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Veteran
Posts: 103
| I have a horse who is coming on really nice. I ride him daily in a snaffle and work/run him in a Goostree Simplicity smooth mouth with bit guards. No tie down.
He works/runs pretty good in this set up but I have no whoa at all and it make me insecure - especially running back to a closed gate. Also, he gets on the muscle going into the arena and with this headgear I have to keep him on a pretty tight rein so he over-breaks at the poll and has his chin to his chest.
He's pretty sensitive so I can't put too heavy of a bridle on him but would like to start trying some other bits on him. I don't have that many of my own to choose from, and there aren't really any pro girls around here that can help me get it figured out or have bits for me to try.
My question is......how in the world does someone go about trying to figure out what bit would be best? There are SO many out there nowadays I am totally overwhelmed and don't really know where to start.
Any suggestions? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 618
| Trial and error. Do you have something with less gag and more rate. Something more balanced. If you ride with a snaffle regularly could you try an ed wright medium shank or something for running? |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
 
| Trial and error and understanding bit mechanics and having a feel for what is happening and what you want to happen differently.
I would go less gag, same mouth piece like an Ed Wright or jr cowhorse - along those lines. Try it, pick out what you like and don't like, and look for something else.
I'm a bit of a bit freak and enjoy having a quality collections on hand.  I try and buy used quality brands but I'll buy new if I just can't find something I really want to try. |
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | OhMax - 2016-08-07 8:59 AM
Trial and error and understanding bit mechanics and having a feel for what is happening and what you want to happen differently.
I would go less gag, same mouth piece like an Ed Wright or jr cowhorse - along those lines. Try it, pick out what you like and don't like, and look for something else.
I'm a bit of a bit freak and enjoy having a quality collections on hand. I try and buy used quality brands but I'll buy new if I just can't find something I really want to try.
My mother was/is a bit freak, and I inherited her habit.
Then I married a closet bit freak and ruined him hahaha.
I have bits that have never seen a headstall bc "just in case" lol.
To the OP:
As someone else mentioned, gain a knowledge of HOW bits work. What a gag does, what a longer shank does, etc. There are a ton of articles out there.
If you do have that understanding already, trust what you're thinking and just try it out.
My suggestion would be less gag, your horse seems to have figured out how to "get away" from it.
I've had my "new" horse for a year now, have probably run him 20-30 times and have used, oohhhh, 7 different bits on him. He'll make a run in any of them, but it's finding that perfect fit for my not-so-perfect hands.
My other gelding, my soulmate pretty much lol, will run in anything. I change his headgear up depending on how he's been during his workouts, how big/tiny the pattern is, etc.
And for every high dollar bit someone may suggest, there is usually a cheaper alternative. Just stick with quality brands and you'll be fine. |
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Veteran
Posts: 103
| Anyone else?
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Regular
Posts: 85
| Personally, I have a go to bridle that I always try first and then I adjust as needed. My go to is a Carol Goostree version of the Jr. Cowhorse. I love that it has a square gag versus the round gag that most Jr. Cowhorse bits have. I always start there and then determine if I need to go heavier, lighter or stay the same.
I agree with the above posts that you may want to find a little less gag and a little more stability/rate in your bridle. I would try the bit I mentioned above....but I don't like a whole lot of gag/slide in a bridle. Choosing a bit can always be difficult but most of the time you can find something without spending a whole lot on a "fix all" bit. Look in your friend's trailers lol and ask to try different things before you go out and buy. Good luck with your horse!!
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 575
| Lph88311 - 2016-08-08 9:25 AM
Personally, I have a go to bridle that I always try first and then I adjust as needed. My go to is a Carol Goostree version of the Jr. Cowhorse. I love that it has a square gag versus the round gag that most Jr. Cowhorse bits have. I always start there and then determine if I need to go heavier, lighter or stay the same.
