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How to choose bits for your young horse
Choosing a bit for a young, green horse can be challenging. Below, our Team Rider Sanna has written an insight into her way of thinking when the time comes for her to start a youngster under the saddle.
“The most important thing when starting a youngster under saddle and introducing the bit is to ensure the horse has a pleasurable experience. The horse will then grow to trust the bit and appreciate its presence without overcomplicating and over-facing matters.
The first bit on a young horse
John and Gustav are two bits that are ideal to start the process. They have a Sweet Iron coating which creates a sweet taste in the mouth, encouraging the horse to accept and trust the bit while learning to seek out the contact in the hand. The mouthpiece is a bit thinner and young horses are often very small in the mouth, so starting with a thicker bit can be too much for them. The smooth joints create even pressure in the mouth, ensuring that the horse feels comfortable.
I prefer the Full cheek sidepieces, Dee rings, and Baby Fulmer sidepieces, as they give a very stable mouthpiece and help with the steering and framing. These sidepieces push on the side of the face, giving a pressure similar to the halter, which can help the horse to understand left and right.
The reason why i prefer to begin the process with a jointed bit instead of a straight bit or lockup bit is because it allows the horse to find their own balance. If you start with a straight bit or a lockup bit, the horse can learn to find its balance in the hand, instead of finding their own natural balance.
These bits are ideal to give horses a great start and promote trust and acceptance of the bit very well. Once horses have been ridden and educated in these bits for a period of time, you may reach a point where you feel that you need something more from the bit.
If your young horse needs more stability
If you have a horse that requires more contact and stability, then Fager Martin or Anna are good choices. They feature a locking mechanism that creates a straight mouthpiece, making it even more stable for them to trust and feel secure.
The sweet taste encourages the horse to seek out the bit and take up the contact. Once they have found the contact, the bit will lock to give them more stability, helping the horse to maintain the contact for longer.
If your young horse can be strong and stiff
If you have a horse that can become strong, feel heavy, or have a delayed reaction to the reins, Julia and Sally can be helpful. They give a lighter feeling in the hand, provide clear signals when you take the reins, and help a horse who has a tendency to be heavy, stiff, or slow in the hand. Julia would be the first choice; however, if you need an even lighter feeling, Sally will give you this.
Giving the horse a fair start to their ridden life is important, as well as taking the time to ensure they understand your signals before you move to a stronger bit. A young horse who doesn’t understand what is being asked of them will be uncomfortable and possibly afraid, leading to miscommunication and being labeled as strong or stubborn. This is why it is absolutely crucial to the horse’s future wellbeing that they understand the aids and are comfortable before moving up to a stronger bit.”
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