bit for horse without much room? What is a Bradoon?

[Stella2]

I'm still trying to find the right bit for Flora. It seems her violent head-tossing was caused by a fearce dislike of a lozenge (I had her in a Sprenger KK ultra), she is better in the Demi- Anky (Heather Hyde - Bit Bank - own make), its a single joint which she seems to prefer to a lozenge of any kind (also tried a plain french link as the mouthpiece was finer than the KK, and she hated that to). The Demi-Anky has a bend to protect from the nut-cracker action, but the mouthpiece is still fairly thick (thinnest is 16mm) and she still tosses her head a bit. I tried the 02 Myler snaffle yesterday. She seemed to really like it, but today when she had more opportunity to explore it again, she decided it was horrible! Well it does have a roller in the middle - how could I?!

I keep coming across loose ring dressage Bradoons - single joint, nice and slim, but I don't know what they are intended for. I suspect they are used with a double bridle. Can they be used with a single bridle as a snaffle? How have people found them? And are ther any other suggestions?

Good job she's gorgeous :)

[Yann]

They are intended to be the snaffle part of a double, but I've seen them used by themselves with ponies with small mouths for example. You can but try and see if she likes it better, it's worth bearing in mind that thinner usually equals more severe.

[galadriel]

Tootsie has been (don't know if she still does) using a bridoon snaffle on her Morgan for his tiny mouth. Yes, it's intended to be used with a double, but if your horse's mouth shape warrants it, then go for it. Just take into account what Yann said about potential for severity.

[AJB]

are you sure her head tossing is the bit??? if shes young and green and lacking in muscle tone she may be finding work really hard and just plain backing off the contact....???How does she do on the lunge in a bridle??? just a thought really...I would think a bridoon would be too small for her ID mouth and maybe way too severe...what about a plain eggbutt?

[Stella2]

Mmmm ... I think it may be too severe, she doesn't need a strong bit.

AJB - by a process of elimination I've discovered it is the bit. She hates anything with a lozenge. She prefers a single joint (go figure!) and she liked the JP single joint she was in when I tried her, but she is really a 5 3/4 and they can only be bought in 5 1/2 or 6. When I tried her it was snug but not going to cause a problem for what she was being asked to do (mostly hacking straight lines). If I can find a JP snaffle in 5 3/4, I'll settle with that :)

[Stella2]

Actually, thinking about it, the JP she was tried in, although snug, was probably okay because it was an eggbutt. I've been looking for a loose ring! I'm not keen on the 5 1/2 for her, but the 6 would have the bit moving through her mouth. I think in the end we'll end up in the JP 5 1/2 eggbutt.

Second best is the Demi- Anky single joint loose ring, which she preferes to any other (other than the JP). I've borrowed it from a friend for now, its a 5 3/4 and a lovely fit, but still she's not totally happy.

[galadriel]

Originally posted by Stella2
Mmmm ... I think it may be too severe, she doesn't need a strong bit.

It wouldn't necessarily be strong. There's nothing wrong with using a thin bit, when that's what makes your horse's mouth happy. You're not trying to up the severity of the bit for more "control," you're trying to find something which will fit your horse and be comfortable for her.

You just have to be aware that when it is thinner, it may concentrate pressure a little more; doesn't mean don't use it, just means keep it in mind and be sure that your contact is appropriate.

[Lgd]

If they don't have a lot of mouth room a thicker bit is far more unpleasant than a thinner bit.

The dressage bridoon snaffles tend to be thinner because they are designed to go with a weymouth bit, hence they are useful in horses who don't like the heavier bits.

Given her dislike of the french link designs I would certainly consider trying a single link hanging cheek snaffle as that will take the bit away from her tongue and bars. It is actually quite a mild bit and has only a tiny bit of poll pressure. I do have one at home but I think it is only a 5". I will have a hunt for it tonight and measure it in case it is a 5½" in which case you can try it if you wish

[AJB]

Lgd a hanging cheek was going to be my next suggestion!!!...Stella did she head shake for the vetting???? just wondered how long this has been happening...could be a bit of a habit as well....I would still pop her ont eh lunge and see if its the contact shes not happy with, afterall shes still young and green;)

[Tootsie4U]

A regular snaffle is too thick for my horse. He tells me so.

He loves his bridoon snaffle.

I dont necessarily have the kindest of hands, but he prefers his bridoon to the other bit I use on him- a regular french link snaffle which is technically MUCH MUCH milder than the thin bridoon.

Borrow one to try it on your horse and see what she has to say. Thats the best test. Don't write it off just because someone says its supposed to be "severe". You're horse will tell you.

[Monty]

I use a dressage bradoon on Willow. She loves it. Not only does she have a small mouth, but also as she's a small (14.2hh) TB, and she has that TB shaped muzzle, sort of graduated down, that the rings on an ordinary snaffle bit, or eggbutt look really ridiculous on her...comical even.
She looks great ina dressage bradoon on a single snaffle bridle.Looks better with a noseband than without, but flash makes no difference.See if I can find a picture of her in it, so you see what I mean: It's not mega thin either, and Willow doesn't need a severe bit:

[Stella2]

thanks very much, thats all really helpful :)

She does do it on the lunge, though not as much, but then I'd expect a dislike of a bit to be a greater issue with more contact.

I tried her in a straightforward eggbutt single joint nut-cracker (LGD it was actually Isa's she didn't like anything with a link either!). She went the best it it with only the mildest toss when she was being asked to do something she found difficult (not the same type of violent toss and I don't think it really counted).

Essentially, she seems to have clearly told me that I've tried to be too posh (she didn't like the £185 elevator bridle that I thought she's enjoy either!) - just a straightforward irish lass with a big tongue it seems!

I have a sense that I'm on to a winner, but that seemed to be the case with the Myler until the 2nd day!

[galadriel]

Have you tried a mullen?

[Stella2]

She has a tendancy to lean heavily - although is improving dramatically. I had thought the Mullen might encourage leaning. Anyway since she seems to like the single joint with a thinner mouthpiece (I haven't needed to go as thin as a bradoon), I'm going to take an "if it ain't broke, don't fix it approach"!

A friend is at Rideaway today, so she is going to pick me up a JP single joint - which removes the nutcracker action and has a relatively thin mouthpiece. I think we'll be in business then - fingers crossed :)