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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
 
Location: TN | I run my horse in one because it works pretty well. But I'm curious to know what makes YOU decide to use one on a horse? I noticed Taylor Jacob runs Bo in one and it got me wondering. Also. what is your favorite mouthpiece or shank style with combo bits? |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 534
| I run one of my mares in a O'ring Combo. The trainer rode her in one the last day she was there and she really responded to it. My mare is sensitive to the snaffle, but also loves bitless. The O'ring Combo kinda made it best of both worlds so to speak. Gives her nose pressure but also the taste of the bit. She works very well in it.
As for mouth piece, I would go for a snaffle mouth piece, smooth. Or a three piece, smooth. |
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 Goat Giver
Posts: 23166
  
| I actually prefer combos, they work with MY hands. The Hodges with a chain and the Green Futurity Special are two of my favorites. I have sort of gotten away from them and use a lot of Mylers. Daughter likes hacks, at least on one horse. We ride different and like different bits on the same horses at times. |
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 Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| I use a Ring Combo with a dogbone. My horse doesn't need a lot, which makes the nosepiece nice, and when he needs help, there's something with a little more there. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1035
Location: TN | It's really interesting that you all mentioned using a combo for when a horse is light mouthed because my boy is the opposite. He doesn't love bits (works well of leg/seat cues) and gets very pushy/strong once he's rolling on so I guess he does well in the combo because the noseband helps guide him without putting all the pressure on his mouth  . I personally don't like how stiff it makes him, but since he works in it I guess I'll use it. I love learning about bits and I was just curious why everyone would chose to use a combo bit over a regular snaffle, gag, or shank bit. He lopes a beautiful pattern in the Cervi short shank 3 piece at home, but it wasn't enough when I tried to run him in it at a barrel race. |
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Fire Ant Peddler
Posts: 2881
| Since I live near Martha Josey many people use the Million Dollar bit. I am not a big fan of the combo bit but to transition one from an O Ring to another bit, the combo O Ring is good. Don Wasson makes a combo bit that has a tiny little shank called the Teardrop. It is also a good transition bit. Of all the combo bits my Teardrop is my favorite. It is light and takes some of the pressure off the mouth and applies it to the nose. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 989
| I started to run in a combo bit this last year. My horse is super light, but he gets REALLY headstrong on the pattern. I was having huge issues with getting him to get his hind end under him for his first barrel and to stay collected all the way around it. I found that the million dollar combo is perfect.
I can be finger light with it, and he knows it is there, but if he pulls something, it is there for me and he listens to it. The nose band gets his butt underneath him and is the only bit he will wrap first barrel hard in. We have actually knocked it a few times this year.. and I was super happy! I know lol!
I was at a small indoor though, and he was turning too hard and I couldnt push him past.. put the same mouth piece, medium shank ed wright... no combo, no noseband.. just to loosen him up a bit. He went back to pretty much drifting off the backside of the first, but the wall was close enough it pushed him around. Back to combo, back to wrapping it.
I have a sharon Camarillo that I am excited to try as it seems well thought out for the design... the MJ mouthpiece is a bit strong if "I" get too excited.. I also have a myler to try this year. See which one works the best and likes both of us the best and go from there. |
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24953
Location: WYOMING | 99.9% of the time I wouldnt use a combo. Dont suit me. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1131
| I like how most of you are saying that you use it because your horses are light. I use one on my gelding because he's a total donkey. lol, we don't call it the mule bit for nothing. It's a super long shank twisted wire combination, and it's the only thing I can get him rode in on the rare days he gets rode.
I have worked the mare in several different ones, she runs fairly well in a short shank twisted wire combination, and we are about to try her in a o ring bumper bit with the twisted noseband to see how that works with her (tried it once but she wasn't finished enough for it) |
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Miss Laundry Misshap
Posts: 5271
| I think it depends on the combo bit on how severe it is.
I think the Ring Combos are lighter, the short shank or sweet 6 is lighter, and the longer shank you get, the more severe they are, just like with a regular bit.
Also the mouthpiece plays a huge role. Chains or dogbones are going to be softer, twisted snaffles or square snaffles a little more, depending on size, and mullen mouth and mules more severe.
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | I'm not a fan of a combo bit. Just doesn't suit me is the only reason I have if that makes any sense. I used to have one hanging in the trailer but sold it. |
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| It just seemed like my hands work the best with a combo bit. I guess I like the fact that all the pressure isn't just on their mouth. I don't usually ride at home with one but racing I do. |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Any bit can be light or harsh in certain hands. I have used a o ring 3 piece combo on horses that don't have the natural rate, as when I bump then with the combo, they are getting cues from the bit, noseband, curb pressure, and poll pressure, generally all theses cues at once will get them to rate without me having to continually pull on their face.
There are also some horses where all the cues are sensory overload and they can't handle a combo bit. It all comes down to the rider and horse. |
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