Answer

By Your Horse

Instructor Jane Baker replies:

I’d be tempted to start with a clean slate and go right back to the beginning. Some people like to use a mouthing bit (with keys attached) to encourage the horse to play with it and accept it in his mouth. Others prefer a simple loose-ring or rubber bit. When you start riding him, you might find a bit with cheek pieces or D-rings will help with the steering. Whatever you decide, keep it simple!
Before you start with any bit, have an equine dental technician check his mouth. Hopefully he will not have been damaged by his previous bitting experiences, but an examination will give you this information and you will be able to act accordingly.Assuming there is no damage, proceed as with any young horse – first with lungeing and then long-reining, making sure he is working correctly from behind and is relaxed and responsive to your aids from the ground. If he’s strong from the ground, work in an enclosed area and ask for lots of transitions on the lunge and then long reins, ensuring that the pressure on the rein is relaxed the moment he comes back to you. He needs to know that, when he has done the right thing, he will
be rewarded.When he is happy and responsive in his mouth and is starting, stopping and steering from the ground without resistance, you can think about doing the same exercises from the saddle.