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Re: [RC] Bitting, shallow mouth - Chris PausHi Deby,? My sweet gray gelding, Zabbie, also has a shallow mouth. My goodness what horses teach us! I was for years in the camp of "if you can't ride in a snaffle, then something's wrong with the rider." Zabbie taught me about horse mouths and shapes and bit comfort. He turned what I thought to be true upside down. This mild mannered horse was a maniac with a snaffle bit. I tried a dozen different snaffle styles on him and he hated them all. Became quite agitated. had his teeth checked by an equine dentist. Did chiro work, etc. One day I was shopping at an equestrian expo and was looking for a curb bit with shanks for showing in western classes. The vendor steered me to this bit: http://www.metalab.info/pinchless_jointed.htm the rafter mouth one. I was skeptical, but took it home and tried it on Zab. I was amazed. His head dropped. The agitation stopped. We had our first truly pleasant ride. Zabbie was an awesome horse! Now, I've switched him over to a low ported kimberwicke. I don't use either of these bits because I need more whoa. I have ridden this horse for 5 miles with just a halter and lead rope for steering. I use them because the shape of them fits his mouth. Traditional snaffles seem to be far too busy in his mouth. He hates them. If I want to turn him into a lunatic, I can simply put an ordinary snaffle on him. It blew my mind and made me rethink what I thought I knew about bits and bitting! Long story to tell you to try something other than a traditional snaffle. Try a mullen mouth, or low ported bit. Patrade makes some good bits that work similarly to Mylers at about half the cost. Good luck! chris Deblyons54@xxxxxxx wrote:I have a mare with a shallow mouth. She can get her tongue over most shanked bits. A regular snaffle is not quite enough on the trail. I was wondering about the Myler bits but wasn't too crazy about spending over $100 on a bit. Suggestions please. ===== "A good horse makes short miles," George Eliot Chris and Star BayRab Acres http://pages.prodigy.net/paus ============================================================ If you treat an Arab like a Thoroughbred, it will behave like a Quarter horse. ~ Libby Llop ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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