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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 317
Location: By my window on my rocker enjoyin a cracklin fire | I compete in timed events and trail ride useing a Jim Warner hack. My gelding is a total steady Eddie type horse. I am running NBHA this year and remember hearing someone tell me years ago to use a different bit for competing. What would be a good bit to use? Should I use 2 differ bits? I have a Million Dollar bit, jr cow horse bit, Wonder bit, I can purchase something differ too.
Allison |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 332
| I run in a jim warner, and do all flat and slow work with my christy draw or twisted snaffle. Although i can run and do everything in pretty much any bit. Honestly i know a of people that switch it up, a lot dont.
If you have a more or less carefree horse that doesnt NEED it switched, i wouldnt switch.If you switch to the wrong bit, you may run into issues. If he can remain level headed in the hack and respect it no matter what, id stick to the hack.
I would change it only if it becomes apparent that a switch may be needed.
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 Expert
Posts: 2276
Location: ohio-in my own little world with pretty ponies :) | I have a run bit that I mostly only use to run my mare. She is super bendy and has a hard time shutting down to stop after a run and that's the only thing that does the trick. At home I ride in a little s hack or jr cow horse most of the time. BUT so she doesn't associate that bit just to running I ride her in that maybe once a week or so but I have to be careful riding her in that bc it is so different than the other two. My others I haven't had two different bits. My advice, don't change if you don't have to. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
 
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | Why would you use a different bit for competing if this Jim Warner is working for your horse? Maybe use a different one for trail riding, but if the Jim W works dont change. |
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 Peecans
| Im not much of a bit changer, most the horses have their bit and that's what they get ridden in. They CAN be ridden in anything, and the ranch horses are in a boasell or sniffle if its icy incase they fall. If I have to really school one I will go to a snaffle to do slow work in.
One theroy is that your horse will know bit A is for quite and bit B is to race, I've seen horses this work for but I'd rather them just be settled at the race or trail ride regardless of bit.
Switching bits CAN be most helpful to the rider, some peoples hands change when they run if your hands get extremely light a "bigger" bit in the same style as your work / warmup bit can really help. Some say the same for the opposite if your hands get heavy use a lighter headgear to run, while it does help I think you should slow down in that case until you get soft.
However if it ain't broke don't fix it!!!!!!!!! |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2931
Location: North Dakota | Depends on the horse.
If the Jim W hack is working for you, why change?
I personally have different bits for different things with my horse, but you could certainly use one bit for everything. There isn't a rule that is going to work for every single horse. |
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Riding bit different than competing bit...