loosering snaffle/fitting/evasion - got any pics?

[BlueWicked]

when I got Blue he was in a single jointed eggbutt snaffle - so low it was hanging behind his front teeth!:eek: The cheekpieces were extra full! He now has full cheekpieces on almost the top hole. My RI thinks having had the bit so low may have caused his evasion - he holds his head high but does not really take a contact. It's a wiered feeling as he is very forward and gets away with rushing along as he isnt actually pulling or leaning :rolleyes: Does this make sense to anyone?

Anyway, Ive changed him on my RI's advice, to a loosering. If you have headshot pics of your horse in a loosering snaffle please could you post pics? Im faffing about the height of the bit in his mouth now and want to make sure I get it right.
thanks

eta - when i put his bridle on he holds his mouth open for ages after the bit is in - sprt of stretching his neck down low. He oftens opens his mouth wide like yawning after it is taken off as well. When I went to try him the owner warned me he had always done this.

[XxXAmeyXxX]

Rule of thumb is. 2 wrinkle on the lips and with a loose ring there should be a thumbs gap at each side between the horses mouth and the ring.

This is the best picture I've got at the minute, doesn't help that the flash is in the way though.
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t179/story_of-my_life/CIMG0028.jpg
Hope this helps.

[chev]

Two wrinkles is a bit tight. It should fit snugly against the lips and lie across the mouth without banging teeth.

[Roofio]

I use rubber bit guards with mine so pics are no good;). I put J's on to begin with without them, one very slight wrinkle then pulled his lips out the way to have a look where it was sitting - as chev said away from his teeth.

[BlueWicked]

thank you

I should have said incase anyone is wondering I have had his teeth checked.

I thought the 2 wrinkle rule as well but the bit seems to sit with the joint bent in a v shape with it tightened like this. So I had let it out a hole or 2 so the bit sat straight unless you pulled the reins - then I asked someone on my yard and they said to put it back up again:confused:

[XxXAmeyXxX]

Then again looking at my photo I only just have one which suit us both fine, put it where you think and have a look to see where it sits.

[BlueWicked]

thank you for posting that lovely pic Amey - your horsey is gorg';)

Anyone got and thoughts on the other things I mentioned?

[Pink's lady]

Of all my millions of photo's I don't have a single one that show the bit fitting well:rolleyes: This is the best I have. It's a eggbutt full cheek but the height fitting is the same. It's the width that's different - a loosering needs to be about 1/4-1/2" wider so it doesn't nip the edge of the lips.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/Pinkslady/Editted%20photos%20etc/Kallibitfit.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/Pinkslady/Editted%20photos%20etc/Kallibitfit2.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v715/Pinkslady/Editted%20photos%20etc/Kallibitfit3.jpg


Echo chev - the 'two wrinkles' rule is too high. The bit should be snug against the lips, causing just a little crinkle, but not dragging them up. xxAmeyxx's pictures a good example of fit but with a flash - if the flash wasn't there the bit would be slightly lower.

[Pink's lady]

As for him spitting the bit out and yapping afterwards - it sounds like the bit is uncomfortable for him. What type of bit is he in at present? You might find he's happier in a french link or even a magic bit (cambridge snaffle) (which is what Kalli, who is Miss Fussy about bits, is happy in).

It might also be worth considering using a bitless of a while, so see it the bit is a problem.

[Lucyad]

In terms of fitting, I wouldnt go on wrinkles necessarily - if your horse is relaxed and ameniable, it is worth lifting their lips and checking how it sits in the mouth - I orginally had mine sest to have one slight wrinkle as it was when I bought him with tack, but RI pointed out that it was actualy banging on his teeth, so I had to tighten it 1 hole. Still not quite 2 wrinkles though. But worth checking all the same.

[Nik-n-Kia]

I also tend not to go on the wrinkle theory as if I did that kias bt would be too low. If your riding and when you pull on the riens either together or one at a atime and the cheekpieces bend out then the bit is too low.

Wrinkles and making the horse smile in my OP is now way to measure a bit as it isnt very acurate.

You can check this without being on him as well as if you do it fro the ground and the bit goes to slide through his mouth then it is too loose.

Hope this helps hunny!!

Nikki xxxx

[Palomino Mare]

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w28/amydalgleish87/tiffhead.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w28/amydalgleish87/tiffshead.jpg

tiffanys bit has 1 wrinkle and i think fits pretty well, i do *sort of* go buy wrinkles in that if your having to put 3 in for example then there's something wrong!i generally looked to see what feels right, although here's a badly fitting bit -

i tried one wrinkle but it was hanging in his teeth, put his cheek pieces up and there were too many wrinkles- 3! i just couldnt get it to sit right hence its sitting at the bottom of a box somwhere! if anyone knows how hanging cheeks should sit then please let me know:)
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w28/amydalgleish87/DSC00343.jpg
http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w28/amydalgleish87/DSC00344.jpg