmare, hacked half a dozen times by a heavy handed western person” mare who had the biggest bit issues I’ve EVER seen. Talk about tossy and mouthy! But for some cosmicly wierd reason we decided to make her not my race broodie but my riding horse…

I ordered a WH Ultra (legal) and have high hopes but it’s taking forever to get here. Apparently they have stock issues?

In the meantime, I picked up a nathe three piece with a roller barrel in the middle. She hated it too untill I just got after her to “damn well accept the bit!” Now she goes well in it, reverts to old habits (die hard! she’s only been asked to contact for a week now), but is definatley learning to communicate.

When the HS WH finally gets here, I have high hopes for it as I figure it’ll be even softer and easier than the one I’m using now. I’ve certainly heard it’s the cat’s meow. I’m farily positive it’ll work in my case.

#5

Ok… I just reread the OP and your trainer is not old school traditional if he wants to take away the bit that works for you (the D Mylar) and put in a loose ring snaffle just because he likes the ‘look’ of it and it ‘works for him’!!
Your hands obviously aren’t his and whatever works best for you and your horse is what you should use, and hoof it lightly to your trainer’s backside for not realizing that! (No matter how well intentioned, and I understand where he’s coming from, but it’s YOUR horse).

#6

Any improvement in happiness and comfort my horse is worth the money :slight_smile: I just don’t want to spend it for 0% benefit, or negative benefit :winkgrin:.

I am also looking at this one:

http://www.horsetackinternational.com/German-silver-loose-ring-Eggbutt-bit.html

since he does tend to get rubs on his mouth with the current bit.

The one he hates is the JP Korsteel curved french link.

#7

I think you’d need to ask your horse…

I am a horseless rider, and have a decent collection of bits that I’ve accumulated over the years.

I recently sold my Herm Sprenger loose ring snaffle, because so far I’ve found that the last 4 horses I’ve had the opportunity to ride, plus the “pet” horse I owned for about a year…all preferred the Myler loose ring comfort snaffle.

The Morgan mare I get to ride now was super heavy in any bits they tried with her, but she is light and happy in… the Myler comfort snaffle…

In the end, the horse will let you know…

I DO know that I was able to sell my Herm Sprenger snaffle on E-bay for almost what I paid for it. They really seem to retain their value.

Good luck and best wishes from Kansas.

#8

Nah, he had reasons for preferring the loose ring. The D is a new one, and the Ds are really large, and the bit is a little too big anyway. It was a replacement for a full-cheek that was a little too narrow. The Myler bits are kind of rigid, so the width really has to be right.

And last I rode him was in my trainer’s snaffle and he went fine, even with my not-as-quiet hands :slight_smile:

I am really NOT the type to take advice unless it really makes sense. And sometimes even then :wink: The trainer has, so far, given me absolutely no advice that wasn’t backed up to my satisfaction.

eta: My horse has been training for 4 months without me, so that might be a useful piece of info I left out. When I was riding him, I liked the D or full-cheek for lateral control, but now he goes off leg so well I don’t need it anymore.

#9

I’d be getting the Myler loose ring if it wasn’t for the fact that my horse really seems to be between the 5" and the 5.5" :frowning: Since the bit is rigid, it either rubs on his mouth and bony face or pokes out to the sides.

Very annoying!

#10

[QUOTE=Ambrey;3202181]
Nah, he had reasons for preferring the loose ring. The D is a new one, and the Ds are really large, and the bit is a little too big anyway. It was a replacement for a full-cheek that was a little too narrow. The Myler bits are kind of rigid, so the width really has to be right.

And last I rode him was in my trainer’s snaffle and he went fine, even with my not-as-quiet hands :slight_smile:

I am really NOT the type to take advice unless it really makes sense. And sometimes even then :wink: The trainer has, so far, given me absolutely no advice that wasn’t backed up to my satisfaction.[/QUOTE]

Gotcha :slight_smile: Was just a thought. I’m dying to get my darn bit!! I ordered from http://equinegoddess.com/info.html, who I think has one of everything except the one I want. They’re on sale now and really reasonable (assuming it’s just a fluke I haven’t got mine yet and that they really are legit).

#11

I hope you get it! I hadn’t heard of the WH Ultra before. Looks intriguing!

#12

Loose ring Myler

Why not just go in a loose ring Myler Comfort Snaffle? (MB02)
They’re dressage legal and I find them very good for “mouthy” types.

My boy was in a KK-Ultra loose ring for many years. He was good in it, but now w/the MB02, he dives for the bit when I put his bridle on and seems truly comfortable while working. Of course it helps that my hands have improved in the last year or so. :wink:

He goes very well in it, despite a low palate and fat tongue. Give it a try!

#13

How about bit material- has anyone really noticed a difference between SS, German Silver, and the Aurigan? Mikmar also has one in a copper alloy they call Cupreon. Everyone insists theirs is best.

