Dr Bristol bit

[racaille]

Having problems bitting R. He is currently in an eggbutt french link but the cannons are just a bit too fat for his mouth. I've been looking everywhere for something more suitable but it is proving difficult. He would also benefit from a full cheek bit. Eventually (having waded through acres of bits with twisted wire etc ) the best I can find is a Dr Bristol as it has both the full cheeks and narrower cannons.

I know the narrower cannons will make it a tiny bit harsher and that the flat lozenge has a different action to the french link. R detests any real contact (he is teething) but will work well with just a touch so light hands are needed as an imperative. TBH I'd go bitless if I thought I could stop him but the one experiment so far was not a success.

Any thoughts peeps?

[joandlad]

I'd be worried about going from a French Link to a Dr Bristol. If he isn't happy in his mouth the last thing you want is a bit that digs into his tongue like a Dr Bristol does.

What about this?:

www.neueschulebits.com/acatalog/Full_Cheek.html

They do a 14mm one which is very slim. Have you had a good look at R's mouth? I must admit I didn't really look well enough at Murph's when I first bitted him. I knew he had a large tongue but didn't check the room between tongue and palate. Turns out he has absolutely no space between tongue and palate so a thinner bit is actually more comfortable for him. I've just got him a 14mm tranz-lozenge baucher . He loves it. Yes it is a narrow bit which typically is harsher but in Murph's case he is much happier with it because he just hasn't the room in his mouth for a wide bit. I went for the baucher hoping that a bit of poll pressure would mean less pressure on his mouth. Seems to be working well so far.

[racaille]

Thanks for that Jo. But the price!!!! What do you think of this?

www.shop4bits.com/item--French-Link-Full-Cheek--french-link-full-cheek.html

The problem, as always, is getting stuff here. France seems to have a great deal less choice re bits (and you'd blanche at some of the ones on offer....)

[brigadier]

Im with Jo on this, I love french links but the thick ones are a mouthful and its suprising how little room some horses have. I think thinnner bits sit better and are only as strong as the hands that hold them. I think the one in the picture looks great. Bits are quite cheap over here now (they are ok quality but all imported from China) so youd pay around twenty pounds.

[joandlad]

Yes it is expensive but when you think you'll probably use that bit for years and years it's a good investment - well that's how I justified it to myself anyway. ;D Neue Schule hold their money too. I sold my last one on e-bay for £40. They are fantastic quality and the horses seem to like the salox that they are made of.

Shop4bits don't say what diameter the shafts are. Worth ringing them to see as pictures can be decieving.

[fimacg]

Sorry I wouldn't use shop for bits if you paid me - they never delivered the bit I ordered and paid for. I ended up emailing trading standards, but still never got my money back! I lost £20. not a great deal but still its the pricipal.

[racaille]

Thanks for all that lovely info peeps - have found the ideal (not Dr Bristol) one on Equestrian Clearance (old old friends!!!!).

Jo I do like the look of those smart bits but I'm wary of shelling out too much mail order as if it's not quite right I'm stuck. If it's cheap as chips I don't worry too much. I know this isn't the ideal way of getting a bit but once I find a style that suits the little beggar then I can think about upgrading the quality when I'm a bit more flush with cash (does that ever happen?)