BITTING.
MY FIRST BIT HOW WE INTRODUCE A YOUNG HORSE TO A BIT WILL SHAPE THEIR RIDDEN CAREER AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THE CONTACT FOR THE REST OF THEIR LIVES. STEPHANIE BATEMAN FINDS OUT HOW TO SET A YOUNG HORSE UP FOR A POSITIVE BITTING EXPERIENCE.
A
s dressage riders, we strive for a light, responsive and consistent contact, so ensuring our horses are happy and comfortable in their mouth is vital. Introducing a bit to a young horse for the fi rst time is an important part of their initial training, and everything should be done to make the experience a positive one. Before starting the bitting process, owners are advised to employ the services of a registered Equine Dental Technician (EDT) who will identify and resolve any issues, give you an understanding of the conformation of the horse’s mouth, and help you select the correct bit. “Don’t start putting anything in a young horse’s mouth until you’ve had their teeth checked,” says EDT Simon Pratley. “There is a lot going on in a young horse’s mouth and I suggest getting their teeth looked at two to four weeks before you start bitting them, because that will give you a window of time to allow any issues to be dealt with.” Like humans, horses have two sets of teeth during their lives; a set of deciduous ‘baby’ teeth that fall out, and a set of permanent teeth that develop later. Deciduous teeth appear early – usually within two weeks of birth, while the permanent molars erupt at about one, two, and four years of age. The replacement of deciduous incisors and premolars by the permanent teeth begins at about 2.5 years of age. All permanent teeth are usually present by the time the horse reaches five years of age. “Any problems with the growth and shedding of the deciduous teeth can lead to long-term issues that not only affect the horse’s physical development, but also his acceptance of a bridle,” says Simon. “So, it’s important to get their mouths looked at.” With multiple deciduous and permanent teeth in the mouth at any one time, the eruption of new teeth isn’t always straightforward.
