Small Pony Range

Bits designed specifically for Small Ponies both In Hand and Ridden.

Featuring:
Salisbury and Eggbutt Bit Rings 1 ½" 1 ¼" and 1" diameters
Short slender Show Pelham and Weymouth cheeks
Mouth pieces in 10mm 8mm and 6mm diameters
All mouthpieces with a forward curve to fit the mouth

Bitting and creating Bits for small ponies is quite an art. Firstly you have to scale everything down to fit inside the mouth and then you have to scale the Cheek Pieces to look in proportion on the out side of the face. Then you have to look at competition rules or trends and what the judges deem to be correct and at the limitations of the Bridlework you are attaching the bit to. And then if the Pony is to carry on with a Showing career then at mouthpieces that will be an easy progression through from In Hand to Ridden work.

Salisbury Snaffle
With Mullen or Hartwell Mouth Pieces

In Hand

Some of the smaller breed Ponies that are shown In Hand may only have 3 ½" mouths and they may be very short from the corner of the lip to the end of the nose also their mouths are so tiny and delicate that you have very little room to fit a Bit inside. Choosing a small Eggbutt or a Salisbury Cheek [looks like a Loose Ring but has no play between the Mouth and the Cheek] is very comfortable for the mouth as there is no gap between the mouthpiece and the cheek to nip the corner of the lip. If you scale the Bit ring down to 1 ½" or even 1 ¼" this means that the Ring will fit between the corner of the lip and the cheek of your In Hand Bridle letting the mouthpiece sit at the right height in the mouth. Bits that are 6mm or 8mm in diameter mean the mouthpiece will fit neatly between the top of the tongue and the roof of the mouth. Bits that are too thick and too straight make the Pony very uncomfortable and very busy in the mouth and unable to settle, which detracts badly from the overall picture. The most comfortable and effective mouthpieces to choose for this category of Pony is Mullen or Hartwell [very small port] both built with a generous forward curve to fit the inner conformation of the mouth well.

Using a three point Newmarket Coupling so that a lot of the pressure can be taken on the back of the Noseband means you will not be pulling excessively on a delicate mouth.

Eggbutt Snaffle
With Mullen, Hartwell or Round Lozenge Mouth Pieces

Novice and First Ridden

Again all the principles apply for Novice and First Ridden that do for Showing In Hand. The small breeds now may have 4" 4 ¼" or 4 ½" mouths and the Bit diameter now they are being ridden will be 8 or 10mm. Eggbutt and Salisbury cheeks with a 2" 1 ½" or 1 ¼" Bit Ring still look neat and mean there is no play between the rein and the Bit ring or the mouthpiece and the cheek of the Bit which means the rider has a more stable and defined signal. If you feel you need more help for a small rider to get the pony into the right profile then having a neat loop at the top of the cheek of the Bit will help to sit the Bit up in the pony's mouth and give the rider a clearer signal for the Pony to tip into the frame. This idea only works really well on an Eggbutt or Salisbury Cheek as there is no play between the Cheek and the Mouthpiece. The most comfortable and effective mouthpieces to choose for this category of Pony is Mullen, Hartwell and Round lozenge all built with a forward curve to fit the inner conformation of the mouth well.

Show Pelham
With Mullen, Hartwell or Medium Port Mouth Pieces

Open Classes

For Open Show Classes you will be required to Show your Pony in two reins. Now as it is Showing luckily you do not necessarily have to have a Double Bridle you can choose a Pelham if your Pony does not have enough room for two bits in its mouth. Choosing the right mouthpiece is crucial for comfort and to how the Pony will respond to the signals it gives. But also the over all look is very important. If your Pony has a small face and is short from the corner of the lip to the end of its face you need to choose a neat Pelham Cheek that will look in proportion to the outside of the face and complement your ½" Bridlework. Nothing looks worse that a heavy long Pelham cheek on a pretty little face. The Small Show Pelham Cheek makes a really nice neat cheek for a small head. It has a loose ring for the top rein [not to be confused with the Rugby Pelhams' floating ring] so that the signal from the top rein is not so swift back into the jaw. Remember to set your chain or curb strap well, a loose curb is not kind it just unbalances the Bit and causes too much pressure in the mouth, whereas a snug curb utilises all the pressures equally. The most comfortable and effective mouthpieces to choose for this category of Pony is Mullen, Hartwell and Medium Port all built with a forward curve to fit the inner conformation of the mouth well.

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