Posted 2016-08-07 2:39 PM Subject: Educate me on basic bits
Expert
Posts: 1477 Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton
I've got to change bits on my horse. He's running in a Mullen O ring and has 0 whoa and and it's starting to have no turn either. I know very little about bits. I've always used what the previous owner or a trainer has told me to use. I want to figure this out on my own. What kind of mouth piece does whoa come from and maybe a little turn? He doesn't need much at all. I ride him in a loose twisted wire O ring at home but I wouldn't be comfortable running in it.
Posted 2016-08-07 6:33 PM Subject: RE: Educate me on basic bits
Expert
Posts: 1280 Location: Texas
I like a 3-piece (twisted with dog bone) short shank with a little gag. Something like an Ed Wright bit. You can go with a medium or long shank if you need still more whoa, or a combination (same mouth) with a rope nose if you need a little more control. The shank and curb chain will give you a bit of leverage for a stop. The 3 pc mouth is comfortable for the horse and does not apply lots of tongue & bar pressure like a mullen mouth. It will work more on the corners of the mouth. Draw/gag type bits will provide poll pressure as well as working on the corners of the mouth. It is sometimes helpful to change bits so that you can give the bars a rest, for example, while using some other pressure points that have not yet been desensitized.
Posted 2016-08-07 11:39 PM Subject: RE: Educate me on basic bits
Expert
Posts: 1477 Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton
I did an exhibition today in a bit just like his but with a different mouth piece. I was kinda stuck between trying it and a Jr Cowhorse with a dog bone but went with it Anyway when I got to the first barrel which is our problem barrel and reared straight up. So I'm not changing bits right now. He already had a appointment the 13th doe chiro so in going to get him to check his teeth while I'm there even though they were just done a couple months ago.
Educate me on basic bits
