[royalrox]

ok I'm at my wits end with my silly horse he is so finicky lol
Anyway see if you guys can think of anything for him

He has a fairly soft mouth

but every bit I've had him in he chomps like crazy, and before you say it it's not my hands, I have really soft hands and he does it with whomever is on him, he'll do it without any contact at all also

here's a list of bits I've tried so far, he's gone well in most of them but none have fixed the chomping and as you can imagine it doesn't help us at shows at all

-French link-D ring
-waterford-D ring
-hinged snaffle-O ring
-simple single joint snaffle(that's what he's in now)-full cheek
-slow twist ( I wanted to see if he would be worse with this and was not, so I'm thinking maybe it's tongue pressure?)
-double jointed snaffle with copper roller-o ring

and that's all...I do have access to a pretty big array of bits at the farm I trailer to for my lessons...

thanks for any ideas

[jumpthemoon]

Have you had Royal's teeth done recently?

Does your trainer have a KK Ultra's, any rubber mouth bits and some different Happy Mouth bits for you to try? Another thing is whenever possible I try to buy the 'pinchless' snaffle bits. http://www.equestriancollections.com/brands.asp?bc=234

[royalrox]

oh yea forgot to put that...he's all up to date on teeth just got done a few weeks ago, I'm sure I could find a KK Ultra up there somewhere, but also have you seen those new snaffle with the ball as the connector? I'll go try to find a pic but they look...interesting if anything lol

here's a pic

[royalrox]

oh and forgot to say that he hates rubber bits lol I think they are too thick for him...he has a tiny little mouth

[jumpthemoon]

Originally Posted by royalrox

oh yea forgot to put that...he's all up to date on teeth just got done a few weeks ago, I'm sure I could find a KK Ultra up there somewhere, but also have you seen those new snaffle with the ball as the connector? I'll go try to find a pic but they look...interesting if anything lol

I have only seen them pics. Yeah; those look interesting. I am wondering if they might pinch at the hinge things? See if you can try the KK bit or some different Happy Mouths. There is a Happy Mouth with a little covered roller like this:

http://www.adamshorsesupply.com/browse.cfm/4,4357.htm

Keven hates the rubber covered snaffle mouthpieces too but he really likes the hard mullen mouth pelham. He has a really short mouth (viewed from the side). It is not easy finding size 5 1/4" bits either.

[jumpthemoon]

Originally Posted by royalrox

oh yea forgot to put that...he's all up to date on teeth just got done a few weeks ago, I'm sure I could find a KK Ultra up there somewhere, but also have you seen those new snaffle with the ball as the connector? I'll go try to find a pic but they look...interesting if anything lol

here's a pic

Oh, no. I haven't seen that one I was thinking of something else.

[royalrox]

Originally Posted by jumpthemoon

I have only seen them pics. Yeah; those look interesting. I am wondering if they might pinch at the hinge things? See if you can try the KK bit or some different Happy Mouths. There is a Happy Mouth with a little covered roller like this:

http://www.adamshorsesupply.com/browse.cfm/4,4357.htm

Keven hates the rubber covered snaffle mouthpieces but likes the hard mullen mouth pelham. He has a really short mouth (viewed from the side). It is not easy finding size 5 1/4" bits either.

that's what I was thinking...and Royal's is very short too, he has a small head in general (wears a cob bridle lol) but his is narrow too...I five inch is big on him lol I'll see what I can find up there on Monday, they've got all kinds of pricey bits so we'll see thanks for your help

[nixalba]

Have you ever tried a mullen mouth? Sometimes when there's too much "play" in the bit, that's exactly what they do, play. You could also try sweet iron or copper mouthpiece. Or you could even try a ported bit, maybe he needs more room for his tongue? Although, if rubber covered bits are too big, a ported bit may not fit his mouth either.

But definitely have his teeth looked at. Try lateral work, also, to encourage him to stretch into the bit. (If you do this already, than awesome!) Shoulder-in on a 10 m circle is supposed to be really go at encouraging stretch.

[royalrox]

Originally Posted by nixalba

Have you ever tried a mullen mouth? Sometimes when there's too much "play" in the bit, that's exactly what they do, play. You could also try sweet iron or copper mouthpiece. Or you could even try a ported bit, maybe he needs more room for his tongue? Although, if rubber covered bits are too big, a ported bit may not fit his mouth either.

But definitely have his teeth looked at. Try lateral work, also, to encourage him to stretch into the bit. (If you do this already, than awesome!) Shoulder-in on a 10 m circle is supposed to be really go at encouraging stretch.

a low ported mullen louth is on my list to try lol and he reaches for it just fine that's the odd thing he goes perfectly in all of the ones I've tried just chomps while he does it lol its not even really an agitated thing, he'll be perfectly happy and just chomping away

[jumpthemoon]

Maybe this one:

http://www.adamshorsesupply.com/browse.cfm/4,4222.htm