Reptile & Amphibian Forums

I'm working with my new horse, and I'm totally stumped about what bit to use. She was in a twisted snaffle, but it's too harsh on her mouth, so I put her in a smooth snaffle, and it wasn't enough. I can't afford a bitless bridle, so thats not an option. I've never had a bit problem like this before. Any suggestions?????

I had the same problem for a little while with 3 of my horses. I thought this was pretty weird that the two piece snaffle wasn't enough control for them, but the harsh thing was too much. Oddly enough, I found the answer in something even milder. Try a 3 piece. The Happy Mouth (or something like that brand, you know, the bits with plastic around the metal on the mouthpieces) people make these. I have one of those, and then I have a thick one made with rounded smooth copper. All three of them have never responded better! I think the two piece snaffle was just so obnoxious and pinchy in their mouths that they refused to listen to it. One of them nearly broke my nose fighting it and throwing her head!

Your problem is to do with training, not equipment. Snaffles are NOT mild or gentle, but perhaps she braced against it because this is how she coped with the pain of the twisted bit. You don't need to buy an actual bitless bridle, there are a few options out there, including a rope halter.

You need to teach this horse to *yield* softly to pressure. Do this from the ground first, and make sure she understands to yield whatever part of her body you push on, so she'll have an idea about leg & seat aids, which you should use in preference to rein pressure as much as possible. Teach her to yield softly to the bit from the ground first too. Do it by starting with very gentle pressure, that *gradually* escalates if need be, to the point of mild discomfort. Don't hurt her or force her, but keep the pressure at this level until she responds to it, even in the smallest way. Then you instantly release the pressure & reward her.

As you don't go into detail about when, where, what she has problems with, I can only guess that it's when you're riding. Make certain there are no other painful or discomfort issues causing her grief, and that you're not inadvertantly unbalancing her, giving conflicting cues with your seat or body or otherwise causing her to have difficulty.