Bitting Q&A

We thought you may like to hear about a recent bitting issue that Lucy Nicholas helped a customer of The Saddlery Shop with.

Question -

Dear Lucy Nicholas

"I am desperate to find an answer to my young horse’s bitting problems. He is a 15.2hh Warmblood x pony rising 5yrs.I have owned him since a foal and he is a big, confident character who does like to be in charge of situations. His main problem is taking any sort of pressure; he is happy to hack out, though does on occasion get his tongue over the bit, even on the quietest walk. His teeth have been checked regularly.”

This is a difficult problem and horses that put their tongue out cannot always be cured - even in a bitless bridle, the tension caused by just being ridden can be enough for it to manifest itself! 

There are two ways to go, in my mind as The Saddlery Shop’s resident bitting expert. You could try a high ported bit to physically help prevent him doing it, or try to find a solution (with a bit or a bitless bridle) that he feels happy and confident with. The problem is of course that he may not feel happy in anything, and if you try to prevent him doing it by using a high ported bit or something else with the same principles, it could cause more problems, as you have found. 

My ‘first port of call’ suggestion for this and other horses that put their tongue over the bit would be to try the Myler short shank combination bit (3304) which has a low ported, comfort snaffle mouthpiece - this is the most popular Myler combination bit that we retail at www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk . 

The 3304 uses the comfort snaffle mouthpiece, which acts on the tongue and corners of the bars of the mouth, gently wrapping the lips, but the port gives more tongue relief when the bit is not engaged by the rider. The combination bits can be useful to school horses in when they are normally ridden in a double bridle, as it encourages self carriage and natural lightness.

Bit hire is of course a good way to try out new bits and The Saddlery Shop is happy to offer this service.

 

Dental checks by an equine dental technician or vet are recommended at least once a year. For articles and info on equestrian matters, please visit www.pegasus-magazine.co.uk . This is the website of the UK’s Pegasus Magazine - the major source of information for the large majority of equestrian enthusiasts across the South East of England and the Home Counties. Visit http://pegasus-magazine.co.uk/magazine to find out how to access the printed version, of which 25,000 copies per month are read. The site also features articles.

Do you dare to bare?

How lovely it was to see Pippa Hutton’s ride Belmondo in Horse & Hound magazine recently - this is an elite dressage horse that is managed barefoot. The gelding, co-owned by Talland’s renowned dressage guru (and Pippa’s mother) Pammy Hutton, allowed Pippa to finish as the best placed Brit in the recent Under 25s team test at the European Championships. “He’s my knight in shining armour and probably the first Grand Prix [dressage] Grand Prix horse,” Pippa told H&H.

Although that accolade probably lies with American Shannon Peters’ ride, ‘Flor de Selva’, Belmondo is certainly the highest profile British barefoot horse we can think of currently in the mainstream riding disciplines, and it makes us very happy to see such an influential dressage family embracing barefoot.

At The Saddlery Shop we are advocates of barefoot horsecare, yet we do realise that it isn’t for everyone - the question of whether all horses can go bare is a hotly-contested subject amongst hoof care professionals, and one answer that we frequently hear is that: “every horse can go barefoot, but not every owner can!” The reasons for this argument are that shoes are a convenience for the owner that allow the hooves to be maintained in such a way that little needs to be done by the owner to keep the horse sound enough to work on most surfaces.

Barefoot management however requires that hooves are kept in prime condition, and some horses will be harder to maintain in a barefoot regime that others, depending on their background. Transitioning horses with less than ideal hooves may be a job that requires time, patience and a little investment, at least in the beginning, and in all cases, the management of a barefoot horse may not suit the owner’s requirements for practices that are predominantly chosen for convenience (such as stabling).

With the advent of modern hoof boots to prevent wear, the need to shoe is even further in question. Check out our wide range! The Saddlery Shop stocks hoof boots from all of the main brands, such as Easycare, Cavallo, Equine Fusion, Renegades and Floating Hoof Boots. If you are unsure what model of hoof boot will suit your horse or pony, ask your hoofcare practitioner for advice, or chat to a retailer. Hoof boot hire is available at www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk. The book, The Barefoot Horse - an Introductory Guide to Barefoot & Booting, is also available here.

We love sharing our expertise - to see a range of horsey articles, videos and reviews concerning lots of other equestrian and countryside matters, visit http:www.horseandcountryside.com  

Treating horses with bites

• For a one-off bite, apply an ice pack, or bathe with cool, salt water. (You can purchase re-usable gel packs that remain flexible when frozen.)
• For multiple fly bites, a mild horse shampoo can cool the inflamed skin and will help to remove irritating scurf and bacteria.
• As they are alkaline, a sting from a wasp (pictured) should be bathed with a dilute acid, such as vinegar or lemon juice. Bee stings, however, are acidic and should ideally be bathed with bicarbonate of soda.
• Try to prevent the horse making the affected area worse by rubbing. A soothing topical antiseptic cream may help.
• It is rare for a bite to turn septic; if the area is open and weeping, bathe with a medicated product. If this does not help, consult your vet, in case the bite needs further attention.
• Keep a ‘fly kit’ at the yard with the above products and ingredients, plus a bowl and some saline solution and cotton wool, ready for when it is needed.
  

