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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
 
Location: My own little world :) | What are everyone's go to bits? Whether its for colts, intermediates, or seasoned vets what do you have to have and why? Also, when you go out to move cows and whatnot do you use the same bits or do you like something different? Just curious so let er rip! And please explain your reasoning :) |
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Expert
Posts: 1218
 
Location: Too far from home | I like a ring snaffle, smooth and twisted and a great Jr Cowhorse I have that has an especially thick mouth piece. I ride those bits on everything. Interestingly enough, I have a dear friend that doesn't like the Jr. Cowhorse and uses a similar Ed Wrigtht. I think different folks like different bits more than different horses like different bits. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
Location: My own little world :) | I guess I am asking because I'm finding that I really like trying new bits. Not that I'm trying to overcome any problems I'm facing with my horses but rather I just like to learn how different ones work and how I can use them effectively. I also think it is fun to teach my horses to use a variety of bits. I just figure they more they know the better they will be.
Right now I am riding horses aged 2 to 5 and I primarily use a smooth and a square snaffle. I also have a smooth and a twisted loomis gag, a little s hack, a Les Vogt Sidewinder, a Les Vogt elevator bit, a Sharon Camarillo tender touch w/lifesave, a Carol Goosetree Simplicity, and a mild correction bit. I don't use them all on all the horses yet but I would like work them all into them eventually. I also really like to just ride in a halter from time to time. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| 1. O-ring (generally twisted snaffle or dog bone)
2. jr cow horse (twisted 2 piece or dog bone)
3. short shank hacks (jim warner, Johnson, little s)
4. short-med shank gags (ed wright, MJ has one I like, L&W) |
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 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | I'm really sad, I bought a jr cowhorse and for some unknown reason, my horse absolutely hated it. I really thought I was gonna like it. |
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Expert
Posts: 1280
Location: Texas | 3pc twisted wire snaffle/gag with a dog bone and I just got a new hackamore that I love |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | My horse doesn't like anything laying across his tongue so I like ported bits. The Mike Beers ported chain is nice, as is the Pretzel by Ed Wright and the ported lifter from L&W bits. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| Jr cowhorse. Three piece
Edited by streakysox 2014-12-30 12:02 AM
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  A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | 1. Smooth small o-ring snaffle
2. chain mouth rosie style gag bit
3. Short shank lifter (I am starting to really like the dog bone mouthpieces)
4. Simplicity style gag
5. Little S (it's my geldings running bit)
6. Sweet six
7. Some simple o-ring combos with different mouthpieces
I like playing with different mouthpieces vs different bits. You can really change the way a horse reacts to the bit with a difference in mouthpiece. I've had really good luck with the chain mouths. A variety of horses work well in them.
A small o-ring is what everything is started in. They aren't moved up unless they need it. My gelding works in a short shank lifter. He needs the extra refinement and lift for circles and slow work or he gets lazy. The rosie gag worked really well on a mare that needed to be reminded on how to use her butt. It also got her shoulder up and her whole body more square. The simplicity worked the same for a different mare. It got her to get down on her but more and a little more control than a snaffle but not as rough as a shanked bit. If that makes any sense. Lol.
Edited by hlynn 2014-12-30 12:05 AM
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 422
Location: Fort Bragg North Carolina | Same here I've never had a horse that liked a jr cwhrse |
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Curve Ball
Posts: 2258
Location: Pelham, TN | Bits by Shallow Creek www.shallowcreekbit.com
SC-75 Super Port with the twisted snaffle
SC-33 Colt Bit with 3 piece dogbone
SC-075 KB Ring Bit (made for Llave) twisted snaffle
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 499
Location: ARKANSAS | My one and only go to bit is an O-Ring Combo with a dog bone. But more So This is the bit i train in ALL the time, i start out with a snaffle but i get them out as soon as possible and go to the combo. I think its more because the combo FITS MY HANDS better, i ride really light handed, and I feel like i can communicate better to young horses. Some horses i have, never come out of this bit, that is what they are trained in, and i run them in it, and they never have another bit put on them. I have a 23 yr old thats only had 2 bits his entire life!!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| 1. Little S Hack
2. O-ring twisted wire snaffle
3. Short shank dogbone Sherry Cervi lifter bit |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | I also love the dogbone Jr Cowhorse. Just a nice all around bit. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | my short shank twisted wire gag bit by sherry cervi |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| Go To Bits -
Flaharty O ring, twisted - found this recently and am in LOVE. - I've started two colts in it now and my 3 yo really loves it for sortings and mounted shooting. It is shaping up to be my personal favorite for many things.
Bull Parker dog bone, short shank - Hand made bit that every horse I have droped in it works really really well. Currently run my mounted shooting mare in it and sort cattle in it too.
Mike Beers Chain bit - works well on my mare for tie-down. I can just hold her in the box, release, and let her do the work when I sit. Real nice balance to it too.
