l just recently got a Copper Rollers bit from my aunt. l ride a 4 year old Arab and she likes to chew and play on the bit. What would this bit do? Would she prefer this bit over the full cheek snaffle that l use on her?

This is what it looks like:
http://adamshorsesupply.com/browse.cfm/4,449.html

copper rollers are pretty harsh on the mouth, but l think your mare would be okay with it

the copper helps the produce more spit, which actually makes the bit softer in the mouth, be careful though if youre competing sicne sometimes copper bits are illegal

She might like it better. But with the full cheek she gets better signals for lateral work, which would not be as clear with the eggbutt. Also, there is more chance of her getting the Ds in her mouth, or of it being pulled into her mouth with the eggbutt. Try her in it and see if she likes it, but if she is fine in the bit you are using, there is no reason to change it.

if she is going well, why change? horses need consistency all the time. going well in a snaffle is the ideal. a bit with copper rollers is a soft bit meant to encourage horses to salivate so the bit would be able to move more easily in their mouth. it would make her play with it more too. if she already does that without it, then she does not need it. copper can also be illegal for showing as well. ''do not fix it if it is not broken.''

l have almost exactly the same bit. l find that my horses work better with it than a regular smooth snaffle. For one, the copper stimulates salivation which is good for horses with dry mouths. Also, the rollers allow the horse something to do. Since ur horse already likes to chew & play on the bit l am sure she would do well with the rollers.

One negative l have found is that, over time, sometimes the rollers will become stuck & no longer ''roll''. It is not a huge problem though as the bit can still be used.

Overall its a good bit to use, not very harsh at all & just about as the same as any other snaffle.

It is hard to say what she'd prefer. The bit in this photo is not different mechanically than a full cheek provided the full cheek is a two-piece mouthpiece.

Copper is intended to make a horse is mouth moist so to increase sensitivity. Many people over- expect what copper will do in a bit. Not much copper is required to make a horse is mouth moist - too much copper can be a bad thing - a mouthpiece made completely of copper, for example, can cause cuts on a horse is tongue because copper is a soft metal, chomping can make sharp cuts or edges in the copper which even small ones can hurt the sensitive areas of a horse is mouth.

What this action of chomping & chewing is called is 'bit resistance'. Bit resistance can be seen when a horse does anything other than holds the bit quietly in their mouth with the proper headset. Sticking the nose out, holding the head 'behind the bit' sticking out the tongue, pulling against the bit, putting the tongue over the bit - these r all signs of bit resistance. They r clues that the horse is not comfortable with the bit - if he is focusing on his discomfort, he is NOT focusing on what you're trying to communicate to him.

Is ur current bit chrome, copper, stainless or sweet iron? If the current bit is sweet iron or copper, l would say the copper roller mouth will not take care of ur problem, but may make it worse - however if the aunt has given u one to try, it is certainly worth trying - since the horse cannot talk, we must guess at why the bit is not to her liking & try different things to correct this.

The copper and/or the rollers might simply be something else to distract her that she plays with.

l suggest that perhaps the actual mouthpiece of the bit, or how it is being used is where the problem lies. You must understand the mechanics of the full cheek snaffle - it works the same way as the bit you've shown in the picture - the bit works through a pinch & gag mechanism to teach the horse to respond. Does ur horse hold her bit comfortably if u r not holding the reins - when she is standing at leisure? If so, it is likely that ur pulling on the reins is causing her the discomfort through the pinch & gag action. You see, when u engage that bit, pulling on the reins, the bit collapses in the jointed center of the mouthpiece - as the rings come closer together, the two piece actually pinch the tongue - further pulling pulls the bit back into the horse is mouth causing a gag.

Put ur finger in the middle of ur tongue as far back as u can & press down as hard as u can toward the floor. Walk around. How long can u walk around without gagging? This is what the horse feels when u pull on those reins. Put ur finger on ur lower gum, behind ur last tooth & press down - now walk around, how long can u walk around with the pressure on that gum? Longer than with the finger on ur tongue pressing, right?

The goal is to teach the horse how to understand what u do with the bit & what is she is to do in response - as she learns this through harsh results of inaccurate response (pinch & gag) ur need to pinch & gag her should get less (she should learn to stop not from the reins but from u sitting more deeply in ur saddle). You want to transition her to a bit that 'speaks' to her with movement on the bars of her mouth if u can.

If u have the ability to find a tack store that offers Myler bit rentals, I'd suggest u rent a Myler comfort snaffle. This bit communicates in the same way without totally pinching & gagging the horse (causing them to expect to avoid discomfort). It actually offers a wider range of communications through it is mechanics. At the tack store, look for a book & video on Myler bits or ask Santa for one. They run about $20. You can buy them from the store where l work thewirehorse.com. l learned VERY MUCH from watching this video about bit mechanics. Now l can pick up about any bit & know how my horse is going to feel wearing it - what every pull of the reins results in his mouth will feel like. It is a well-spent $20.

A 4 year old horse is much a baby still - her teeth & bit path r still maturing. The old Vaquero way of training such a horse is without a bit. They start horses in bosals & do not put a bit on until they r well trained & ready for it.

l hope this helps.