Posted 2022-11-08 11:13 AM Subject: Bit flipping issue
Veteran
Posts: 110
Hey all! I have a mare that tosses her head so hard she flips her shanks making my bit useless. She just gets fired up going in. I don't want to add a tie down and not sure how I feel about a solid port so looking for opinions on bits that don't flip, hobble ideas, anything else anyone has had luck with to prevent this dangerous situation. I tried (2) different bits at my last competition with the same result. Pict of the second one below. Thanks in advance!
Posted 2022-11-09 7:36 AM Subject: RE: Bit flipping issue
Too Skinny
Posts: 8009 Location: LA Lower Alabama
I would be interested to see this set up on the horse at a standstill. Extremely hard to tell but it appears the headstall is adjusted too long and the curb too loose. A short bit of leather tying where your reins clip on together is a quick fix but I think there is something more pertinent to look into here.
Another thing is directly connecting the reins to the bit without the clips helps.
Posted 2022-11-15 8:19 AM Subject: RE: Bit flipping issue
Member
Posts: 27 Location: North central Florida
You could also try a bonnet to keep your horse from elevating. Maybe start with a leather bonnet first and lunge/round pen her around in that set up BEFORE getting on. Sometimes when they first hit that pressure it can scare them. A Bonnet still allows them to get their nose out and run hard. Lots of very successful barrel horses are ridden with bonnets.