Introducing to the bit

[LittleRibbie]

What type do you use for the first time? Even prior to long lines. Im looking for something gentle where I can put the halter on over the bridle and just let her stand, be brushed and fussed over for a while and get used to having something in her mouth. Then move to long lines. Would I stay w/that bit or change to something else.

I've trained only 2 horses to drive yrs. ago but they were riding horses 1st so this would be the 1st time starting from scratch. The horse I have in mind is plenty old enough but I would not be actually driving her until next yr. so this would be plenty of time for lots of good ground work. Thanks for any help, Heidi

 

[~Lisa~]

Everyone has bits they prefer and every horse prefers one over the other well most not every some do not care

I prefer a french link it is my bit of choice. I have a mullen bit and I HATE IT I am going to give it to a friend who LOVES them.. so no one answer but I think a good quality (and that is a true key with mini bits) plain snaffle or french link is a good start

 

[LittleRibbie]

Thank you Lisa. I did plan on getting a better quality but just wasnt sure which one would give my mare a comfortable 1st experience. If I have to change later once she's actually driving that would be fine. May I also ask how long you would leave it in her mouth the first week or two. Would 5 min. a couple times a day to start be too long. Or do you leave it in untill she is standing comfortably..not fussing or trying to chew it then release it as her reward.

 

[Marsha Cassada]

The copper french link might be a good choice. They like the copper, and the french link is gentler than the broken snaffle.

Mine also likes his new myler comfort snaffle. It has a little roller piece in the middle, and little copper inserts.

I would leave it on for half an hour or so. Do some brushing, then let her wander around with it on.

 

[LittleRibbie]

Thank you Marsha, I like the sound of the myler comfort...Im assuming just to wander around in the stall

 

[Taylor Jo]

Thanks for a good thread. I'm putting my mare who is 3 in driving training in Oct hopefully and hope she takes to it. The trainer said we'll see if she does like it and it's her "thing." My only concern is IF she's got a fast enough trot I'm not sure and truly if she'd like it and has the heart for it. But back to bits. I've been contemplating about what kind of bit to get her cause she would just be starting out too. BUT a couple months ago someone suggested I put my driving horse horse who was having trouble w/ his bit into a myler comfort snaffle. BEST decision I EVER made. So I have decided after reading this post I'll also get her the myler comfort bit and if it doesn't work out she doesn't like to drive I'll just sell it on LB. So thanks for asking the question it helped me a lot. TJ

 

[disneyhorse]

I start all of mine in an eggbutt snaffle and go from there.

Some need a french link and some a mullen mouth, but you won't know until any pressure is applied.

I have read an article which stated that horses preferred a smaller (narrower) mouthpiece and a loose-ring on the snaffle, to encourage them to play with it.

I don't know... just use a gentle bit and make sure you really watch the horse for any signs of displeasure.

Andrea

 

[Minimor]

I would not start with a copper mouthpiece--reason being a copper mouthpiece is very soft, and will get chewed up badly. I don't use an all copper mouthpiece until the horse is used to the bit & doesn't chew at it (at least not very much), then I will switch if I think the horse will prefer it.

I just start them in a plain jointed snaffle--usually a half cheek, since that's what I mostly have. I let them wear it for 15 minutes or so while they're just standing around; after a few days of that they've usually quit chewing at it and are ready to wear the bit while being worked on the longe line. Then I start long lining them with the bit (ideally I will have long lined them off the halter a couple times, that way they know how to walk forward, turn and stop, so the progression to doing this with a bit instead of the halter is a small step.) At this point I get some idea if the horse will go okay in the jointed snaffle (and a number of mine do) or if I need to try something different.

 

[LittleRibbie]

Lots to consider. Good point with the "softness" of copper. Thanks for reminding me about long lines w/only the halter. I thought I read somewhere that you should not do it.,,,but I dont remember why. I never understood it. I was going to ask about it but you already answered ??. Thanks, heidi

 

[christina_ski]

I was fixen to ask this same question. I just started driving my new gelding with a mullen bit, first time I have started one with it. He is very sensitive to pressure, he is getting better overtime but is still very sensitive and tosses his head if the pressure increases more then very slighty. He teeth were done very recently so I know its not that. And he is reluctant to turn, backs just fine tho.

Any suggestions on him?

Oh and on your post, in the past my gelding (not the one mentioned above) was driven in a copper broken snaffle, which is what he was started in, but it got to the point where he would chew them to shreds, to where they would cut the tounge and be useless. I switched him to a mullen bit, and he continued to chew and became overly sensitve to it. I switched him to a Kelly Bit, a really heavy broken snaffle. And he is back to his old self. He needed a thick bit, just need to find out what that horse prefers. But from experience until you know what they like stay away from copper. Once its chewed up its darn near useless.

