By Fiona Dearing, Bit Right Equine Bit Fitting
Many Pony Club members choose an off the track thoroughbred as their first large horse. They’re often a super choice. For a young person prepared to put in the work required they’ll repay you ten-fold. Of course, learning to be a suitable pony club mount does involve a large amount of change for a thoroughbred who’s raced and there are many components you need to ensure are ticked off to ensure they’re comfortable, happy and prepared for their new life. Bitting is a very important tick to add to that list.
The most important component is their training to learn that being in a group of horses is a space they can relax, rather than adrenalise. A bit isn’t going to be a magic fix here but it is important it’s appropriate for the combination of horse and rider and correctly fitted. An off the track thoroughbred can often make us feel like we need a stronger piece of equipment in their mouth for us to feel like we have control. Whilst I absolutely understand this feeling it’s not always true and it is important we don’t simply move to the stronger piece of equipment without checking both your bitting and training cues.
I find most of the time horses who make riders feel a little nervous are often fighting the bit. This can be because it may not be comfortable through the mouthpiece placing pressures the horse finds very sensitive, usually the tongue and/or the bars (lower jaw). The other way your off the track thoroughbred may tell you he’s not comfortable in the mouth is by being excessively active on the bit, or not wanting to work into a connection by being either above or behind the bit.
I don’t often see thoroughbreds who’re genuinely strong. I see many who’ve not had the time they need in their re-training spent on them along with many who’re not bitted correctly.
Speaking generally (because there’s always that one horse who’ll buck the trend!) the off the track thoroughbreds don’t like large amounts of direct tongue pressure and also have quite sensitive bars. They’re not a heavy built horse so it makes sense they’re sensitive!
Here’s a quick list of what I’ve found these horses like and don’t like. This advice is from my experience seeing many of these horses each week. Have I found these horses working happily in a single jointed loose ring? Of course I have and that’s ok! These lists are general and not hard and fast rules.
Bits the Off the Track Thoroughbred Gives a Thumbs Down To
- Loose and fixed cheekpiece single jointed bit (direct pressures and unstable in the mouth in the loose ring)
- Thick bits – over 16mm diameter (often not enough room in the interdental space to close mouth comfortably around)
- Bits with large joins on the lozenge or many changes of surface on the mouthpiece (too much movement in the mouth)
Bits the Off the Track Thoroughbred Gives a Thumbs Up To
- Bits with Tongue Relief (Turtle Top, Ultra Comfy Lock Up, Happy Tongue, WTP, Maria)
- Non Metal Bits for horses who are super light and/or reactive to metal (Flexi-Soft, Moulded Mullen)
- Fixed Cheekpiece to aid with stability and turning particularly in early OTT stages (Eggbutt, D ring, Boucher)
- Lozenge bits with small joins to limit movement