This is the mikmar bit:

http://www.doversaddlery.com/mikmar-cupreon-loose-ring-eggbutt-horse-bit-with-ergom-lozenge-/p/X1-010201/cn/1460/

As for the hands, when he really hates a bit he’ll gnash on it and be obnoxious even on loose rein (he would actually chew on the french link, like with his teeth), so although I’ll fully admit my hands need a lot of work they are not 100% of the issue :wink:

#14

Ambrey,

I use a Sprenger KK Ultra Lozenge 14mm Loose Ring Bradoon on my mare. It’s the Aurigan. She goes extremely well in it. I do not like thick bits because although they can be more “gentle”, they also take up a lot more room in the horse’s mouth. You trade one for the other, IMO, and I’d rather her comfort and me being more careful with my hands.

My trainer also likes this bit on her.

The Aurigan is supposed to promote more saliva than copper – dunno if that is really true or not – but it does work well for us. I do have another, cheaper, bit that is a replica of the KK but with a copper mouth. I use it primarily for long-reining and will be getting a full cheek Aurigan to replace it. She doesn’t like that bit near as much. When I am unbridling, she will FORCEFULLY spit ithe copper one out. With the Aurigan, she lets me guide it out of her mouth and I prefer that so that her teeth don’t get knocked. That can hurt.

I had two Sprengers, but I loaned one to another dressage rider at the barn. Her guy went so much better in it, I told her to just use mine. It’s too small for Fionna, anyhow.

Eileen

#15

I think it will all depend on your horse, so try borrowing if you can - even to see what your horse does with certain types of bits.

In my experience, the metal isn’t as important as the shape and size of the bit, the links, the beans, etc. Little things can make a horse comfy or uncomfy. Plus, little things like rollers can make a mouthy horse really mouthy…or placated. You often just don’t know until you try them. I’ve ridden in stainless steel, silver and aurigon and I can’t say that I’ve seen a huge difference in the acceptance as it related to the metal. But that could just be the horses I’ve ridden.

My horse is currently in the silver loosering 14mm Sprenger snaffle because she needed a narrow snaffle and this works well for her. She was previously in stainless steel and that was fine for her at those stages in her training. Her bradoon is a KK ultra and she accepts it just fine-similar reactions as the snaffle, and the curb is a low-mouth port made of aurigon. The one drawback to aurigon, IMO, is the weight. It’s really heavy! And sometimes I think the weight is annoying to my horse. I recently purchased a stainless steel version of the same bit to see if my horse goes in it better but I haven’t done that experiment yet.

I do think, though, that the Sprenger bits are well made and can last longer than cheaper stainless steel bits (the holes don’t get worn as quickly). I was mighty disappointed in their spurs, though. One of my knob-ends snapped in half, and that’s when I discovered that they were metal-coated filler material.

Good luck!

#16

I am a big fan of the HS bits. I have a gelding with a very fussy mouth. I bought the WH Ultra Soft, which he liked. We used it for about six months. Then my trainer suggested the KK Ultra. Mine is actually aurigan with aurigan cheekpieces. It’s an 18 mm 5.5 inch. Much to my surprise, my gelding LOVES it! He is so quiet in that bit, it’s amazing. He’ll reach right out for a nice, elastic contact. I’m so glad I spent the money. And I sold the WH Ultra on Ebay for just a few bucks shy of what I originally paid for it!

#17

On my TB we’ve played around with bits for ever on him, and one day on a whim I found a 5.75" HS Turnado in a 16mm. LOVE IT ON HIM. He’s soft, he doesnt run through it, doesnt lean on it, etc.

His double bridle I have him in the John Dewsbury set up. Mors L’Hotte curb with the Dewsbury link bradoon.

QH goes in a 16mm HS KK Ultra.
Playing around with bits on his double. Neue Scheule makes a 14mm curb and bradoon taht I think will fit his mouth nicely. He’s got a small mouth and a 16mm curb and 14mm bradoon are just a bit much. Probably go with the small port and single jointed bradoon.

#18

[QUOTE=J-Lu;3202365]

I do think, though, that the Sprenger bits are well made and can last longer than cheaper stainless steel bits (the holes don’t get worn as quickly). I was mighty disappointed in their spurs, though. One of my knob-ends snapped in half, and that’s when I discovered that they were metal-coated filler material.

Good luck![/QUOTE]

Your Herm Spenger spurs snapped in half!?

I just bought a pair of HS German Silver smooth roweled spurs from Beth at HOC when they were at the last show. I hope they dont snap in half!

I think I spent almost $90 on them… rode in them last night, and REALLY like them! Used them a few times on the LOH, and got a “YES MAAM YES MAAM HALF PASS??? SUUURREEE!!!” :winkgrin:

#19

Not to steal the thread…but my mare is an honest 4.75" when it comes to the majority of bits. Since Sprenger is so good at making the odd sizes like 5.25", do they make anything under 5"?

#20

[QUOTE=cleozowner;3203414]
Not to steal the thread…but my mare is an honest 4.75" when it comes to the majority of bits. Since Sprenger is so good at making the odd sizes like 5.25", do they make anything under 5"?[/QUOTE]

Yepper. They make some in 4 3/4".

Here’s there web site and pdf files:

http://www.sprenger.de/hs/index.php?lang=eng&abt=r&bereichid=prod01

The trick will be finding someone who carries them in smaller sizes. The one I loaned out was a 4.5" Sprenger.

Eileen

Get your Digital Subscription here - only $29.99 / year

Subscribe here
See gift options

Sign up to our monthly newsletter!

By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.

Copyright © 2023 The Chronicle of the Horse