What bit should I use from her current french link?

[horseygirl123]

I've always ridden my horse in the tack she came with which is a loose ring french link snaffle and she does go nicely in it, altho her steering isnt great and she tends to throw her head up (have got her in a martingale to help this)

She doesnt ever mouth the bit, and never has a drop of saliva in her mouth, so was wondering if there is a better bit I could be using, she isnt particularily strong on a hack and has good breaks so dont really need anything stronger.

She has a plain cavesson nose band, and I put on a flash for hacking in company as she does like to be in front when canterring or galloping :rolleyes:

Any suggestions what I could try?

I tried a hanging cheek french link but that didnt seem to do anything, and she didnt seem relaxed in that so have taken that off her bridle.

Any suggestions would be appreciated :D

[horseygirl123]

Anyone? :p

[Stormin]

Hi,

I'm certainly no expert with bits but sounds like you have a pretty good compromise with your mare - brakes and average steering.

I wouldn't look to have her play too much with the bit - if she's happy with it and doesn't open her mouth in defence, that's already alot.
Read that certain types of metal were supposed to incite salivation - like the sweet iron, copper or other alloys.

I guess some would say that if it isn't broke, don't fix it :p

Sorry that I can't be of more help :)

[Roofio]

Jr doesnt salivate much either - ive had him in a sweet iron loose ring french link (a mouthful for both of us ;) and he salivates a fair amount when schooling, but only a teensy bit when hacking. in his previous bits (dutch gag when i first had him, full cheek french link, eggbutt snaffle - all came with him so tried them all!) he wasn't comfortable, mainly because they were all 5 and a half inches when hes at least a 6 :o:mad:

i am a big fan of the sweet iron jobby he has, and as an added bonus they are one of the cheapest bits around ;)

[horseygirl123]

Thanks for your replies :)

I just thought it was unusual that she didnt salivate much when ridden as most other horses I see have it slobbing all over the place!

Think i might stick to what she's in, she seems comfortable in it and does chomp on it for a few minutes when she is first bridled, opens her mouth and reaches for the bit when I tack her up so she must like it !

[showjumper-zoe]

http://www.shires-equestrian.co.uk/cgi-bin/WebObjects/ShiresEquestrian.woa/2/wo/5lEs2QbxrbNNMezkmw9VOw/2.0.82.1.4.1
something like this but with a french link, as it has the cheeks for steering and sweet iron to help saliveration(SP?)
Also just before you get on feed him a polo or so this may help him to sofen in his mouth and salivate

[coss]

some horses just don't salivate that much... try feeding an apple once tacked up as that often gets them going.
as for steering probems, you could try a fulmer, all the other benefits but also a little extra for steering.

i would also try some sort of copper mouth such as the kk ultra (see if you can try without buying) as i have found copper often encourages salivation.

[Roofio]

thats what i was like with J - everyone else slobbered everywhere but his bit was always clean as a whistle!

i dont really know what 'benefits' there are to salivation but for some reason i seem to remember something about it being a positive thing?!

[horseygirl123]

Thanks, I will try giving her a polo or apple once I've tacked her up ;)

Can I get exactly the same as she has but with the copper do you know?

[puzzles]

Salivation is a sign of acceptance of the bit and a soft mouth, however too much indicates a) poor conformation, and/or b) poor bitting.

try a sweet iron/vulcanite/copper/rubber bit, with either a D-ring or a full cheek cheekpiece to aid with your steering.

Have your horse's teeth/tack/back all checked as throwing his head up is a sign of resiastance and should be looked into before it evolves into a much bigger problem, rather than merely masking it with a martingale. Instead, listen to what he's trying to tell you (in the only way he can). Horses usually do something for a good reason, and i would also recommend having some private lessons to make sure your position and riding are as effective as they can be.
No saliva is often a sign of a hard, resisting mouth and is not a good sign.

