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Discussion on Bit for Missouri Fox Trotter
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New Member:
Horse4u
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Posted on Friday, Jan 7, 2005 - 10:21 pm:
I am using a Missoula Bit on the Trail and she seems to like it OK. I was using a snaffle in the ring, but she doesn't do well with it. I hear that MFT's don't like a broken snaffle and prefer a solid piece in their mouth. I was thinking of a Kmberwicke or Eggbutt french snaffle for ring work. Any of you have gaited horses? What's your experience?
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Member:
Alden
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 8, 2005 - 12:27 pm:
Vicki,
The Missoula looks fine, it depend on what you are trying to do. I don't show my Fox trotters so I don't really concern myself with head carriage or nodding. I'm more interested in my horses moving out smoothly and soft on the bit, they will put their head where it is best for them. Interestingly as they soften and move naturally they tend to put their head near the vertical without any mechanical aids.
Horses do have preferences in bits but all mine do just fine with a loose ring snaffle. When I think they are ready I'll use a curb, I use a couple different types, one similar to your Missoula but with a copper roller.
Some folks make the mistake of calling a broken mouth curb (sometimes referred to as a Tom thumb among others) as a snaffle, I don't have any use for that type of bit and would not recommend one for any horse training.
Good day,
Alden
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 8, 2005 - 2:05 pm:
Hi Vicki,
I don't think that MFT's as a breed have a preference for any single type of mouthpiece over any other. Dr. O and I do not own any MFT's, but our TWH's and Paso Fino's, are very individual as to what type of bit they perform best in and prefer to wear, as I think is universally true.
I'm not familiar with the Misoula bit myself. The goal is to find a bit that your horse works well in. This is usually a bit of a trial and error sort of thing. If she doesn't like the snaffle try something else. Each one of our six riding horses wears a slightly different bit. Also, if you show, you may want to check the rule book. Some breed registries have quite specific rules regarding bit type, length of shank, etc.
Good luck,
Janette
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Member:
Horse4u
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Posted on Saturday, Jan 8, 2005 - 2:57 pm:
Thank you both for the info! The reason I stopped using the snaffle was because when I went to the Missoula she seemed a lot happier and gaited better. Sometimes on the trail, she would do some weird stuff like try and buck, or jig when I would check her up even gently. She has a tendency to want to go faster than I like especailly in a pack of horses. She is much better now than she used to be. I do not show. I mostly trail ride, but also ride in parades and do western reenactments. I like ring work to work on my own skills and to work her various muscle groups as well as teaching her new stuff within the confines of a ring when I am alone. She is a very sweet horse and I also use her in a ministry I have with children where at the end I give them a "pony" ride. Some of the kids who are older and my own grandchildren I try and teach the very basics of horsemanship. For this I wonder if she shouldn't be in really soft bit. I am pretty clueless when it comes to bits but I am learning. I used to use a Tom Thumb for awhile, but when I heard it was a harsh bit, I stopped. I think I have pretty soft hands myself. I try and use my voice, seat and legs for many things I ask her to do. She is very willing and I don't want to do anything to change that, especially when others are on her. I hear they have very sensitive mouths and that the snaffle tends to act like a nut cracker in their small mouths. I guess I'll try the two I mentionsed earlier for ring work and kids, unless someone has a better suggestion. She is not a large horse. She is 14 2 1/2 hands, but she is a great little mare with a lot of heart. She keeps up with the best of them and is almost always first when we call them for supper!
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Member:
Alden
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Posted on Sunday, Jan 9, 2005 - 7:47 pm:
Hi Vicki,
I got a good chuckle from you last post at this point, "...like a nut cracker in their small mouths." because my six year old MFT is 17h, tips the scales about 1300lbs and needs a 5 1/2” bit!
Your mare sounds familiar, I have seen two other MFT mares that were pretty energetic with adults and turn into 25 year old plow horses with a kid on board. One mare I own and I almost had the other one but it didn't work out.
The curb doesn't work very well to teach lateral lessons, that why we use a snaffle. A snaffle can pinch if both reins are pulled straight back, I will use both reins but I offset one a little so the bit moves to the side and back. I assume you have had the teeth checked ?
Good luck slowing a MFT down to the rest of the pack. I do a lot of stop and go to go slow enough to ride with other horses. Most of the people I know with Arabs won't even ride with me because their horses jig the whole ride. I bet they wish they had gone gaited!
Good day,
Alden
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