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 Expert
Posts: 1631
   
Location: Somewhere around here | Who of you out there uses the same bit that you ride in at home and use at a competition? Why is that? Just trying to learn here  |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 417
Location: CA | I do. The mare in my avatar runs in a twisted wire snaffle. She can be ridden in pretty much anything and is in the bridle, but is super broke, pretty sensitive, and doesn't really need much. Sometimes I ride her at home in a smooth snaffle, but she's just laid back and lazy enough that if I ride her in the smooth or don't put on spurs, she'll be just a tad lazy/heavy. Other than that, she rides very consistent and doesn't need any switch ups between home and races. |
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 Shoot Yeah
Posts: 4273
Location: Where you need a paddle... Oregon! | I trail ride, warm up, do arena exercises, etc. in an o-ring snaffle (Clinton Anderson set up) because I can. She's finished and in the bridle, but I use the snaffle for warming up and arena stuff mainly to keep her soft'ish, because she is fairly dull and doesn't have a whole lot of try/sensitivity. The rein set up is also handy for trail riding.
I do gaming in a sherry cervi 3 piece dog bone because she does pretty good in that. It is a gag and gives her plenty of notice.
I use a mylar when I'm' mounted shooting because it's a one-rein bit.
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 629
| One of my mares trail rides in a little s hack, but when we are exercising and running she's in a O ring combo.
My other mare trail rides and exercises in a twisted snaffle and runs in a jr cowhorse. She's very dull in the mouth, but I don't need a whole lot on her anyway, but a little more than the snaffle for a run and I find the jr cowhorse is perfect for her. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 915
Location: SE KS | I ride & run in a Jr cowhorse twisted wire with dogbone. My horse can be ridden in anything, he is sensitive to his rider, but is smart enough to know if your really serious or he can jack with you!!! |
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 Am I really the Weirdo?
Posts: 11181
Location: Kansas | I generally don't ride in their running bits at home. I kind of want that bit/hack to be a cue that we're running, so I ride in other bridles at home. My gray runs in a Jim Warner hack or a chain mouth Rosie gag and at home I'll ride him in a 3-piece smooth mouth short shank colt bit or a Simplicity knockoff. I have sorrels that run in a Jr Cowhorse and a longer shanked gag bit but I ride them in others - a Mike Beers chain mouth is one of my favorites and I have a 3-piece that's got less gag than the Jr Cowhorse that I'll ride either of them in. |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | I have an old faithful that could probably be ran in a halter. I ride in the same bit for her 24/7. There's no reason for me to switch bits. She knows her job. |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | Depends on the horse, I think.
With Red, I think I could literally run barrels in anything ... including a halter. And I guess I kinda do since I switched him to a Little S Hack last year. He's so soft and he listens so well. For regular riding, I'm always goofing around with different bits. I have his "normal" trail riding bit, but I'll mess with him in other things to keep him soft.
For my younger horse, Shotgun, he is still in a snaffle and still not fully trained on barrels yet, so he gets his snaffle for everything right now. I'm actually hoping he'll be able to RUN barrels in his snaffle too, when he's finished.
But if someone finds that they need something with a little more "bite" for their barrel run, do what works for your horse.
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 575
| I remember 1 time when I was maybe 13, I showed up at my trainers to work cows on my cutter and didn't have his show bit in.
Tommy said to me "You practice how you want to win. If you can't practice in that bit then you shouldn't show in it." That stuck with me, so I work them in the same bits they run in. But if it's a trail ride/lazy day to just exercise, they get ridden in a lope rope.
ETA: barrel horses are VERY different then cutters, as I've never had a cutter get on the muscle to run into the show pen! I certainly understand different horses would need more bit to run in, I've just been lucky enough mine haven't been that way.... yet.
Edited by rpreast 2016-03-11 12:14 PM
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Expert
Posts: 2531
Location: WI | I have a slew of bits I ride in depending on what I want to get accomplished. I think switching them up keeps their mouths fresh.
i.e Conditioning work: loomis or ed wright
Tuning: snaffle (slow work), lifter, or goostree (faster work)
Running: goostree (small pens) or elliot spur up/cervi (large pens)
It all comes down to what response I'm looking for during a particular ride and what bit is going to get me that response. I think if you ride in the same bit for everything the horse gets dull in it. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3534
Location: Stuck in a cubicle having tropical thoughts | I do. I've used the same bit for both on the last 5 or so horses that I've ran (and I typically ride the same horse for at least 3 years or more. I don't sell and buy very often)
When I was a kid, we used to always use a different bit at home and to exercise than their competition bit. Then we had a horse that would get really really hot at the shows as soon as the competition bit went in her mouth. Somebody suggested we start always riding her in the same bit to help her relax and calm down some and it helped so since then I've always just used one bit.
Now, if they are young and in training, I'll start with an o-ring, then a loomis, then try a few different ones to see what works, but once I move them up into a bit, i continue with that bit for day to day and for shows.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 602
| Trail riding I use a Hack. Arena work Ill use a jr cow bit and if I think my horse needs a little more tuning, Ill use a German martingale with a sweet six (1 or 2x per week) Racing Ill use the jr cow. |
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