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 Veteran
Posts: 226
 
Location: Middle Tennessee | What does this bit do? I have a gelding who I've had for a few years and STILL cannot get his bit right. He runs good in just about anything, but I still don't feel I've found that "RIGHT" bit. He used to be very hard in the mouth and wouldn't stop. Now I'm able to run him in an O-ring with no curb but our turns get a little strung out in it. I love him in a hack, but he gets too stiff. I need something with bend, but not too much, some whoa but not too much, and something to get his butt in the ground. I think he gets intimidated by bits with more whoa because he doesn't fire as hard in them.
This is the one I've been working in and plan to try this weekend. What do you think?
 (Gag bit.jpg)
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 Gag bit.jpg (74KB - 214 downloads)
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  Neat Freak
Posts: 11216
 
Location: Wonderful Wyoming | If you need him to get his butt under him and he gets strung out, I would go with a different bit. I only use chains on horses that literally need nothing on the pattern. I would try a Jr Cowhorse with a dog bone mouthpiece or just a simple snaffle mouthpiece. Something with a bit of gag might help warn him when you are about to ask for something, but I just think that chain is too soft and bendy for a horse like you are describing. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| Have you tried an o-ring combo? If he's getting strung out around the turns, you may need to do a little slow work to reinforce getting that hind leg up under him. |
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 To the Left
Posts: 1865
Location: Florida | I love that bit for a rodeo horse. It is all turn, no whoa. But every 6 months or so I had to switch to a low port bit to get my horse's butt under him. |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | Some gag action. Good for a horse that is light and responsive and not hard to stop. |
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 Cute Little Imp
Posts: 2747
Location: N Texas | Agree with the others, great for lifting the shoulder and turning, but not much "whoa". |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| The function of the bit is as follows,
The gag action applies gradual pressure to the lips of the mouth, and if you use a curb, curb pressure, and poll pressure. The more gag the more gradual the pressure is and more pressure is exerted if the mouthpiece hits the metal of the bit.
The chain mouth piece is hard for the horse to escape as even if they open their mouth the chain is always in contact. Some say a chain bit is a soft bit, but all those links applies pressure to the tongue, the more pressure applied, the more those edges dig into the tongue. This mouth piece also makes contact with the lips.
Some will say all the pressure points disperses the amount of force applied by the hands. Some will say all the pressure points can be overwhelming as so many points are used to apply pressure. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| I use that bit often, especially on horses that have had their mouth damaged. A rosie gag by reinsman. I disagree with Cheryl that the chain is severe. It works of the corners of the lips. If you need more whoa or he needs to be backed off the bit, I would go with a dog bone or twisted wire dog bone. I think you'll like it because he shouldn't feel intimidated. |
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Veteran
Posts: 226
Location: Middle Tennessee | Now that I've gotten him softened back up, I need a lighter bit/mouthpiece. I have ridden in O-ring and O-ring combos and I feel this is what he gets strung out in. I think he needs a slight shank to keep him under himself. He is stopping well now but has gotten way too stiff in his turns. Does this bit sound like one to try for him? If not, what would be a good bit for this scenario? |
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Expert
Posts: 1857
| It's a low leverage bit which should give you enough to keep him gathered up with out shutting him down. It'll definitely give you the bend. Play with the curb. Try a chain and leather, play with how tight. It'll change the feel of the bit. |
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Veteran
Posts: 226
Location: Middle Tennessee | Thanks! |
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 Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4557
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | You might try a mullen mouth combo. |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | RodeoGirlJodi - 2014-11-12 3:50 PM Now that I've gotten him softened back up, I need a lighter bit/mouthpiece. I have ridden in O-ring and O-ring combos and I feel this is what he gets strung out in. I think he needs a slight shank to keep him under himself. He is stopping well now but has gotten way too stiff in his turns. Does this bit sound like one to try for him? If not, what would be a good bit for this scenario?
Try a goostree simplicity, couple different mouthpieces, no chin chain, you should get plenty of bend and whoa if your horse is as soft as you say. If he's too bendy and not quite whoaing good enough add the chin chain. |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | FlyingJT - 2014-11-12 4:07 PM It's a low leverage bit which should give you enough to keep him gathered up with out shutting him down. It'll definitely give you the bend. Play with the curb. Try a chain and leather, play with how tight. It'll change the feel of the bit.