French Links deliberately direct much of their pressure onto the tongue, which your horse may be trying to alieviate by throwing her head up to relieve this pressure.
Myler bits are designed to give more tongue relief, which is sueful fro young/sensitive/fussy horses and those with mouth and/or bitting issues like yours.

Try the Myler range (the Comfort Snaffle seems to prove very popular among horses) at:
http://www.themylerbitbank.co.uk

or visit:
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodlist.asp?cat=2&scats=50,19

:-)

xx

Good luck!

[horseygirl123]

Salivation is a sign of acceptance of the bit and a soft mouth, however too much indicates a) poor conformation, and/or b) poor bitting.

try a sweet iron/vulcanite/copper/rubber bit, with either a D-ring or a full cheek cheekpiece to aid with your steering.

Have your horse's teeth/tack/back all checked as throwing his head up is a sign of resiastance and should be looked into before it evolves into a much bigger problem, rather than merely masking it with a martingale. Instead, listen to what he's trying to tell you (in the only way he can). Horses usually do something for a good reason, and i would also recommend having some private lessons to make sure your position and riding are as effective as they can be.
No saliva is often a sign of a hard, resisting mouth and is not a good sign.

French Links deliberately direct much of their pressure onto the tongue, which your horse may be trying to alieviate by throwing her head up to relieve this pressure.
Myler bits are designed to give more tongue relief, which is sueful fro young/sensitive/fussy horses and those with mouth and/or bitting issues like yours.

Try the Myler range (the Comfort Snaffle seems to prove very popular among horses) at:
http://www.themylerbitbank.co.uk

or visit:
http://www.derbyhouse.co.uk/prodlist.asp?cat=2&scats=50,19

:-)

xx

Good luck!

Thanks for those links, the myler one was very good for information on biting :)

I have got a D ring french link and was wondering really what is the differnce with loose ring and D ring?
Its all very confusing!
I just want a nice soft bit that she is comfortable with ;)

[puzzles]

Oh good! :-D

A D-ring is of a shape more suited to steering and activating pressure against the side of her face, whereas a loose-ring moves about and thus creates more poll pressure, yet is not stable enough to steer as well as the D-ring. All cheekpieces, to a degree, steer using pressure against the hrose's face, yet some do it better than others.
Myler bits have independant cheekpieces for improved steering, so that when you apply pressure to one rein the bit on the opposite side will not be pulled through the mouth, especially if you pull quite hard:

"Loose ring: slides through the mouthpiece. Tends to make the horse relax his jaw and chew the bit. May pinch the corners of the horse's mouth if the holes in the mouthpiece are large, in which case a bit guard should be used."

"Dee-ring/ racing snaffle: ring in the shape of a "D" which does not allow the bit to rotate and so the bit is more fixed. The sides of the D provide a lateral guiding effect."

"Full cheek: has long, extended arms above and below the mouthpiece on either side of the lips of the horse, with a ring attached to it. The cheeks have a lateral guiding effect, and also prevent the bit from sliding through the mouth. The full cheek is often used with bit keepers to prevent the cheeks from getting caught on anything, and to keep the bit in the right position inside the mouth."

:-)

xx

[coss]

i d-ring is a bit like and eggbutt imo. a loose ring allows more movement of the bit. a d-ring is fixed like and eggbut but is "D" shaped instead of sort of round. my gelding worked really well in a D-ring copper mouth (not french link) but they aren't really available- i've not ever seen one for sale :eek:

[Roofio]

the loose ring stopped jr snatching - well acutally it hasnt stopped him doing it really, just stopped my arms from leaving their sockets as the rings move instead of my arms ;)

its also stopped him grabbing hold of it and legging it - not that he did this very often anyway.

i think that it keeps him light in the hand and encourages self-carriage.

[JustJas]

Peps I rode for 8 years in a loose ring french-link and a running martingale. I got her as a naughty pony with no bakes/steering but she loved the combination.
Try a happy-mouth or a sweet-iron/copper bit. An eggbutt or other side pieces.
Bitting is patience trial and error.

[puzzles]

very true!

:-D

xx