I knew the bit I had was too big for Estrid and I could have just bought a smaller one but I really wanted to get an expert opinion on her mouth and what bits would suit her. I had seen Expert bits on YouTube and I really liked their ethos, the bit designs and how much they seemed to cater for each individual horse.
I have used Myler bits for decades, I like that they don’t have that nutcracker action that so many bits have and they offer lots of options. I’ve prefered the hanging cheek because I like that it holds it’s own weight off the tounge so when Lisa from expert bits also recommended I try a smaller hanging cheek I was a little bit pleased with myself that I’d been making the right choice.
We also tried an eggbutt and a loose ring. Estrid didn’t like the loose ring and she made that quite obvious, she was better with the eggbutt but seemed a little unsure, potentially because of the slight increase in weight on her tounge. Lisa also said that I didn’t need a port, my current bit had a low level port to allow for extra tounge room, but because Estrid’s mouth is so small and her roof fairly low and hard it would be better to have a straight bit for maximum comfort.
It’s funny how, even though I was on the right track and I knew what I needed to change with my current bit, having someone who knows what their doing gives you that extra bit of validation and confidence in your choices. I feel like when Estrid starts schooling properly in the autumn that I’ve now got the right bit for her and we can confidently start asking for more contact and communication.
Beth Endurance 