Which bit??

[shanghai_missy]

I have two little ponios to break this summer, and i bought a little snaffle to start longreinin and lungein them in, however have found that the bit is simply slidiing through their little mouths! aha! what u dicover with experience!

the question now is which bit do u suggest i use to stop this from happening? Im not really wantin anything strong as u can imagine, but there are so many bits on the market these days i dont know where to start, as with my bigger horses a snaffle seems to do the job!

[bellazebra]

Are you sure the bit is the right size for them?

If it is, why not try just getting some rubber donuts to put each side? They will stop the bit from being pulled through the mouth.

[showjumper-zoe]

Yes, make sure they're correctly fitted then if it still happens try a fulmer.

[Mathew]

Well i can sugest a Tom Thumb it works really good for a lot of hossies and is not too strong

[Blair Witch]

I'd stick with the snaffle. More than likely, the bit is too wide if it slips through their mouth. You could buy a full cheek snaffle, that could fix the problem. But, a simpler solution is to take a piece of baling twine and make a curb strap with it. Tie it onto one rein, pass it under the horse's chin and secure it on the other side. Problem solved :)

[Mathew]

well i say just stick to what your horse like the most and then comphensate

[holiday]

I break alot of ponies - we have a yard full of little people, i always break in a loose ring french link - if they are mine, or a eggbut snaffle if it is for clients and i know they will struggle to get small french links!!!

Check the fit of the bit, you shouldnt have any problems with them sliding through unless the ponies havent accepted them correctly and you are having to pull the steering!!! The ponies will then open their mouths and the bit will slide through. Make sure they are accepting the bit before working them off it, i always lunge in loose side reins so they are happy with a quiet contact first and established before long lining.

[Bay Mare]

Mark Rashid's take on the Tom Thumb:

http://www.todayshorse.com/Articles/TroublewithTomThumb.htm


I agree with the others, check the fit and that the ponies aren't resisting the bit. If I were breaking I'd go for a french link too.

[puzzles]

i'd suggest a myler as - as well as other fabby atributes - they are all designed to have indeopdndant side movement, meaning that the bit wo't slide through the mouth like that.
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