Alternative to French link snaffle?

[PonyPlaiter]

I’m not riding my horse at the moment as he arrived in poor condition. Had the dentist out today and there’s nothing wrong with his teeth apart from needing his wolf teeth out. He came with a French link snaffle but I’ve been reading online that these aren’t particularly good bits because the flat piece can dig into their tongue and a lozenge is preferable? When I put the bit in his mouth he certainly seems uncomfortable and he wasn’t that happy being ridden in it when I trialled him - lots of open mouthed pulling going on. Suspect the bit was put in because they had it laying around rather than because it’s a good bit for him.

what is a nice gentle bit I can use to do a bit of groundwork and start riding him in again? He’s a rising 5 year old cob with quite a large mouth and lips.

It may be a long process of trial and error. My welsh cob went happily in French link but much later my Danish warmblood seemed to fight everything then ended up in a Pelham with two sets of reins so that I had control when needed (out hacking for instance) and a very light feel on the top rein. In fact I opted for a Portuguese working equitation Pelham (hard to find in his size) and that had a lovely feel, the closest thing to having your fingers in his mouth I honestly thought the connection was that good.
But there are so many other options and I’m sure you’ll try and discard a few before finding the best fit.

PS I know people might not think of Pelham as gentle… I think it was fine on my drama queen warmblood. Essentials I think not to use a D link (if that’s the term) as you shouldn’t use a Pelham with one set of reins trying to do the two jobs

If he's uncomfortable in his mouth I'd get his wolf teeth taken out before trying to find a bit for him. You can still do suppleness and groundwork bitless in advance. And then go for something like a thinner lozenge bit if he's got a big tongue.

Have a look at myler bits. My fussy mare works well in them. Or failing that, bits with more of a lozenge than a plate

Get his wolf teeth out then get a qualified bit fitter to assess his mouth shape and try a selection out.
When starting a horse out I like a rubber mullen mouth but each horse is different

I don’t want to start a war :) but I’m very happy with my Micklem multibridle on the sidepull setting, after trying another bitless bridle that wasn’t as good. You might consider a bitless option while waiting for him to heal from the extractions?

I do actually have a sidepull on its way but it was a bit of an impulse purchase - I’ve never ridden bitless before and I dont have anyone to ask about training him to go bitless, which is why I suppose I’m looking for a bitted option too.

maybe I should be a bit braver and give it a go!

Thanks all definitely looks like getting the teeth out is the way to go!

Dr Cook Bitless? Amazing bridle.

I’d get his wolf teeth out before worrying about a bit. Personally I like the NS loose rings with a lozenge and all of mine go well in it

I’d sort the teeth out and then get a bit specialist to come and look at you both and get advice from them

Came here to say this - particularly about the lozenge. They are not cheap but you can find them secondhand on fb marketplace or eBay ^
do some in hand groundwork to build him up without having to carry a rider to begin with, it will pay dividends for your partnership bond building and ridden work down the line. I have been following ‘NoBackNoHorse’ fb group which have some great free groundwork exercises and I think do reasonable cost remote consultation if you feel you would need that too.

Ive had great success with bomber happy tongue bits.

Teeth, then get a bit fitter out.
If you decide to go bitless - a lot of people rave about Dr Cook bridles but be aware that some horses really object to the squeezing on their head. I'd go for a simple sidepull as a start. You do need to make sure your horse is fairly light in your hands, has good lateral flexion, and is well trained to halt.

p.s. Different horses have different mouths - tongue, bars, palate etc - taking advice on what bit to use is just guesswork. A bit that might be quite comfortable for one horse can cause discomfort or pain for another. That's why we're luck that there are more and more good bit fitters about now.

I'd get a bitting expert out, they will be able to tell you the shape of your horses mouth, fatness of tongue etc. I had one out to a very fussy youngster I had and they recommended a bomber bit as he had a narrow mouth and fat tongue, worked a treat and he loved it.

I'd also definitely get his wolf teeth out, any pain at all from those will translate to not enjoying having a bit in.

Do dentists not take wolf teeth out? I wouldnt be putting a bit in when he's visibly uncomfortable with his wolf teeth in. get them out then worry about bits :)

Thanks all - his wolf teeth are out not but he seems to be getting on ok long reining in his bitless bridle so I might just carry on training him in that for now.

i have a major mental hurdle to get over when it comes to “control” and people’s opinions about bits vs bitless but I feel like that’s a different conversation!

I’m continually surprised how responsive DHorse is to the bitless. I don’t feel like I have less control of him than I would bitted. See how you go :)

I’m trying to make sure I have really good voice commands to control him with! I’m struggling to find really good bitless resources and how to train him properly though - especially hard when it came to fitting it to his head in the first place.

im sort of going by instinct and hoping. I have some stills of a video of when I tried him where his head is up in the air, his mouth is open and his eyes are rolling and I don’t want that for him so I just have to have the courage of my convictions!