Charlotte Cutler has very kindly been testing some products on her string of horse’s at home. Here is how she got on with the Bombers Titanium DC Dressage.
Over the last 3 weeks I have been trialing the Bombers Titanium DC Dressage bit. After having a long chat with Kirstie about Wally this was the bit she recommended. He has proven to be super sensitive in the mouth, large fleshy lips and I’ve really struggled to get to accept a bit. His default is to curl behind the contact and concertina his neck making is difficult to progress in his work. Unfortunately as a youngster Wally had a kick to his mouth, knocking his 2 front teeth out. As his teeth have re-aligned, his jaw has also become slightly off set (currently in the process of sorting with the help of an equine dentist) but I feel this also plays a big role into why he is so fussy in the rein.
My initial thoughts when seeing the bit was how beautifully made and well thought out it is. There are no gabs in the joins that could pinch, the titanium is a lovely thickness- rounded over the bars of the mouth and a little flatter over the port to even the pressure on the tongue. I particularly like the idea of not having any ‘fixed’ points. The rings that attach to the cheek pieces rotate reducing the poll pressure transmitted from the reins. Then the titanium mouth piece rotates in the mouth allowing the horse to move it to where is comfortable for them.
I have previously ridden Wally in a variation of snaffles to encourage him to seek the contact. The best I had found was the Bombers loose ring Flexible Mullen – he was more consistent in this but still wasn’t 100% comfortable in it; lots of tongue flicking, mouth opening and would brace against it.
In the first ride Wally was super quiet in his mouth, salivating and seeking the contact. I let him figure it out throughout the session as he would play with the mouth piece then settle again. The next ride he picked up the contact straight away and got better and better each session! Within a week, I had more submission then I had been able to achieve in 4 months. His transitions have improved and he is more amenable when schooling. He has become straighter and is more responsive to my leg aid- generally enjoying his work more
I took him to Poplar Park for his first ODE of the year, doing all 3 phases in the bit finishing on his dressage score of 29.3 taking the win. With Wally being a big horse (17hh) and being 5ft 1 myself, I have previously found manoeuvring him in the white boards to be a challenge, but this test felt easy!
Overall the Bombers Titanium DC Dressage gets a HUGE thumbs up from Wally and me!
Forelock and Load offer bitting advice please follow the link HERE
