4/11/2023 0 Comments Horse bits![]() ![]() Hunters, jumpers, dressage, Western pleasure, reining, and cutting competitions have rules surrounding what bits you are allowed to use in the ring. The riding discipline that you participate in will play a part in your choice of bit. Horses shouldn’t be “bitted up” in an effort to mask an issue that can be solved with the appropriate training. It’s important to note that a training bit should be used as a tool. For example, if your horse doesn’t stop well, you may have to use a more powerful bit to train your horse’s stop with light aids. ![]() The ultimate goal should always be to have a responsive horse in the gentlest bit possible, but sometimes, different bits can help overcome challenges in your horse’s learning. If you have specific training issues with your horse that you want to address, this will affect your choice of bit. They require desensitization and often don’t respond to gentle bits or light rein aids. Horses that have been ridden rough and in harsh bits often have hard mouths. Young or green horses have sensitive mouths and require gentle bits in combination with gentle hands. They are often referred to as “soft-mouthed” or “hard-mouthed” horses. Some horses are more sensitive to rein pressure than others. If you don’t yet have independent hands, you should only use gentle bits while learning, to avoid causing pain to your horse. While riding, your hands can move up, down, and to the side. This means that the rider should be balanced in the saddle and not placing pressure on the reins to balance themselves. Even small differences in bit construction can affect the way that a horse responds to rein aids.Ī rider’s hands should move independently of the rest of the body. The wide variety of horse bits available means there is one suit for every different combination of horse, rider, goal, and discipline. This enables the rider to use either type of bit action as they see fit. Pelham and Elevator bits are used with double reins, so one set of reins runs on a snaffle ring while the other runs on the curb ring. ![]() The Pelham, Kimberwicke, and Elevator bits can operate with the characteristics of a snaffle and a curb. While all bits can be classified as either snaffles or curbs, three types of English bits operate as an “in-between” category. The horse will receive pressure from the curb strap under its chin, and then the pressure will be applied to different parts of the horse’s mouth, depending on the type of mouthpiece. These shanks act as a lever when rein pressure is applied. The mouthpiece doesn’t matter, the cheekpiece does! Curb bits can have long shanks or short and all different styles, but they always have shanks that connect the bit to the rein. This bit is quite gentle, so it’s not ideal for training.Īll in all, we think this is the best horse bit you can buy this year.Ĭurb bits can have any of the listed mouthpieces and about a dozen others. While a three-piece bit is generally milder on a horse’s mouth than a two-piece, single-break snaffle, some horses simply don’t like it. If you’re switching between different horses, you may be better off with a loose ring snaffle. The one downside of having an eggbutt snaffle is that the bit must fit your horse’s mouth perfectly. The eggbutt-style cheekpieces on this snaffle bit mean you won’t need bit guards like you would with a loose ring snaffle bit. The copper mouthpiece promotes salivation in your horse, so they won’t become uncomfortable wearing this bit for long periods of time. It’s a great bit for everyday riding, safe in the hands of inexperienced riders, and useful in both Western and English disciplines. The three-piece style makes this bit super gentle. This Linked Eggbutt Snaffle Bit is a three-piece snaffle that comes in various mouth sizes, ranging from 4.5 to 5.75 inches. Every equestrian should have an all-purpose snaffle bit in their tack room. ![]()
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