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 Goin' on the Warpath
Posts: 1386
  
Location: IN | What bit do you use and why?
I'm learning about different bits right now and the purpose each bit serves. Trying to find one to help my mare work better. |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
 
Location: Texas | I use a snaffle bit to start my horses out with and then eventually graduate them up to a smooth snaffle wonder bit. I just like the way the bit works and it works for my horses. |
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Goin' on the Warpath
Posts: 1386
Location: IN | BarrelRacing4Christ - 2014-04-14 9:46 PM
I use a snaffle bit to start my horses out with and then eventually graduate them up to a smooth snaffle wonder bit. I just like the way the bit works and it works for my horses.
That's what I'm using right now. She's not a huge fan. But she's not a huge fan of anything yet. Lol |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| This is just a bit of what I work/run in ...
start in a smooth snaffle. work into a square or twisted snaffle (if needed)
advance to a myler with a low port - these come in o-rings, d-rings, or shanks depending on what you need - I happen to have all 3 as I love it.
I have a handful of gags bits including goosetrees and such that I use for different horses at different times.
My finished mare for cow work and anything not barrels or mounted shooting - works well in a custom bit that is a 3 piece dog bone with a little bitty copper roller in the middle. Its a fav for both of us. - can be found here - http://www.bitsandblankets.com/index.html
I think the thing to remember with bits is that not only that your horse needs to "like it" but that you as a rider are aware of how you should "ride the bit" - Meaning, I can get heavier handed with a gag bit but riding a myler low port shank, I need to be incredibly soft with my hands and get the feel from my horse by my seat before I ask anything from my hands.
Good Luck! |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Mine start out in an o ring 3 piece snaffle. The reason why the three piece, is it does not pinch the tongue, the bar in the middle prevents this, but still gives tongue pressure as well as bar and lip pressure. The o ring also works similar to a gag because when you pick up on the reins, you do not get immediate pressure, the reins slide along the ring then make contact. This gives the horse a chance to feel the pressure before it becomes constant.
The second bit some will move up to is a sweet six with the lifesaver mouthpiece. This gives them gag pressure and poll pressure, it is a step up from the snaffle as the horse experiences more pressure when you pick up the reins. This bit also introduces curb pressure.
Both of these bits have a lot of bend, and not much else.
For a horse that needs lift or rate while maintaining bend, I go up to the Sheri cervi diamond lifter. This has a 1:1 ratio so it has equal poll and lifting pressure. This bit I find keeps the nose down and has more shoulder control and rate with the poll, curb, and gag action while keeping bend.
To get a horse to straighten up in their turns I go to Ed wright shanked bits still with the 1:1 ratio.
If the horse is stalling on the backside or has too much bend on the backside, I will try a s shanked hack but with this hack you do loose shoulder control and whoa |
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Bits