Bits to prevent overbending

[Laura+Phantom]

I read in this month's Horse & Rider magazine (the bit article) that the best bit for a horse who evades the bit by tucking his head into his chest is a mullen mouth snaffle, KK Correction bit, or KK schooling bit, which are on this site:
http://www.linkwoodec.co.uk/en-us/dept_16.html

Just wondering what people's opinions are on this as Phantom seriously overbends when I try and school him, particularly on circles, and I have quite a light contact. I've tried riding him up to the bridle but he can be a bit of a prat and doesn't really listen when we're flat schooling. He's not strong and has a mouth like butter, he's currently ridden in a loose ring french link happy mouth snaffle. What about a nathe loose ring straight bar?

[Tangle]

Does he overbend with everyone that rides him? Not saying you haven't got light hands, but it's always worth a double check just in case....

How much room has he got in his mouth? Nylon bits tend to be quite large - if he's got a big tongue then it may not be so kind as a smaller metal bit. I can't remember what I was reading (might have been the same article) that suggested they can also be quite a rough texture to the horse. Could be worth considering.

How long have you had him, and do you know what happened with previous owners? We try very hard to have a light contact with our mare, but she was previously ridden with and EXTREMELY heavy rein :(. If we take up a "normal" light contact she'll either lean or tuck behind the bit. We've done quite a lot of work with next to no contact (over around 18 months), just to try and make her believe that we're not going to do that and she can take up the contact nicely - it's still an uphill battle....

I guess the other sanity check is have his teeth been checked? The dentist could give you a pretty good handle on his mouth conformation....

The KK-Ultra bits are made of an alloy called Aurigan, which most horses do seem extremely happy with. Could be worth seeing if you're local saddler would let you try one for a day or two. I'm sure there's an online store that will let you try for a week for £2 to £5 (? depending on bit price) but I now can't find the link. I'll see if I can track it down later.

As an immediate test, have you tried riding him with the reins on the headcollar? He sounds pretty safe, at least in the school, so would be interesting to see if he does the same thing.

Are you working with an instructor to try and resolve the "not listening" part? It's possible that everything's fine, but he doesn't want to listen and has twigged that he can get away with it more easily by going overbent - if that's the problem then changing the bit is unlikely to solve the problem.

Good luck :)

[Wally]

In the driving world a Swales bit is used for that job.

[Laura+Phantom]

Tangle - I don't let anyone ride him unless I trust them, and those I do don't want to ride him! He's not got a lot of room in his mouth, but his bit is thinner than a standard eggbutt, and double jointed (he hates single joints). He's got a big tongue and low palate, he overbends with metal bits too, which is why I went 'softer' and got a happy mouth.

I'm the only rider he's ever had, as i've had him since he was a yearling. (He's nearly 11).He doesn't do it hacking, only when asked to bend eg on a circle. I think he's worse on the right rein, yet he's stiffer on the left rein.

Dentist is booked in, I value my life so no riding in a headcollar! He's a bit 'high spirited' at times shall we say ;) I'm sure he wouldn't overbend in a headcollar, though he will with his bridle on even when my reins are like washing lines...it's quite frustrating riding a headless horse!

We really need to get some lessons booked but strapped for cash at the moment, schooling at home is my only option at the moment.

[galadriel]

If he's really sensitive to motion of the bit, then a mullen or other unjointed bit, with something like eggbutt or D-rings (just not loose ring) might be really nice for him.

But the best bit for a horse who overbends is the one that he stops overbending in ;)

Something you can try is to maintain whatever contact you want to use, but lift your hands straight up. This makes it difficult to just bend the neck and evade the subtleties of the reins (although it is of course more difficult to be subtle while you're breaking the elbow-hand-mouth line). If he's simply doing what he *thinks* you want him to do (and sometimes they are), then getting him out of the overbend consistently may help him to see what it is that you do want.

[Laura+Phantom]

Thanks Galadriel, I might try out a few bits at the 'bit library' at the local tack shop before it closes down, and see what he prefers :)

[jenren!!]

Knowing the cause of the problem will help you find a solution. The main causes for a hrse going behind the bit are:

1. He doesnt want you to have control.
2. The bars in his mouth are narrow or have very little flesh on them which makes the bit hurt.
3. He has previously been ridden with harsh hands and/or a harsh bit.
4. He has been ridden in tight running reins.
5. He has a tush tooth or mouth ulcers or sores.
6. He has a weak neck or back and isnt strong enough to lift his head high enough to take a good contact with the bit.

4 and 5 ill elinimate, as you are getting him checked, and hopefully you have never used tight running reins :).

Which do you think the cause is?

Jenny

[jowyles]

Just a thought but he isnt putting his tongue over the bit is he? Dexter does it sometimes to avade schooling work, he manages to get it over his mullen pelham god knows how and then suddenly becomes very overbent and tucked up. I didnt even know that it was this he was doing until I was at a show and he did it and the judge caught it. He hasnt done it for a while but mainly does it when I ask him to work hard and bend etc, just a thought tho probably not what phantom is doing!