which snaffle bit is best for a strong horse?

Question

i have a horse of 17'2 irish draft x thouroughbred who i want to compete in dresseage. currently he is ridden in a dutch gag either on the snaffle ring or the first gag ring. he is not particuly strong and is very light in the mouth but sometimes he gets abit excited. the gag has a small piece in the middle joining the gag in the center. so i am wondering which snaffle bit to put him in as i want enough control with with him but do not know which one is best to use because he is so large and powerful but i need to have a snaffle inorder to compete on him. can anyone suggest anything?

Answer 1

A couple months before I show dressage I switch my horses over to a very very easy bit. A nice fat snaffle usually. You should get your dressage horse to listen to you with the softest of bits. Get your horse listening to the fat bit and than when you get to the show you can put a thinner snaffle on your bridle. After a couple of months with the fat bit, the regular snaffle should have more impact on him.

It shouldn't matter what bit you have in their mouth that much anyway - in dressage you are supposed to be riding with your legs and seat more than with your hands. I would suggest a fat french link with the copper inlay for the schooling before the show and a thinner - maybe a 10 or 11 mm french for the show.

NO TWISTS!! Dressage riders aren't supposed to rely on a harsh bit to control their horses! Softening his mouth up before the show should be enough. No twists.

Good Luck!

Answer 2

Well to start you off you must compete in dressage with a smooth mouthed snaffle. Which means you can use a single jointed snaffle, or a french or Dr. bristol. Some people believe that a loose ring snaffle may pinch thier horses mouths, but I've used one for a while and never had a problem. The french link is the softest of them all, with the Dr. bristol coming in around the same as the single jointed snaffle. think of how they are built. The french link will follow the horses natrual curve in the mouth, where a Dr. bristol has the flattened piece that creates pressure at the roof of the mouth, but again follows the curve a little better than the single joint. The single joint, when used from both sides will essentially hit the horses roof of thier mouth. I prefer the double jointed bits, so you may want to try the Dr. Bristol. But you cannot use a curb of any kind. Myler bits are a completely different field. One place you could look for more info on what bits are legal is the USET website. Hope that helps and good luck to you!

Answer 3

I can not really answer this. I just use a regular D-Ring Snaffle and it have Copper Rollers, if I use a bit at all.
Here a link and the top similar to what we use;
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_search_results.html
I do use a Steel, Copper or Both Bit, my Training Snaffle have steel/sweet iron inside copper rollers, as it seem to keep the mouth wet and workable. I guess I have never has just a plain Stainless Steel, but, they sell them, so, I know people use them.
This link is not my Training Snaffle but, similar. You can see the cross section would be Sweet Iron inside Copper Rollers.
http://www.valleyvet.com/ct_detail.html?pgguid=30e07585-7b6a-11d5-a192-00b0d0204ae5

Answer 4

I don't know a lot about dressage and the rules about what types of bits you are allowed to use, but I have a few suggestions...

A french link

An elevator paired with a bridoon (double bridle)

A snaffle with a copper roller

Try to stay away from gags; they are usually frowned upon.

Answer 5

Well, I would suggest a nice slow twist snaffle with a D-Ring. This should provide you with enough control and still allow your horse to be light in the mouth. You don't want to overdo things and force him to bend passed the pole, because especially in Dressage, you want him to be forward and on the bridle. Good luck.

Answer 6

Try a slow twisted D, double twisted loose-ring, corkscrew D or loose, a low port correctional D, or a Waterford. But, try a smooth dog-bone or the like first to see how he response, you might be surprised. If you need more though, try a few different ones to see which one he prefers.

Answer 7

I am going to clear up somthing. Its not the bit that controls the horse its the rider. If you can't contol him with a mild bit he needs more training.

Answer 8

i would say start working him in a kimberwick, that will give you more control over his head and when he gets excited. the rein in the top hole = less control, 2nd gives more, or 2 reins one in each alot of control. i use it on one of my Arabians to help her train at home, then i put her in an egg-butt snaffle for show, but as far as i know you can show in a kimberwick