Preventative measures to prevent fly bites

• Consider physical barriers, such as anti-midge fly masks and rugs - they’re usually made from a strong mesh material.
  
• Apply a high-quality, long-lasting fly spray.

• Spray clean stables with a disinfectant, to maintain a clean environment.

• Try to eliminate puddles and ponds of still water where midges might breed.
  
• Keep horses stabled when the flies are bad.

Consider a fly repellent collar

Insect repellent collars are my favourite form of fly-bite prevention. They’re a very easy and effective way to give your horse constant and total protection from flying insects. The insect repellent collar contains a blend of natural ingredients to protect the horse or pony against most parasites such as flies, mosquitoes, horse flies and midges. The collars are effective for three to four weeks, depending on climatic conditions. Once the active ingredient reaches the surface of the collar, it then migrates across the horse or pony to give total coverage. I find them to be about 80-90% effective - the same as an expensive fly repellent. My horses have them on 24/7 with no rubs or problems and I ride and do everything as normal with them on.

Visit our main page www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk to browse our summer range.For articles and info on equestrian matters, please visit http://www.pegasus-magazine.co.uk . This is the website of the UK’s Pegasus Magazine - the major source of information for the large majority of equestrian enthusiasts across the South East of England and the Home Counties. Visit http://pegasus-magazine.co.uk/magazine to find out how to access the printed version, of which 25,000 copies per month are read. The site also features articles.

XC brakes

The eventing season is in full swing, so here I showcase my favourite bits for riding across country, available at the main site, http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk :

Ringed Continental

This bit – also known as the Dutch Gag or Bubble Gag - is available with three or four cheek rings, in most of the commonly seen mouthpieces, and in several materials. (The French Link is pictured above). It us often chosen by riders of horses that can be heavy in the hand, as it emulates the effect of draw reins; a ringed continental bit is best described as a cross between a traditional gag and a Pelham. They aim to help to keep the horse between hand and leg.

Waterford

The Waterford is a type of mouthpiece consisting of a series of balls across the main part of the bit, designed to encourage the horse to ‘mouth’ the bit and encourage better perception of the rider's aids. It is recommended by many riders whose horses are sensitive, yet strong, and hang on the bit or go on the forehand; because the mouthpiece of the Waterford becomes uncomfortable when a horse pulls, the animal will not usually lean on it, or take a strong hold. It is available with several cheek piece styles, including a hanging cheek, pictured above. It is also popular as a Nelson Gag (with full cheeks), Balding Gag (with loose ring cheeks), Cheltenham Gag (with eggbutt cheeks) and as a Ringed Continental (see below).

Three Ringed Continental Waterford

There is a combination of the above two bit types called the three Ring Continental Waterford which is a popular bit for XC riding, as it offers a good level of control. The mouthpiece of the Waterford lays across the horse's tongue, creating an even pressure. This combination creates a very nice bit, providing the rider has sympathetic hands! See above pic.

Jointed Kimblewick

 

The Kimblewick is popular with riders of ponies - especially those that lean on a straight bar mouthpiece. The jointed mouthpiece can lessen the action of the curb, and also help to raise the horse’s head with bar and palate pressure. The lack of shank on a Kimblewick can make them a good bit for children to use, as they also have the added advantage of being able to be ridden with just one pair of reins.

Dental checks by an equine dental technician or vet are recommended at least once a year, to ensure the horse is comfortable, and to avoid longer-term mouthing and bitting problems. Choose a retailer that offers bit hire ideally, so you can try before you commit! You can Email me at advice@thesaddleryshop.co.uk.

We love sharing our expertise - to see a range of horsey articles, videos and reviews concerning lots of other equestrian and countryside matters, visit http:www.horseandcountryside.com  

Managing grass with muzzles

Grazing muzzles can be useful management tools. By using a muzzle, your horse can still be moving around the field and socialising, but will be getting limited spring grass that has high levels of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC).

Bear in mind that research into the use of grazing muzzles to help with management of weight has revealed that longer grass can be more difficult to graze, causing frustration. New research using four ponies was conducted by the Waltham Equine Studies Group, and their intake of forage was measured in the spring, summer and autumn, both with and without grazing muzzles. The study found that when wearing grazing muzzles, pasture intake was reduced by 77% during spring and summer and by 83% during the autumn.

The short (less than 10cm), upright, grass appeared to be the easiest to eat, as leaf blades and stems protruded through the holes in the muzzle. The medium and long swards proved more difficult.

Top tips when using a grazing muzzle - 

1. Introduce the muzzle gradually by starting off using it in the stable - reward your horse with a treat through the hole in the muzzle when you put it on and take it off. 
2. Most manufacturers recommend leaving a muzzle on up to a maximum of 12 hours, so don’t leave on for too long.
3. Remember that grass needs to be at least two inches long for ponies to be able to draw up some grass and not get too frustrated.

Popular products available on our main website include the Greenguard  grazing muzzle which is a simple but effective solution to reduce grass intake....

Plus the range from Shires, which includes the Nylon Grazing Muzzle, below, with its new, improved design. 

Look out for offers on these and other products on our main retail hub at www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk. 

We love sharing our expertise - to see a range of horsey articles, videos and reviews concerning lots of other equestrian and countryside matters, visit www.horseandcountryside.com