Cervi short shank lifter dog-bone - barrel bit for my finished mare. I can also run mounted shooting in it. I like the feel for the finished mare as I barely touch it and she is prepping for the actual cue.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
Location: London Ontario | I love a good old twisted wire snaffle. This and a set of split reins and training fork it kind of my go-to. I like to go back and school in it(heavy dressage movements and reining work). |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | loomis, goostree simplicity, ed wright short and medium shank, Dave Elliot Spur up 03 long shank, pozzi hack if i want to use a hack. |
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Veteran
Posts: 111
| I use a Fred Hunter bit on my gelding.....he loves it! Its the Show To Win. I find i get my horses too bendy and this helps me with that. 
Edited by trulyaroyaljem 2014-12-30 11:07 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | I start colts in a regular old snaffle bit with some weight to it, and I've really really come to like my off brand little S hackamore. It's softer than the Reinsmans and I feel like it fits my horse's faces better. I like my short shank mylar bit with the barrel center so it's like a 3 piece with a little bit more stability.
If I'm riding my horse that's really really broke and I've put a really good handle on him I like to use a ported Greg Darnall correction bit, I've ridden quite a few horses that seem to like it. I just use it for general riding and for tuning on certain things.
Edited by redmansmyman11 2014-12-30 11:19 AM
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Location: South Dakota | I like the Fred Hunter All Around To Win...helps keep her shoulders level, you are able to get a little flex/bend, it also helps them to flex at the poll. I haven't tried running barrels with it, but sure like it for dry work and just riding. Light hands are a must...pinkie finger control. |
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 I am Woman hear me Roar
Posts: 3395
Location: Choctaw, Oklahoma | I found an L&W copper wire wrapped life saver o ring. I love the feel of this bit and both 9yr old and 2yr old pack it well. I bought a Jr cow horse version and it's good too! |
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 Poor Cracker Girl
Posts: 12150
Location: Feeding mosquitos, FL | Every Ed Wright lifter they make. I'm a junkie. At some point in their life, everybody has one of those in their mouth. Prefer the three piece dogbone though I did get L&W to make me a similar lifter with a chain mouth for a colt with a low palate and it is excellent. Those lifters with a little bit of gag just work for me.
For a stronger horse I like the Pretzel and the Molly Powell Rate and Turn with the chain port.
Never cared for o-rings too much though I do have a collection somehow. If I have to use one for whatever reason, I prefer the ones with a stop instead of a loose ring. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Depends on the horse
3 piece o ring snaffle I ride all my colts in. Depending on their reaction is where I go from there
Dutton sliding gag for my horses that are front end heavy, dutton recommended this and it was night and day difference, with these bits you need 2 wrinkles at the corner of the mouth. 3 piece mouth
Myler Lynn Mckenzie short shanked gag if I need a little more then the snaffle but not much shoulder control
Dave Elliott spur up bit Mullen mouth for my one who only works in a Mullen mouth, I do have a 3 piece as well, I have more shoulder control then the myler and still have nice bend and rate
Sheri cervi diamond lifter short shank this bit is heavier then the Elliott and I find I have a lot of shoulder control and some rate. Very similar to the Elliott but the shanks are more straight which is a different feel
Charmaine James grasshopper when I need rate at high speeds
S shank when I want to stiffen them up and dont need shoulder control, they have to be very broke before I put them in this
Ed wright fixed bits with three piece, I use these when I don't want gag. This will stiffen them up in their turns |
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 A Bit of a Grammar Nut
Posts: 1788
Location: floating down a river | I love my short shank Marlene McRae bit. It feels good in my hands and is soft enough to use as a working bit. If I were just moving cattle, I would probably just use this bit. It is the first I grab from my tack room. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1526
Location: Texas | Kathy James, Jr Cowhorse, square D Ring, twisted D Ring, new bit I just bought from Troy Flahardy, no hit bit, Danyelle Campbell
These are all I use pretty much. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 460
| For the lighter mouthed horses I LOVE (my most favorite bit in the world) is a jr cowhors =] It has a lot of lift for their shoulders around the turn and isn't much of a step up from just a snaffle. On a horse that is very seasoned and doesn't have much whoa and rate, my most favorite is the martha josey 5 combo bit! Not quite sure if thats the actual name or not haha but it has the hack noseband and a 5" shank. LOTS of whoa! You barely have to use any pressure and those tougher mouthed horses will sit down and turn for you. In my experience, those two are the best for their situations =] Just my 2 cents =p |
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I am Woman hear me Roar
Posts: 3395
Location: Choctaw, Oklahoma | TrackinBubba - 2014-12-30 2:04 PM
Every Ed Wright lifter they make. I'm a junkie. At some point in their life, everybody has one of those in their mouth. Prefer the three piece dogbone though I did get L&W to make me a similar lifter with a chain mouth for a colt with a low palate and it is excellent. Those lifters with a little bit of gag just work for me.
For a stronger horse I like the Pretzel and the Molly Powell Rate and Turn with the chain port.
Never cared for o-rings too much though I do have a collection somehow. If I have to use one for whatever reason, I prefer the ones with a stop instead of a loose ring.
I would love to see your 3 piece bits!! My collection is growing, and I'd like to get a few ed wright's eventually.
Edited by JRust 2015-01-01 3:39 PM
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What are you top go to bits???