PeeWee Bit

JanC · #1 15th Jun 2007, 10:42 AM

Just got a pee wee bit on hire and tried it out immediately - fantastic! I normally hack out in a half-bosal but my young girl needs to develop her back (she's very much working on her fore) so I need to school her into a more collected shape. I hate the amount of contact I need to use to do this so decided to try the peewee. With hardly any contact and just some finger twitching she dropped her neck down and was beautifully collected in both walk and trot. She's only 6 and so I'm taking it slow to start. The reviews on this bit assure me that its a gentle, mild bit but makes the aids very clear. If things continue this well, I'll be buying it!

Rosie1994 · #2 16th Jun 2007, 09:04 PM

I've thought about getting one of these, the 'reviews' of them certainly sound promising. My mare can be very strong. I use a mullen mouth pelham at the moment with 2 reins, and she is OK, much lighter. I try to only keep a light contact on the curb rein and use it only when needed, but do like the sound of the Pee Wee.

dunrobin_topper · #3 12th Nov 2007, 07:54 PM

Ive just been on the hunt for a new bit for my (fairly strong) welsh cob x. We were doing pretty well in the rubber mouth pelham (double reins too!) just like you Rosie but i was finding that he just didnt seem too happy in it. We have been schooling twice a week over the summer and all was fine until he started to lean. I tried to correct it by giving instead of pulling back but i had no choice the other week when he realised his strength and started leaning to avoid the contact all together and pulled me to keep up on a hack in company! So im back to the drawing board! Do you think i could regain some control using the pee wee but still try and maintain a light contact and improve his way of going (not back on the forehand!! hopefully) My sponging on the reins technique isnt helping and i hate using lots of pressure when i know that he used to be much lighter! Oh the troubles!

Any info much appreciated!

#4 12th Nov 2007, 08:07 PM

Peewee ? Sounds fab but what is it, how does it work and what does it look like ?

HanGbbn · #5 12th Nov 2007, 08:56 PM

Mareish - Here's some info on the Pee Wee bit.
http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/pro...oducts_id=1577

They sometimes come up on eBay too.
I'm considering getting one on trial for my cob mare so very interested on any opinions on it or reviews.
Thanks

pineapple · #6 12th Nov 2007, 08:58 PM

are they dressage legal??? the only thing my little pony will soften in is a 3 ring gag but obviously cant compete in it.
seen it use on a horse when i went to get my new horse and was working well of what i saw....

Styric · #7 12th Nov 2007, 09:30 PM

Definitely not dressage legal

pineapple · #8 12th Nov 2007, 09:37 PM

damn should have guessed not really... they are kind of cheating. never mind

#9 13th Nov 2007, 09:08 AM

Wow, what a contraption.

Any pics of your horse in it?

Would love to have an update in a few weeks

JanC · #10 13th Nov 2007, 11:11 AM

Chris now collects herself with almost invisible aids. Tend to only use the peewee now and again now. I prefer to not use a bit and now work and hack in either a headcollar or a Dr Cook. I think she is just so much clearer about what I am asking her to do now - I raise my hands a fraction and touch her sides a tiny bit with my legs and she instantly starts to work in a fantastic outline. Last week in a fit of super chuffedness I schooled her without anything on her head and she did it then aswell!!!

What a clever girl - I'm not a great rider and I think that the pee wee helped me clear things up for her.

michelle c · #11 14th Nov 2007, 08:54 AM

is there any pics of it on a horse coz i cant seem to work out how it goes?!!!!

Trio · #12 3rd Dec 2007, 11:51 AM

just got one of these for my young un. he was resisting all other types of bit and as he was used to a western bit and the peewee looks similar thought i'd give it a go.
Fantastic, no head shaking and complete control without heavy aids. He seems really comfortable with it and i only have it on the lowest snaffle setting.
Will get some photos of it to check i'm using it correctly (if anyone knows?)

Vicki&Milo · #13 3rd Dec 2007, 12:33 PM

If anyone has got any pictures of this on a horse I too would be interested. Milo tends to head wave (its not really a shake, more a nose in the air and throw it around) in trot and seems to have no real concept of 'accepting' the bit (back and teeth all checked). He was always very easy going and easy to stop too, but now he's getting bigger and fitter I've loosing brakes, so this sounds like it might be a good idea.

Also, anyone know how the sizing works, he's only a little 'un

Trio · #14 3rd Dec 2007, 12:56 PM

there are only 2 sizes of bit and its a very thin bar- like a western bit- standard for ponies/horses up to 15.2 TB's (light breeds ) and then 15.2+ and heavier breeds (WB, ID etc).
i was a bit concerned about the sizing thing but it fits Arch perfectly. You can hire one from the saddlery shop place .

Vicki&Milo · #15 3rd Dec 2007, 01:00 PM

Can I ask a really dumb question, how do you know how much room your horse has in its mouth for a bit, I really don't fancy sticking my fingers in Milo's!

ETA have never used or seen a western bit, but am assuming this would work on a UK birdle, am I wrong?

Trio · #16 3rd Dec 2007, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Vicki&Milo

Can I ask a really dumb question, how do you know how much room your horse has in its mouth for a bit, I really don't fancy sticking my fingers in Milo's!

ETA have never used or seen a western bit, but am assuming this would work on a UK birdle, am I wrong?

You can see if you're horse has "room" in its mouth fairly easily (without losing your fingers) - depends on size of mouth, fleshyness, size of tongue and depth. Both of mine have fleshy mouths and not much room- so this is great for them as its tiny.

The peewee isnt a western bit as it doesnt have the curb action of one and works in a western or english bridle.

link for peewee
http://www.peeweebit.com/instructions-for-peewee.php

JULIA G · #17 3rd Dec 2007, 01:22 PM

My horse went very well in the Pee Wee considering he usually goes bitless. I only thought of getting one for XC/hunting eg as when his blood's up I don't think I'm going to be able to hold him in my bitless.

The only thing I don't like about them is how complicated they are/look. Took me ages to get it on him and if I actually bought one was wondering if I could have the curb strap and 2 bottom rings removed (as they didn't seem to be doing anything on the low setting which is all I would ever use) so its a much simpler, neater looking bit?

It's very thin and exceptionally lightweight, great for horses with small mouths and huge tongues (like mine)

Vicki&Milo · #18 3rd Dec 2007, 01:25 PM

So, if my pony doesnt have a particularly small mouth, and I use it on the top setting, would it serve any purpose over a loose ring straight bar?

Trio · #19 3rd Dec 2007, 01:52 PM

a simple loose ring snaffle will apply pressure on the back of the mouth but the peewee applies it on the lower jaw so has a downwards pull rather than backwards/upwards.
Depends on how your pony goes- i'm trying to retrain Archie as he was being trained for polo and has an upside down neck and runs around with his head as high as he can so the peewee works for him

Vicki&Milo · #20 3rd Dec 2007, 01:56 PM

That makes complete sense and I think would help a lot. Milo doesn't really do bending.