Christina

 

[Minimor]

We used to long line our Morgans in a longe cavesson--one of the nylon ones with the rings on the sides of the noseband (leather one just had one ring, in the middle of the noseband, so it didn't work)--they gave pretty good control. I don't have a mini cavesson so just use the halter I use to longe with--a close fitting halter that won't turn on their face & dig into the eye. I see no reason not to long line with this. I think some people won't do it this way because of the lack of control you have with a halter.

A halter doesn't give the control a bit does, though some horses do okay with it. Others get too strong & bullish & will just run right through a halter, and if that happens you're doing more harm than good by letting them learn they can set their noses and take off on you. I only use a halter to long line in an enclosed area, and only enough to teach the horse the basics of walking on, stopping & turning with me behind. If I have a helper then I often skip the halter step & just start with the bit--though in that case my helper leads the horse & keeps him under control until he understands just what is expected of him & learns to accept the cues from the bit.

 

[love_casper]

Horses do tend to prefer the taste of copper, but since it is so soft - as others have said - I have found that my preference is a bit that has just enough copper to taste like it, but not entirely made of it. I drive my mare (that I trained myself

) in a french link snaffle, and just the middle link is copper. I LOVE it, and so does she. I had originally started her in a thicker single jointed o-ring snaffle, and there was a lot of gaping and pulling going on. This is the bit I drive her in: Click Here. This is where to get it: http://www.iowavalleycarriage.com/bits.php it's down near the bottom, actually this place has a lot of good bits.

The bit I ride my big horse in has copper inlays, she goes well in it. I tried a bit that was fully copper on a green horse I was re-starting - never doing that again!!!!!!! I liked it because it was gentle and it tastes good. What I forgot was a horse that is new to bits doesn't know that the bit is intended to stay in the mouth. Anything else they'd ever had in the middle of their mouth resting on their tongue has either gotten chewed up and swallowed or spit out - so of course they are going to try to do both. Within 5 rides my "gentle" mouthpiece was about as nice as a twisted wire.

 

[LittleRibbie]

Thanks for all the good ideas. I just hope driving will be her thing!! Thank you for the good carriage site...lots of nice bits to choose from, Heidi

 

[Minimor]

Watch out for bits that have bulges on the bars of the mouthpiece. Some people apparently don't care about these bulges, but in reality they are a sign of a poorly made Mini bit. A bit with these bulges will concentrate the pressure of the bit on two little spots in the horse's mouth--the two little spots that are under those bulges!! Personally that is not what I want to use on one of my horses, so I am very careful about buying.

Often you can tell by looking at photos on the sellers' websites that their bits have these bulges--just look closely!--sometimes it can be harder to tell, so I always ask before I buy.

 

[shorthorsemom]

My trainer had me wrap the bit with latex wrap so the copper wouldn't get chewed until they were used to it. I placed the latex on the place on the bit where it would hit the bars of the mouth, and kept it back from the corners of the mouth and it was not wrapped in the middle over the tongue of couse. The latex protects the bit until they get used to it and is soft on the mouth. Replace the latex if it gets worn at all even if you have to redo it every time. The latex wrap was cheap. My guys love the bit now. This stuff is sold in tack stores and it really sticks nicely to itself.

best wishes.

 

[LittleRibbie]

Will check the latex on State Line. Is it made for bits...do you recall a name. Thanks...that may or may not save me from buying another bit. Thanks for the sdvice on " bulging bits " that would be annoying...like having a darn rock stuck in your shoe, Thanks again

 

[shorthorsemom]

Will check the latex on State Line. Is it made for bits...do you recall a name. Thanks...that may or may not save me from buying another bit. Thanks for the sdvice on " bulging bits " that would be annoying...like having a darn rock stuck in your shoe, Thanks again

Yes it is made for bits, it comes in a roll, green box. You stretch it wrap it around and it sticks like glue to itself. I usually have to cut it off. For safety sake I replace it when it starts getting tears or chew marks in it. It does leave a sticky goo on the bit if you leave it on too long but it does scrub off. My trainer puts her bits in the dishwasher to clean them but that kind of grossed me out, so I just scrub my by hand.. My trainer was picky as to where I lined mine up. Don't let it extend to the outside of the bit, she didn't want it in the corner of their mouths and wanted the tongue to feel the bit, just lined up like little soft rollers that line up with the bars. If I can find a link for it I will add it to the post.

 

[shorthorsemom]

Found it.... http://www.showstoppertack.com/Display.asp?ID=890

if the link doesn't work google latex bit wrap and it will come up.

 

[LittleRibbie]

That was so nice of you for taking the time to post the link. Many many Thank yous!!