9012 - Team Up Bit 12mm Diameter 70mm Rings

 You asked me to let you know how I got on after calling you for bitting advice about 8 months ago. My horse, Leo, is a 12 year old 16.2 ex flat racing TB that I have owned for almost 5 years. He was ridden in a Happy Mouth loose ring snaffle with a 'peanut' lozenge as he is very light in the mouth and has brakes. He seemed to resent any other metal bits I had previously experimented with, but I had to buy a new Happy Mouth bit every few months due to him chewing them, creating sharp edges. In February last year, I moved him from a basic livery yard to a proper Equestrian Centre, Hargate Hill in Glossop, Derbyshire. With so many facilities now at my disposal, I was able to do so much more with him than just hack or do limited schooling/jumping in a grass paddock. I started to have regular flatwork lessons and competed in local clear round & novice SJ with some success. However, this led me to understand that there was a lot of room for improvement, especially in our flatwork. To address the additional work I was asking Leo to do I had his "back, tack, tooth & hoof" MOT done - as I always had done anyway. Everything was fine so I now felt comfortable to change his bit to see if we could improve his way of going. I called and gave you all this information and you recommended the Neue Schule Team Up. I hired it from Bit Bank and within a week knew it was the right bit for Leo…so I bought it. It’s true, the secret’s in the Salox! He didn’t resent the metal at all. My instructor commented on our first lesson using it that he sought the contact more readily and easily and didn’t worry so much in the mouth. Since then, we have gone from strength to strength. My chiropractor has noticed that Leo is less tight through the poll and back, more free around the shoulder and hips. Of course my regular flatwork lessons have contributed a great deal, as have ensuring that Leo has the correct dental, tack, hoof and back health check regimes in place, but I remain convinced that buying the Neue Schule Team Up bit was the final jigsaw piece that brought it all together. Because of this I have been recommending Neue Schule, and the Bit Bank to every caring horse owner I know.  

Review by: Lorraine on 1st May 2011