bits for iberian mouths

[Woody]

ok so I know there is a wide variation between iberians but if you have one or ride one what bits do you use and what bits do they love and hate? - guess really asking about non double bridles but interested in that too

I have mine in NS starter and NS team up bits but think I need to look again, maybe at a different metal too
have also tried myler low port barrel snaffle and a sweet iron snaffle - neither of which worked very well.
Have also tried a NS full cheek with lozenge - no good.

[Larri DB]

I would help but I was going to suggest a NS!! - I liked their performance pony range which had thinner mouthpieces

A lot of Iberians are very, very mouthy and constantly play whatever you put in there 

[whisper's mum]

A lot of Iberians are very, very mouthy and constantly play whatever you put in there 

  That's what I was thinking. When you say the bits are no good, what do you mean? 

[chapsi]

Most of our horses at the yard are ridden in a Portuguese bit (WE type).
I use mine with two sets of reins, but for finer work and single handed riding, the best riders use the bit rein.

My trainer doesn't like double briddles as he says that they fill the horses' mouth with too much metal.

[Woody]

hi
it's not that the bits are no good I just think I could do better. Most of the ones I've tried have been salox or with copper inlays (myler). the NS are very playable with. both my boys are very mouthy and KD at times can almost become fixated on playing with his bits and being a bloke he can only do one thing at a time (sorry guys.. )
wondered about trying straight stainless steel. read the Hippus bit site with interest too.

Interestingly just tried my full cheek KK ultra which my other horses hate but actually it did not go down too badly with either. hmmm

just interested really. contemplated trying a mullen mouth like the hilary vernon one but wondered if it might feel a bit dead. never tried anything without a joint. I have loads of 6" bits but they are way too big even for a trial.

would be a lot easier to trap their gobs shut and tell 'em to shut up and put up ...err NOT

chapsi - had no idea you could put 2 sets of reins on a WE bit - off to investigate. which model do you use?
thanks

[Tina]

http://www.webshop.viva-iberica.com/portuguese-bit---medium-port-561-p.asp

This is the portuguese variation of the pelham and works brilliant on all my spanish horses, my little luso stallion came with one of these, my mare is awful in a snaffle and goes super quiet in this for years now, used with two reins it fits their mouths perfectly. I am having trouble finding the Roldan version of this on the internet though, they make the best one's by far, its sweet iron and gets better the older it gets. That's just my pennys worth a thought 

[Tina]

...its probably what Chapsi is referring to and as she is in Spain(??? Mafra) maybe she can point me in the direction of a webshop that sells them, ie the Roldan one's over the internet??? I want another one 

[Heather]

I also use the same bit as Maria, it is much better than normal pelhams. But I also do like the double bridle, Rei still goes best in it, and so does Fanta.

I use Sprenger and Neu Schule snaffles, by far the best on the market.

[Heather]

Er..... Mafra is in Portugal, Tina  Maria's trainer is World Champion working equitation rider, David Oliveira and his Father Luis Filipe. This is why LF is not so keen on the double bridle, the pelham Maria and I use is also called a 'working equitation pelham' in English terminology, or at least has become known as that!!

[ukica]

Has anyone got a photo of this WE Pelham?

[Woody]

so if you ride in a mullen mouth baucher then presumably the action is the same as the WE bit ridden on the snaffle?

thanks. like the idea of less clutter in the mouth but not ...er hum...very dressage legal....like that applies to me anyway

[Candypony]

Took me ages to get Candy happy - by FAR the best is her double - mullen mouth weymouth and french link bradoon, eggbutt. In some people's books she went into a double too early in her training - but she simply wasn't prepared to go forwards into any bit I tried until I put her in the double!!  Breaks every rule she can, little moo! 

She loathes loose rings, rears in single jointed bits, and was generally tricky to work out.  For jumping I now use a normal eggbutt french link or hanging french link - but for a long time I used a myler that had a mullen mouth, shaped mouthpiece but with the independent side movement.

Generally she likes things to be still in her mouth... pelhams are ok for her too but not dressage legal so didn't like to use it for long as she gets fixed ideas!!  And the actual metal has never made much difference - although I like the idea of NS / Sprenger bits, just can't quite find what I want in them to try them out!!

[chapsi]

The bit Heather and I are referring to is the same as in Tina's link.

These can be bought in Spain and Portugal.

As far as I'm concerned, the best is Zaldi's brand.

Zaldi supplies 12,5cm and 13,5cm and Sefton also supply 14,5cm.