Tiramet
Myself and a few others (some who have started really nice hunter babies) use a combination bit/hackamore when starting their babies. Dover has a nice direct rein hackamore for about $22, use that along with a mild bit (I’ve seen plain soft rubber mullens). You just set up bridle almost like a full bridle, making sure hack is high up on nose - when she chooses her princess moments, just stress the hack rather than the bit, and gradually increase contact/use of bit.
My ottb mare hated even a rubber snaffle but loved a french link. Go figure? I got a fairly thin one out of the Dover catalog last year. A friend of mine uses a french link bradoon because it is so thin. I wonder if that would be too sharp for your mare?
I have a Weatherbeeta catalog that has a lot of Dublin products in it. Could they be the same company?
Tiramit
Have you had Dr. Stubbs look at her teeth? He’s the guru of teeth in central texas, and he might have some insight.
I use the KK bit,too. I even show my hunter in the loose ring most of the time, though I do have the Dee version for when we come across those judges who think the loose ring is inappropriate. I had ordered a leather covered Dee bit- a chain with a flat 7/8 inch wide leather covering. I had borrowed that bit & he was like butter. Alas, it has not arrived yet & since he is for sale, I may just have another bit in use for the youngsters.
Good Luck!!!
Have you tried any of the Myler bits? The have a curved mouthpiece Dr. Bristol type that looks interesting. I have the mullen barrel for my horse (without the lifters) and it is working well for us -also a sensative TB but doesn’t sound as sensative as yours.
I’ve seen the “rubber band” bit too. Very soft. Ours is made of white plastic, a la Happy Mouth, but I’m not sure who the manufacturer is.
Hey! Did I miss it, or has no one mentioned the soft rubber “dogbone” or “sausage” bit (used to be called a “breaking bit” in fact)? Goodness, I start most of my fillies in them and one six-year-old I recently sold was still in hers (and went in a similar dogbone-styled pelham).
If you aren’t familiar with this bit, it is so soft that you can bend it so that one end of the (straight bar or mullen) mouthpiece touches the other. I would argue that it is, hands down, the softest bit out there.
The only problem with it is that the chew-ers can chew right through it (and so you need to be really wary of the brands that have a steel cord in the middle). KKs and all that are probably great, too, but why not try something that costs less the $15 first? In fact, just to try it, you can get one for as little as $5, brand new, from the Libertyville Catalog–the rings are just nickle plated, but it’ll last long enough for you to decide if that design works.
You know, it’s kind of funny how an utterly simple and amazingly inexpensive potential solution–one that’s been around forever–hasn’t gotten much attention here!
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DMK:
[B]Tiramet
Myself and a few others (some who have started really nice hunter babies) use a combination bit/hackamore when starting their babies. Dover has a nice direct rein hackamore for about $22, use that along with a mild bit (I’ve seen plain soft rubber mullens). You just set up bridle almost like a full bridle, making sure hack is high up on nose - when she chooses her princess moments, just stress the hack rather than the bit, and gradually increase contact/use of bit.[/B]<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hey DMK - that’s the hackamore I’ve been using, but without the bit (just to be nice -she’s not too difficult, just so very, very sensitive). I could certainly put a bit on, I just need to find one thin and light enough. I like this idea more than the actual combo bit / hackamore contraptions I’ve seen people use. Thanks!
VTrider, any idea where I can buy this wonderband? I haven’t seen anything like it in the stores or my catalogs. I’ll check HN73’s site and hopefully’s it’s there.
Thanks everyone!
[This message has been edited by Tiramit (edited 08-29-2000).]
I’ll echo the waterford suggestion. If she really doesn’t like metal, you can wrap it in latex padding to soften the taste, feel, and movement just a little.
Tiramit, I can’t remember if our happy mouth mullen has ridges or is smooth - it’s packed away in my bit box at the moment. I will check this evening and try to answer tomorrow morning. You other guys don’t give me too much grief over the waterfall/waterford thing please, I was simply having a “senior moment”!
Hey Pwynn - I actually did try a dogbone with the same idea. It’s just too thick for her. Her poor little tongue seems to spill out of her mouth… TB’s!
Bit spray? Hmm. I guess I’ll have to buy a case of that! Never used it before. With my luck, she’ll like the one obscure flavor they’re about to discontinue. I’ll also try the fruit roll-ups - she’ll like that!
The things I do for my horses… Sigh!
Thanks!
If she has a low palate, you could try a double jointed (French) snaffle.
It made a BIG difference on my horse.
Tiramit - may I assume you’ve had his teeth checked? How old is he? I’m guessing in the 3-5yo range? I’m asking because of the wolf teeth - VERY sensitive when they come in, and have to be removed if they are in the way of the bit.
Cactus (or do prefer Kate 
?), you have a valid point, and I would agree if not for her overall willingness to do whatever I ask (despite being a mare and hot), and the fact that she is so sensitive to about everything else. Seriously, this is a mare whose skin crawls from tickling any time she’s touched past her barrel. And, her hair comes off with any kind of continuous rubbing. I’ve padded everything I can, but haven’t had too much luck finding a sensitive bit. She does come forward to the bit and will engage, but it honestly seems to bother her.
Thanks!
[This message has been edited by Tiramit (edited 08-29-2000).]
<BLOCKQUOTE class=“ip-ubbcode-quote”><font size="-1">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jumpsalot:
I had ordered a leather covered Dee bit- a chain with a flat 7/8 inch wide leather covering. I had borrowed that bit & he was like butter. <HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Hi jumpsalot - tell me more about this bit? Is it a custom job, or is it stock somewhere? Where did you find it? Thanks!
Tiramit, just recently went thru this same problem with my daughter’s mare. She is a WBxTB. Anyway, even after having her teeth checked, vetted, etc. she tossed her head with certain bits. We went thru all of our collection and our trainer’s, looking for a solution. She hated rubber bits - they were just too big for her mouth, she hated snaffles - no matter what type…we ended up using a metal mullen mouth (not jointed, but straight) until I found a Happy mouth mullen, which she was ok with. She also ended up ok with a bit I think is called a waterfall? Anyway, it has numerous little balls on the mouthpiece, and was flexible enough to give her more room for her tongue without pinching like a snaffle. Good luck.
I have had great success with a Sprenger bit that is like the French link, but with the jelly-bean shaped link in center. Much softer than flat link. Comes in different diameters and widths. Doesn’t seem to interfere with my fat tounged TB. Much more acceptance. The German metal makes him drool like a puppy.
Kate works fine, call me anything but late for dinner you know.
Sounds like you are in for the years of de-programming, de-sensitizing or what ever. It’s a slow process but I think eventually they come around, My guy hated to be groomed, but with the softer implements and that neat short “toothed” rubber brush, he begs to be groomed. Also has gotten very receptive to contact, saddling all that good, being a horse, stuff.
Good luck.
My TB mare seems to resemble yours–they’re great but super sensitive, huh? When Mikey was in her princess of the world mode about bits (she was about the same age as your mare at the height of it), I used a friend’s custom bit–it was quite thin, very very soft plastic (I think, not rubber), had a slight port that was broken, and had one of the little peanut pieces in the middle of the port. It worked wonders and really helped Mikey get over her fussiness.
I mention this because I recently saw a similar bit on sale at one of the HITS Catskill shows. I know the maker is based in VA, but I can’t remember his name. The bits weren’t cheap, but they were dramatically cheaper than custom. I’ll do my best to find the guy’s name – do you want it when I find it? He had an amazing selection of bits so you could put your hands on each and every one of them.
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.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
