Exploring the World of Horse Bits And How To Choose The Right One for You.
Interested in a bit of information on bits, I see. Well I got you and will try to not be too punny while writing about them. Well, maybe just a bit.
( Side note: I personally don’t like using the term harsh to describe bits. Seems weird to think that someone wants to use a “harsh” tool with their horse. It always felt weird saying it. Firm or corrective sure, but “harsh” baah)
A horse bit is a piece of tack that is connected to the bridle and goes in the animals’ mouth. The mouthpiece rests in a gap between the incisors and premolars. Reins are connected to either side of the bit on rings. These reins are used by the rider to control movements of the animal. Connections between the rider and the horse are key. The better the connection the better the rider’s intentions will be communicated to the animal.
As pressure is applied to the reins, a force is applied to the bit and this causes pressure on the tongue and hard palate of the mouth.
Now when I say pressure, I don’t necessarily mean pain.
When the reins have no pressure applied to them, there is no pressure on the bit.
With that being said, bits are not foolproof. If someone is rude and yanks on a horses’ mouth or whip their head around, it is going to cause discomfort. If the horse is uncomfortable you are not going to get the desired results you are looking for from the ride.
But, with training you and the horse can learn to use the bit correctly and have a successful ride.
The main two bits that people use are either going to be a type snaffle or a curb/leverage bit.
The thing you will notice fairly quickly is that there are hundreds of different mixed features for either snaffle or curb bits. I am going to point out a lot of the common ones you see out there to try and make the choice easier.
Mullen snaffles are as tame as you can get in the bit world. They have no joint and are just a rubber or polymer rod. They are very good for those sensitive mouths. Sorry I don’t have a picture for it right now.
O or D ring snaffles are the most common bit and are generally what you think of when you hear the words “horse bits” They have a single joint and are a fairly fixed mouthpiece. Meaning that it doesn’t really move around in the horses’ mouth. These types of bits put pressure on the tongue, corners of the mouth, and the bars of the mouth. These bits are good for beginners whether that’s the riders or the horse itself.
Another type of snaffle bit is a french Snaffle. These are double jointed, giving the bit a little more wiggle room in the mouth. This makes them better for softer, sensitive mouths.
Like the french snaffle, Waterford snaffles have a lot more play in them and thus moves around a lot more in the mouth. These are also a good choice for a soft and sensitive mouth because they evenly distribute pressure. Sorry I don’t have a picture for it right now.
Eggbutt snaffles are kind of in between a D ring and a loose ring snaffle. It has the movement you’re looking for but more rigidity in the mouth allowing for more contact.
Copper/roller snaffles are one of my favorites. These are great for a horse that has a tight jaw and you need them to work their mouth to release tension. The copper gives the bit a taste that the horses seem to enjoy and causes them to salivate more. These copper pieces can be a fixed bar or as rollers. The horse will play with these rollers in their mouths thus, releasing tension in the face.
A full cheek snaffle is an option that is worth looking into. This snaffle has cheek pieces that put pressure inside and also along the sides of the animal’s mouth. This gives you more control and is great for a non-responsive horse with little training under their girth.
If you are going to use this type of bit, it is important to use keepers. Keepers are a piece of safety equipment/bit positioning leather that is used to hold in place the cheek bars .
If you have a horse that has a hard mouth and is a bad puller, then a twisted snaffle might be needed. These bits are literally twisted bars for the mouthpiece and with that added texture, there is added pressure. These bits are not advised for a horse with a softer mouth. Sorry I don’t have a picture for that right now.
A curb bit is a bit that is used when you need leverage. These are great for keeping the head up and thus allowing the shoulders to move more freely. Usually the ones you see have a slightly curved mouthpiece to allow for more comfort on the tongue and a curved port. But, they do make more rigid mouthpieces with more aggressive ports.
If you’d like my opinion, I personally like Myer branded bits. Most of their bits have a curved mouthpiece which allows for the tongue to be more comfortable in the mouth. They have a good reputation for being the kindest bits on the market with multiple different styles and shapes to choose from. I highly recommend checking them out.
It all boils down to the experience of both you and the horse.
If you have a young, inexperienced horse, they are going to usually have a sensitive mouth. Or on the flip side, you can have a horse that is a strong puller and needs that control to maintain safety.
My personal opinion is go soft first.
If you are getting a sluggish response or an attitude then maybe going up a small amount in firmness is necessary. Don’t just jump to the firmest bit you can find. Especially if you don’t know what you’re doing or if your horse has no clue what to do with the thing in its mouth.
Doing this will :
A. physically hurt the poor things mouth
-Whether that’s sores, cuts, bruising
-Heck I’ve even heard of bone damage from inexperience and frankly just negligence while using a bit incorrectly.
Or
B. You’ll have no control over the 1000lb animal.
-When bits are incorrectly used, you run a risk of “numbing” the horses’ mouth, to where they won’t pick up (or just ignore) your cues.
-If the animal is not listening to you, then you have no control. Also when people don’t get the results they’re looking for, they put an even more firm bit in. So you can see how this can cause events to spiral from there
TRUST ME! I’ve unfortunately seen it.
When I worked at a rescue, I used to work with an ex barrel racers’ horse whose owner unfortunately didn’t race correctly. The woman ripped this poor girls’ mouth around each barrel for years and that horse remembered every bit of it. She became sensitive to anything being near her mouth and would immediately rear up. You couldn’t even give her dewormer orally without her going airborne. To which she once reared, tossed her head into a beam and knocked herself out for a minute. I know it’s horrible.
(Side note if your worried, she was alright and is now happily adopted in a great, forever home)
This is not meant to scare you away from using bits, but to inform you that careful attention should be given when trying different bits and how you’re using them. Bits are safe, humane, and extremely useful. But be warned, if used incorrectly the results can be horrifying.
Yes, I know this is a lot of information and can somewhat feel overwhelming. When in doubt, try a simple D or O ring snaffle. That is what I have regularly used for years and it has worked out well for me. If you’re still in doubt ask your instructor for their opinion and suggestions.
Have a safe ride,
-Christina
