Nickel bits?

[Soot]

Lucy will only relax in a bit made of/plated with nickel ....

Are they allowed in dressage? Looks like a normal snaffle so never really thought about, but since we are going Trailblazer's this year I thought I should look into it ... To be fair I haven't actually tried any other bit since I've known her, but I don't want to start messing with her mouth when she's such a soft & happy girl!

[coss]

i don't think there should be a problem. i'm trying to think why they stopped making bits from nickel - something to do with it being soft or brittle? i would maybe try the same mouth piece with copper or sweet iron though.

[Soot]

Brittle can be an issue, I think ... but this bit cost over £200 and is extremely good quality so hopefully will hold out for a few more years. I did think sweet iron as an option; on the other hand, she's going so well atm and I'm reluctant to fiddle!

[coss]

Brittle can be an issue, I think ... but this bit cost over £200 and is extremely good quality so hopefully will hold out for a few more years. I did think sweet iron as an option; on the other hand, she's going so well atm and I'm reluctant to fiddle!

i know the feeling about not wanting to fiddle. if you know someone who can lend you one to try it may be worth doing that - then its a one of occasion and you've only borrowed it, if it doesn't work out then you've still got you (rather expensive :eek: ) Ni bit

[Mehitabel]

nickel will snap with no warning signs beforehand - so do go for plated, rather than entirely made from nickel.

[Soot]

:eek:
nickel will snap with no warning signs beforehand - so do go for plated, rather than entirely made from nickel.

Ok thanks for the warning! I'm hoping mine is plated then!! All I know is that it's superspecial ;).

Might try a sweet iron one too - her schooling has improved soooo much that maybe she's ready to accept a different bit these days?

[Laguna]

How about Cupro-Nickel?
http://www.horsingaroundsaddlery.co.uk/cat--Cupro-Nickel-Bits--bits+-+cupro+nic.html
http://www.barnstormers.co.uk/acatalog/Barnstormers_CUPRO_NICKEL_BITS_63.html (these look better than the above)
I have seen them somewhere else but the name of who makes them specifically escapes me, I will try and remember it! :)