Copper roller trials

 After discussing bitting options for Pyro with Brynne last lesson, I tracked down a couple of the more common and less expensive options: mouthpieces with copper rollers.

Happy Mouth contour double jointed copper roller flat eggbutt...

... which is a mouthful for a bit I think might check a lot of boxes for Pyro.

Reinsman Junior Cowhorse Dogbone with copper roller, a similar short-shanked curb bit

After another ride of him chomping on the slim flexi Winderen, I decided I had to try something else. I brought both bits out to the barn and let him wear them loose in his stall (under supervision) so I could get them fitted and observe what he thought about them with no pressure.

biiiiiig yawn (I think the width of the center piece is appropriate for his anatomy)

"hang on, mom, my eye is itchy"

More concerned by what the other horses were doing than the new bit in his mouth

I've always loved this headstall on him, and I was pleased with the fit of the bit itself.

More yawning

Inspired by the chill bareback ride I had on Missy, revisiting her western skills...

Please hold for a brief Missy intermission

Ol' gal's still got it

And her hocks are feeling good

Prettiest mare

Her western curb

Now back to our regularly scheduled Pyro post

...I decided to introduce Pyro to riding in a western curb bit for the first time.

even MORE YAWNING

This was his first experience with a curb, so I introduced it gently on the ground...

...before hopping up bareback because I'm not sure any of my western saddles fit him currently.

He has been learning neck reining from the start, but riding one handed with a curb bit was definitely a test of that skill.

He occasionally rolled the copper roller on the bit.

However, he didn't open his mouth when I'd pick up the reins.

He was somewhat sticky at first moving his shoulders left.

He smoothed it out by the end of the ride though.

Happily reaching out to the end of the rein with a quiet mouth

He rolled the copper more at the canter than the other gaits, but he seemed pretty content to jog and lope along. Good spotty critter, *pats*

After that ride, I was cautiously optimistic that he might like this style. He got a day off while I drove Missy, then we tried some dressage in the happy mouth.

Pre ride, just because he's cute

Pyro wasn't the only good spotty critter with me that day.

I got to take him down the hill to the outdoor arena for the first time in ages, and it was delightful. The sun was shining, birds were singing, breeze was keeping us cool, and bugs were minimal. (I only swatted a couple deer flies off us both, and he very politely told me there was a horse fly on his butt so I could swat it.)

Dearest readers, he was SO GOOD. Like with the western curb, he definitely rolled the copper piece occasionally (most frequently at the canter), but he didn't *chew* on the bit. In general he was much quieter in the bridle.

*swats bug* *proceeds to back with a quiet mouth*

slo-mo gif showing how quiet and steady in the bridle he was

canter transition with no fireworks

some rolling of the copper piece at the canter (also Tessa <3)

I'm gonna need a few more rides to see if this bit is what he likes (for now), but I remain cautiously optimistic. 

"Is everybody happy?!" "You bet yer ass we are!"

I also continue to be amazed by how Pyro is using his body with the refitted WOW saddle. It might be a combination of a lot of things, such as him maturing in his 6 year old year, but it feels like it's becoming more and more easy for him to engage the right muscles, step under himself, lift his back, and travel forward in a relaxed manner, and I attribute at least some of it to improved saddle fit.

He helped cart my Pivo + tripod to and from the outdoor arena.

With Tess following at heel naturally

I couldn't decide which way was better to carry the tripod, across his withers or under my arm. He didn't mind either way (and yes I dropped my reins for this pic).

Handsome boy post ride

Regardless of whether we end up using these bits long term or not, they were a great couple rides with my boy.