I agree with the above posts that you may want to find a little less gag and a little more stability/rate in your bridle. I would try the bit I mentioned above....but I don't like a whole lot of gag/slide in a bridle. Choosing a bit can always be difficult but most of the time you can find something without spending a whole lot on a "fix all" bit. Look in your friend's trailers lol and ask to try different things before you go out and buy. Good luck with your horse!!
I was going to agree that a jr cowhorse would be my next try, but I'm thinking I need to add one of these to my collection now... lol |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1094
Location: Idahome | Like the others have said, trial and error but you have to know what works for your hands as well. Me personally, I like bits with just a small amount of gag, like a jr cowhorse or tender touch or sherry cervi. I have others on hand, but don't use them as often as they are just not right with my hands. With that said, I have a colt now that is cow bred and very ratey and light mouthed. She seems to be working well in the simplicity even though it is more gag than I typically like. I don't us ring snaffles much either after they need to be moved out of them. They just aren't my style, but occassionally I will put one on to run. I have sliding gags, but they move too much for me. |
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| I agree with whatever suits your hands. My hands suit gags and snaffles. Have you tried a chin strap with the simplicity? I have had a couple that needed the chin strap (some leather, some chain).
Edited by Kaye 2016-08-08 3:53 PM
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Veteran
Posts: 103
| I think you all are correct - my horse really breaks at the poll (too much) because the gag on the Simplicity is too long........
Anyone else have any suggestions?
I am so overwhelmed with the huge number/type of bits available these days it's making me crazy! |
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Sock Snob
Posts: 3021
| or a ring with a noseband. could do a chain lifter starting wirth like a 5 or 6 in lifter chain bit. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 618
| If you are local to me I'll let you try some of my bits. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1612
Location: Cocoa, Florida | If you're looking for more whoa (if it were me personally) I would move him into an oring combo bit, that way you're not adding shank + nose pressure, but the nose pressure may get his attention more then a heavier shanked bit. That's just what I would do though, I try to keep mine as light as possible, I run my good mare in a bozo side pull hack or S hack. I ride her in a short shank lifter during that week to keep her bend. |
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| Looks like general consensus is trial/error, I would agree.
Develop a general idea of bit sense, but you don't have to be a bit guru!
There are some I have to ride with heavier hands than what i would like, as well as different closed/open pens, walls, crowds or just different day different problems!
Some will get bit smart, in a good way as well as bad way and a change simply to change could help.
Don't overlook using same set up but add a caveson.
It is also very true that a harsher bit with different hands is not harsh at all. If you can make your run with a 'heavier bridle' and you can come in on out with more security/confidence and with a little more respect from him, thats a good day!
The best whatever used on one thats not healthy with good teeth, feet, etc., can make you crazy!! |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | If the simplicity works, you need to look up the rest of the goostree bits-the CG is a nice bit as are the double gag. most people that endorse bits go "up" in their designs for the same reasons you are looking for a bit. For example, sherry cervi has her square snaffle but then goes all the way to the long shank gag bit. Designers, generally like the bit to feel a certain way and then make a bigger bit accordingly. I agree with putting a chin strap/chain on the simplicity.... |
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 Expert
Posts: 3815
Location: The best kept secret in TX | I call JD Morrow with any and all problems. He has yet to give me a bit that hasn't worked. But if it ever did, I know he would take it back in a heartbeat and give me a different one to try. You can find him on Facebook. |
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  Sock eating dog owner
Posts: 4553
Location: Where the pavement ends and the West begins Utah | I would go with a combination bit. one that has the snaffle your currently using and a rope nose. It will give the rate you need and flexability. Take a look at L and W bits.com |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 788
| I agree, look at L&W they are very reasonably priced and you can find stuff that will work exactly like some of the way more expensive bits. I would try something with a short or medium shank and not a lot of gag. I use the Ed wright short shank for really touchy horses, but there are plenty of bits very similar that you could try. |
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Member
Posts: 24
Location: Canada | 3-piece twisted dog bone jr. cowhorse helped with my young, strong headed guy! Not too harsh and really softens them up! |
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