If your horse is easy to stop, you can also try it without the curb. That is how I use it on one of my geldings and I actully prefer the way it works sans curb. |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| I used a chain on my funny mouth mare, but i got the bit from l and w. He suggested that imget the one with out much gag. Itmworked wonderful on my mare she was body soft but it let me feel every inch of her body. Mare was so light did not have to hardly touch her. So even if it was severe i hardly touched her. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 421
| LMS - 2014-11-13 1:15 PM
RodeoGirlJodi - 2014-11-12 3:50 PM Now that I've gotten him softened back up, I need a lighter bit/mouthpiece. I have ridden in O-ring and O-ring combos and I feel this is what he gets strung out in. I think he needs a slight shank to keep him under himself. He is stopping well now but has gotten way too stiff in his turns. Does this bit sound like one to try for him? If not, what would be a good bit for this scenario?
Try a goostree simplicity, couple different mouthpieces, no chin chain, you should get plenty of bend and whoa if your horse is as soft as you say. If he's too bendy and not quite whoaing good enough add the chin chain.
I agree completely with this and was going to say the exact same thing! |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | IMO, this will not help to get him on his butt. Since you like him in a hack, try a Clampitt hack. Ronny Clampitt is on facebook, and he used to be a member here (don't know if he still is or not)...his username here was Clampitt. He hand makes them and they have more lift and sidepull than most hacks. He's also very knowledgeable and can answer questions about how they work for you. I've been very pleased with the ones I've used. Phone number is 580-333-1949. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| cheryl makofka - 2014-11-12 2:17 PM
The function of the bit is as follows,
The gag action applies gradual pressure to the lips of the mouth, and if you use a curb, curb pressure, and poll pressure. The more gag the more gradual the pressure is and more pressure is exerted if the mouthpiece hits the metal of the bit.
The chain mouth piece is hard for the horse to escape as even if they open their mouth the chain is always in contact. Some say a chain bit is a soft bit, but all those links applies pressure to the tongue, the more pressure applied, the more those edges dig into the tongue. This mouth piece also makes contact with the lips.
Some will say all the pressure points disperses the amount of force applied by the hands. Some will say all the pressure points can be overwhelming as so many points are used to apply pressure.
If you have to pull that hard, then you need a different bit or your horse needs more work off the barrels. Just like any bit, some horses like it and some don't. |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | GLP - 2014-11-14 11:15 AM cheryl makofka - 2014-11-12 2:17 PM The function of the bit is as follows, The gag action applies gradual pressure to the lips of the mouth, and if you use a curb, curb pressure, and poll pressure. The more gag the more gradual the pressure is and more pressure is exerted if the mouthpiece hits the metal of the bit. The chain mouth piece is hard for the horse to escape as even if they open their mouth the chain is always in contact. Some say a chain bit is a soft bit, but all those links applies pressure to the tongue, the more pressure applied, the more those edges dig into the tongue. This mouth piece also makes contact with the lips. Some will say all the pressure points disperses the amount of force applied by the hands. Some will say all the pressure points can be overwhelming as so many points are used to apply pressure. If you have to pull that hard, then you need a different bit or your horse needs more work off the barrels. Just like any bit, some horses like it and some don't.
Ditto  I would think if a horse has/needs to escape a bit is because the rider has heavy hands. If they are opening their mouths to escape the pressure I say you are heavy handed. Just my thoughts.  |
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Expert
Posts: 1857
| Southtxponygirl - 2014-11-14 11:36 AM
GLP - 2014-11-14 11:15 AM cheryl makofka - 2014-11-12 2:17 PM The function of the bit is as follows, The gag action applies gradual pressure to the lips of the mouth, and if you use a curb, curb pressure, and poll pressure. The more gag the more gradual the pressure is and more pressure is exerted if the mouthpiece hits the metal of the bit. The chain mouth piece is hard for the horse to escape as even if they open their mouth the chain is always in contact. Some say a chain bit is a soft bit, but all those links applies pressure to the tongue, the more pressure applied, the more those edges dig into the tongue. This mouth piece also makes contact with the lips. Some will say all the pressure points disperses the amount of force applied by the hands. Some will say all the pressure points can be overwhelming as so many points are used to apply pressure. If you have to pull that hard, then you need a different bit or your horse needs more work off the barrels. Just like any bit, some horses like it and some don't.
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