cyount2009 - 2014-03-04 1:44 PM
horsefever - 2014-03-03 11:58 AM
I would stay away from the waterford mouth if you want less bend. The more links in the mouth the more bend. Plus the waterford is a lot of bit, those links are bigger than they look like in the pics.
If you don't need 8 and 1/2 inch shanks I would go with the Connie Combs or the Goosetree.
I disagree with this being a lot of bit. For one, the fatter the mouth piece the more widely the pressure is distributed on the horses tongue and bars. The CJ Leverage series have a ratio of 1:1 meaning for every inch the shank travels backward the purchase travel the same forward. This translate to every pound of pressure you apply to the reins being transfered equal to the bit. If you use 10 lbs of pressure to stop your horse, your horse feels 10 lbs of pressure on the bit as well on the curb. A bit with a higher ratio, meaning the purchase is shorter than the shank would intensify the pressure applied. A 3:1 ratio would mean that 10 lbs multiplies to 30. Generally CJ leverage bit is rode with a leather or soft rope curb however I have seen it used with a chain.
I do agree that the watterford mouth will not help stablize the shoulder and hip. Typically the more breaks in the mouth the more bend the bit has.
As for the difference in the Wasson and Combs, the Combs has a straight mullen mouth. This will apply pressure to the tongue and bars. It also has "curb bars" meaning the curb setting is set back from the purchase
(I'm not exactly sure what those are called
). This allows more pressure to be applied to the curb chain as opposed to a regular curb set up that attaches to the purchase.
The Wasson has a curbed mullen, which basically works the same as the Combs but adds pressure to the pallet and relief to the tongue enhancing the break in the poll. It has a regular curb attachment to the purchase offering no "extra" pressure to the bars of the jaw.
Both the Combs and the Wasson have a slight bit of gag altering the ratio a little.
Just remember the more solid the mouth piece the less bend you will have.
You may want to look into the "Martha Josey Go Round Bit' It does have gag so there is a little bend in it. I had a mare that was very bendy and it really helped to stiffen her up with out losing all the bend I like to make a really nice snappy turn. The gag allows the horse to respond before the full movement of the bit is reached giving it less whoa
(if full movement of the shank is not reached
) than the Combs or Wasson but more bend as well. The curb attachment is set back a little so there is a little more whoa than the Wasson if the full movement of the gag is reached and a little less than the Combs.
(I am sure I just confused the hell out of you.
)
I have seen a lot of girls with super bendy horses use something with a polo mouth piece. Not the big bar "polo bit" but a polo mouth piece that is found in something like a Sliester bit.
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