Hello, thank you for the article. 🙂 I`m looking for advice. I do dressage, horseback riding, show jumping and eventing with my mare. I rode her in a Pelham with jumps in each class, but as our training continued, she didn`t need it so much. Now it goes under the vertical, even if I only hold the bridle. I might be able to get away with a Dee ring in equestrian sports, but not in the jumping ring. Would you suggest I try a Kimberwick, for show jumping and horseback riding? It seems to be less serious than a pelham. I tried to put her in a sweater in a gag order, but she doesn`t seem to like it. Thank you for any advice you can give me. P.S.: Are ported bits allowed in all disciplines? I also have a problem with her opening her mouth, even with a little pressure. I was told to try a hackamore too. You are absolutely allowed to use a cheerful mouth bit in the hunter`s ring, as long as the cheek pieces are legal.
A full French link is also completely legal. The Baucher bit is a bit more complicated (no pun intended). As far as I know, it falls into the category of bridle, which is technically allowed, but it can be considered unconventional. If you really want to compete with one in the Jägerring, I would ask the commissioner who will be present at the horse show to confirm that it is legal, but be aware that the judge could always decide that it is unconventional. This is a difficult question to answer without seeing the horse in person. I have a horse that can`t carry a little on every ride unless combined with a hackamore because the corners of the mouth are so sensitive that the effect of the softest piece causes friction. Try to carefully inspect not only the outer surfaces, but also the inner surfaces of the mouth for friction or cuts. If you see occasional swelling, there may very well be a reaction to the bit or an unrelated problem that makes the bit worse. Have you tried ported bits? Perhaps this horse has a thick tongue and feels the need to relieve pressure on the tongue by opening its mouth.
Have you tried driving at different levels of contact to see if the mouth is still open or only open to a certain touch (indicating that the hands are too strong or the teeth are causing pain)? It can`t hurt to change the height of the dentition while it`s still in the range of not hitting the teeth if nothing works. Biter guards tend to prevent rubbing outside the mouth and probably won`t help much for anything else, as far as I know. I guess this horse is a hunter. If it`s a rider, you can also try a hackamore. Hi Jessica, chances are this will be considered unconventional by the judge. Not only does it look a little different, but they also have a reputation for being very strong pieces thanks to the increased sidewalk effect. You may or may not get away with it, depending on who you show. I was thinking of trying a French link belly because it salivates very well with a French link, and I thought maybe it was the imprint of the tongue. However, I hesitate because he does not like joints so far. He snuggles up to her and is distracted. But maybe it`s because none of the pieces were hung like a Kimberwick? Sprenger also wore bridles like this, which might be good, but they`re expensive too and I could only fund them in loose eggs and cheeks, which aren`t stylish with hunters but are completely legal.
www.bahrsaddlery.com/sprenger-kk-conrad-schooling-bit.html www.bahrsaddlery.com/sprenger-comfort-mouth-mullen.html The Shires ported d might be the best option if you don`t need the leverage of a Kimberwick or Pelham and that`s probably what I`d try next on this horse. Here`s a link to Bahr`s www.bahrsaddlery.com/blue-alloy-hunter-dee-with-medium-port.html and I think Spruce Meadows Tack Shop could offer them too, but you should email them or call them to ask as I don`t see them on their website. Can I work in a Myler crib? I`ve never seen anyone in it, so I don`t know if I`m allowed to do them or not, thank you. Your trainer would be the best place to give biting advice, as every horse is different and you may need to try different types to find something that works for you and your horse. Kimberwickes are not very popular pieces in the hunter`s ring (even if they are allowed in your association`s rules, their use is usually limited to short/beginner stirrup courses), so I would try to find a flange or tom-thumb pelham that would work instead. You can play with the mouth of the bridle, since the rules usually only concern the cheek and not the mouthpiece. Bernie`s Big Bag of Bits Bernie Sad Are you overwhelmed by the amount and variety of pieces that adorn the walls of seat shutters today? Would you like to have a small selection guideline that follows the classic principles, with the comfort of your horse at the forefront? If you answered yes to any of these questions, Bernie has compiled a list of his favorite items that will simplify and positively impact your bite decisions. As a clinician, Bernie travels across the country and abroad, literally lugging around a bag full of pieces. Aside from the extra baggage fees, he finds it invaluable to have his favorite pieces on hand in the ring. Time and time again, he has come to believe that experimentation is key, as long as you listen to the sometimes subtle, sometimes obvious, acceptance and/or rejection of your horse`s mouthpiece. Duration: 6 minutes and 46 seconds JME, but a lot of tough guys hate too many moving parts on their tracks. Too much is happening.
They get excited or throw their heads away and everything moves and rattles, which makes things move more. This includes things we think of as „soft,“ such as multi-piece mouthpieces, loose ring sides, or joint sides. Everything that moves. We think it`s sweeter, the horse hates it, annoys them, scares them sometimes. Think like a horse. Is it permissible to use a Boucher`s bite on hunters? Happy mouths? Play full French link? Thank you. Maybe a Pelham with a low port? My OTTB, which really wanted stability, appeared in a low port (not Myler Low Port, but a simple port) D-ring, but mine tends to hate a bit with leverage, so I`ve never tried it in a Pelham. Baucher is not considered a conventional piece for hunters. Hi Alaina, since there is no grip check at hunter/jumper shows, any mouthpiece is allowed as long as it is humane and the only restrictions are for unconventional cheeks/gags.
Since rings are just ordinary „Ds“, it`s definitely allowed, and I`ve shown both hunters and equestrian sports in one 🙂 The mouthpiece doesn`t matter as long as it`s human, so everything is fine.