Bit for horse with low mouth?

[Widget]

Jasmine takes a 5" bit but her mouth seems really small. She has a very dainty head, long but narrow. If you part her lips and look in there doesnt seem to be any space. Her tongue is not large but the roof of her mouth is low. A standard thickness snaffle or french link look huge in there. She drools a lot, hates the bit being put in, flings her head in the air when ridden so great splodges of slobber rain everywhere, she carries her head really high with any amount of contact. Teeth up to date but being done again just in case, back, saddle ok.
Im happy to go bitless so long as I can control her but I want to compete later on so I need to have her happy in a bit. Does anyone know what I can try?

Tried thin sweet iron double link snaffle with copper rollers on the central link part. Ok but not happy with contact, wont go rounded and really drools a lot, as in too much to be good.
Tried normal egbut snaffle. Easier to get it in her mouth when she got used to it but this is the one she really started to fling her head about in.
Tried french link fulmer snaffle twice. First time 1 rear several bucks, second time big rears till I hit the floor, really bad head flinging with any contact so I took it off.

I have a limited budget for buying to try but I need to find out why she is unhappy.

[coss]

she really does sound unhappy in her mouth. i have heard of myler bits (very expensive :() being good for horses with little room in their mouth but i have never used a myler as i think they are more designed for horses with a thicker tongue...
my RI has a neue copper bit - she was saying how you can get them in diferent widths. go for a really thin bit... most people think a thick snaffle is nice and mild but if there isn't room in the mouth, its not.
I would be tempted to try a normal (but thin) copper or sweet iron eggbutt snaffle or loose ring (for more mobility). the head flinging could be to do with you picking up a contact more than the bit. my mare used to go around with her head high enough for me to see her muzzle through her ears! i changed to a happy mouth roller with looserings but that might give the mare too much to think about.

Hope some of that helped, see if you have any friends nearby with different bits for you to try.

[Esther.D]

Have you tried a straightbar/mullen mouth snaffle? Rupert has a low palate and thick tongue and is happier in a straightbar or mullen mouth than even a french link.

[Widget]

Thanks for the suggestions. Yes im thinking very thin in gentle hands is better than fat and squashed in there. Ive not tried a straight bar yet but have been thinking about it. Im probably gonna manage without a bit till the dentist gets here and if that shows all clear then try different bits then. I know you need to give them a bit of time but after today im staying away from french links!

[prettybluepony]

French Link! Hehehe joey was misrable in his mullen, the normal snaffle was ok, but he had his head all over the shop, then frecnh link, the one ride he had it in, he was stunning! :) My suggestion!

[jackbruv]

what about a hackamore??:)

[Bebe]

My mare has no room in her mouth for a bit really, she has a low palate and a fleshy tongue. I can't fit my finger in there without touching both at the same time.

She goes nicely in a mullen mouth snaffle/pelham, as thin as possible. She also likes the myler comfort snaffle with wide barrel.

If you need something thinner, you could try a bradoon rather than a standard snaffle, they tend to come in much slimmer widths but you wil have the small rings to go with that so it depends how much the aesthetics of how the bit looks bothers you.

Bitless might be an option too. My mare goes nicely in the school in a bitless bridle but she takes the mickey whilst out hacking.

[emlybob]

Have you tried a bradoon off a double bridle? They are really thin and are good for horses with not much room in their mouths. Also a mullet mout would be good. When the horse has a small mouth to me thick bits are actually harser than thin ones she needs to feel more comfortable in her mouth. Also neue schule do bits of different widths and so does KK. You could contact the bit bank and they wouod advise you the best, also hire them out to u to try so it saves buying them

[Peanut]

i have heard of myler bits (very expensive :() being good for horses with little room in their mouth but i have never used a myler as i think they are more designed for horses with a thicker tongue...



I've just changed my mare, who has a small mouth/tongue and a fairly dainty tb head, to a Myler and she loves it. She's in the low port comfort snaffle which is a level one bit (i.e. the most gentle) and she goes really well in it.

They are expensive but can be bought for a fraction of the price off Ebay.

[Widget]

A hackamore or other sort of bitless is an option for a while so long as she still has breaks. Seat and leg aids stop her int he school but on a hack if there is something exciting I need the reins as my handbreak!
I want to do dressage so she has to have a bit at some point. A bradoon is a good idea as they are thin. I need to play around with straight bar and single and double jointed bits to see what she likes best. She hated the french like but there are other types out there so wont rule double jointed out yet. Ringing a bit bank is a good idea and I will do that. Will wait till dentist has been though. If she is in pain I dont want to carry on and cause her to remember pain even when its gone and start new problems. Will look for skinny cheep or borrowed bits so I have some ready and use her rope halter for now. Will probably stick to the arena though unless im confident I have control.
Thanks for all the advice!:)

[mayoguinness]

Yep I second a hackamore. You shouldn't lose your brakes as long as your flex is good, they might even improve ;)