I won't be able to remember all of them, but I'll try...
- Imus bit:
http://doubleoranch-tack.com/images3/Bit24300.jpg
That's the bit I've used on him for 2 years. A few months ago, he decided he didn't like it anymore.
- Plain D-ring snaffle
- Plain O-ring snaffle
- Single-jointed Tom Thumb
- Twisted dogbone snaffle
- Straight bar kimberwick
- Straight bar pelham
- Curbs of varied port heights
- French link snaffle
- Low-port grazing bit
I've tried both sweet iron and copper. I was planning on trying a bit with a rubber mouthpiece, but I couldn't find one at any tack shops around here.
My first questions are:
- have you had a professional check your saddle fit?
- have you had a chiropractor out to rule out any bodily discomfort?
Both of the above can manifest itself to look like a bit problem, when it's not. Denny was locked up through the jaw and he couldn't flex to the right. I attributed it to a bitting problem, and was heartily embarrassed when his dentist (who is also certified as a chiropractor) told me that his entire jaw was locked up.
He has a bad back and gets a visit from the chiropractor every 6 months. She's actually coming out next week. I asked my vet about it when he floated his teeth and he didn't see anything that could be causing bit pain.
Firstly, what does he do to show he doesn't like the bit? Get nervous, chew, shake his head, etc.?
Have you tried a Baucher/Hanging snaffle? It's meant to sit really still in the mouth, he might like that sensation.
Have you tried bits with rollers/keys for him to play with?
Tried a myler/billy allen mouthpiece?
Ports?
Gag action? - A friend was having the same issues, and has found a snaffle with a slight gag action is his favourite so far.
Tried a flexible mouthpiece - i.e. leather, or a waterford?
He shakes his head, holds his mouth open, bares his teeth, curls his lip, and sticks his nose out. He will still collect, but there are certain times when he acts like he's in pain (mostly when I stop him, slow him down, or back him up). The weird thing is that I have given him many opportunities to be free of bit pressure and he won't take advantage of them. I mentioned he needed retraining... the main things I'm working on are not jigging and stopping with a voice command. He's not a big fan of walking, and when he starts jigging or trotting I pull back - softly, but firmly - and immediately release. He acts like it hurts, but when I release him he starts jigging again after a few steps! He knows exactly what's going to happen but he does it anyway. The same thing with the stop... I tell him "woah," give him a second to stop, and then I use the reins to stop him and I back him up. Same thing - he acts like that hurts and then refuses to stop again. He knows FULL well what I want him to do.
Anyway... I've gone off topic.
I haven't tried a hanging snaffle, but that sounds interesting. I've tried rollers, ports, and gags.
Myler and Billy Allen I think are similar to what I was using before.
I haven't tried a Waterford. I think my trainer might have one that I can try.