which bit to start a horse on

[Susara]

This is still still a 'bit' in the future for my boy, but I've started wondering what people consider the best to start out with. I've been thinking a French link snaffle. Does one get them in both loose ring and egg butt? Which would you prefer? I've also heard people liking something with cheek pieces so you've got the pressure on the cheek to make signaling clearer for a young horse. Any opinions?

[chev]

Most of the ponies I've started have been either cobs or natives, who don't usually like single jointed bits much so the French link has been one of the first I try. I like full cheeks - they are very useful to help steer to start with, tend to keep the bit more stable in the mouth and also prevent it from being pulled through in an emergency. Not all horses like the pressure they put on the bars of the mouth though. I've also used bit guards (round rubber things that take about 3 days to get on) to help direct youngsters - they don't put the same pressure on that full cheeks do but still help prevent pinching, pulling the bit through and give a little extra help when it comes to turning.

Best bet is have a look in his mouth, choose a bit you think would suit to start with, and go from there. I like happy mouth bits for babies too - but some do chew them. Horses that don't like steel sometimes prefer sweet iron, or cyprium, or rubber, or vulcanite.... it's really a case of experimenting a bit once you have your starting point til you find one that's right.

[Loopslou]

i started Amber with a mouthing bradoon with keys and loads of minty toothpaste! I used to put it in and out all the time to get her used (your saddler can make you two leather straps to buckle the bradoon to your headcollar until you get your baby used to the bridle). I walked her for miles in this bit and then moved it onto the bridle and walked her for more miles! The keys on it makes them mouth more. At the moment I'm using a french link jointed eggbut with full cheeks and its great but have had her in happy mouth snaffle, french link without cheeks, happy mouth with cheeks - its trial and error and quite expensive although Amber had underlying mouth problems so hopefully you baby will be easier to cater for.

[jUmPingIsLifE]

I really like the french links- i tend to stay away from the loose rings as they can pinch the sides of the horses mouth, i like the D-Ring (thats what i have for tahoe). they are a bit like the full cheek the straight long D side will prevent you from pulling the bit through the horses mouth (maybe not as much as a full cheek) but i think it has a little more play in it then the full cheek. that is why it was suggested to me from my trainer at the time at least :)

[SmokeKandeeBar]

a D ring snaffle is what reccommend

[shandy84]

I started Bramble in a straight bar happymouth for walking in hand and as she got used to the feel of a bit changed it to one she couldn't eat through in this case a full cheek snaffle, I started Shandy in an egbutt FL but do check the mouth conformation as had I done this it might have saved Shandy some discomfort at first because she had too small a mouth for any bit at one point.

I personally wouldn't use anything loose ring on either of them without bit guards

[Loopslou]

I've never liked loose ring, don't know why, just never got the feel for them I suppose.

I had a straight bar happy mouth which Amber loved for being lunged and long reined in but hated once she was backed PLUS her trainer used her in a myler comfort snaffle and she despised it with a passion!

Trial and error I'm afraid and perhaps the good use of a bit bank!

[Aly]

Mullen mouth snaffle is one I have had positive experiences with.

Also the Boucher I love and so have some of my young horses. (hope i spelled it right).
Like someone else said though it is all trial and error. I have however have reservations about using french snaffles after hearing a few horror stories about bruising etc. As my instructor said, beware the equine anatomy when bitting and saddling.

Cheers! Aly