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 Expert
Posts: 1580
  
Location: Down South | I'm interested in expanding my knowledge of bits and adding some to my tack selection. Which are your favorite and why? |
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 Not Afraid to Work
Posts: 4717
 
| My favorites are:
Cervi Short Shank (twisted dogbone) Lifter - I dont think ive found a horse that doesnt like it (yes some work better than others). It gives me the lift I need, its got some rate for those that need it but its not a harsh bit. I like the amount of gag it offers. Its a heavier (weight wise) and I never feel like its getting out of position.
CJ Ryan Bit (twisted dogbone) - I also think this bit is light and you can ride colts in it up to your finished horses. Its got some lift to it but its better for a horse that just needs a bit more guidance without intimidation. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
Location: London Ontario | I love plain twisted wire snaffles, not the real thin kind either, just regular ones. I ride everything from my colts to my finished horses, barrel horses to English horses. It is something that I school in, I have very soft hands but you can do everything in a snaffle. I want my horses to be able to ride in a snaffle on a regular basis, and I like to SCHOOL them. My MIL rides dressage very competitively so I often get her to help me school dressage. It really is a great discipline, even in a barrel saddle, I wish more barrel racers would take some lessons in the event. I want to be able to ride my horses in a horsemanship class, a trail class, then go run a set. I want to be able to move each part of their body how I want to and when I want to and dressage definitely helps me do that. |
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  Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | Pricey but I love all the Tom Balding bits. And any of the Carol Goosetree bits. |
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 Expert
Posts: 3782
Location: Gainesville, TX | Several people like the Charmayne grasshopper bit on here.
Personally, I like a short-shanked, low ported correction bit for my gelding. It has just enough whoa and turn to it without being super severe. No gag action.
I like to ride two year olds in an o ring snaffle and then move them up to a wonder bit with the slight gag action. That allows you to move to a curb if they need it or even use it back as an o-ring if you want. I'm generally not a fan of tom thumbs.
There's a Myler bit I'm looking at for my two year old right now that is a d ring with very slight gag action (can be used either way) and a fairly broad snaffle mouthpiece. I really like bits that have some options and transition to them so I can put my reins in different places according to what the horse needs that day and transition up and down from schooling to competition bits.
I also have a loomis gag. They have their place but I don't use them a ton. |
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| If you go to Molly Powells Facebook page, she is doing a series of what she considers the necessary bits to have in your tack room. I've learned a lot from following it. |
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Veteran
Posts: 294
| Molly Powell has some nice leverage bits. I decided to go back to the o ring snaffle. I 'm having GREAT runs with the Pozzi Combination smooth mouth 3 pc bit. My horse is clocking some serious times now. Wonder if the leverage was a little to scary for him. |
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Too busy outside!
Posts: 5417
| Guiness - 2014-06-04 8:13 AM Molly Powell has some nice leverage bits. I decided to go back to the o ring snaffle. I 'm having GREAT runs with the Pozzi Combination smooth mouth 3 pc bit. My horse is clocking some serious times now. Wonder if the leverage was a little to scary for him.
I think it depends on how broke they are- |
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Veteran
Posts: 294
| I agree... I put him in a leverage bit to soon.. He doesn't need one and I'm fine with that. |
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Veteran
Posts: 294
| Also probably my hands |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 475
Location: Alabama | Little S Hack - start all of mine in this. Also used it for my daughter's pony who was broke to death & she would get heavy handed when he would add speed, so didn't want her in his mouth.
Million Dollar Bit - This bit has worked for the majority of finished horses I've run. This is good for control & some turn.
CJ Ryan - for extra turn. My daughter used this one on my mare when she was little. If I used it on the same horse, we would turn into the barrel.
Jr cowhorse with roller - My 5 year old loves this bit. She is very light in the mouth & gets nervous, so uses the roller as a "pacifier".
MJ Start to Finish chain mouth - I've only used this on 1 horse, but it was a great transition between the Little S & the Jr cowhorse. |
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Expert
Posts: 1580
Location: Down South | Thanks everyone. I was able to look on Molly Powell's page. Unfortunately, she has reached her friend limit on FB and for some reason I can't follow her either. I did screenshot the info I saw. |
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 Accident Prone
Posts: 22277
Location: 100 miles from Nowhere, AR | I adore my John Israel bit. Great feel and a lot of horses are happy in it. And I like the myler Neil Merrill gag so much that I own 3 in different mouthpieces. In a snaffle, I prefer the small fixed ring of a full cheek, so I have several of those in different mouths. The Turley hackamore is another fave. I have a short shank and a medium shank in that, and will likely have it on every single horse at some point--runnng one and training one in it right now. I won a lot in a happy mouth Pelham on one horse and have trained a couple of others in it, but haven't had one recently that likes that much tongue pressure. The loomis gag is another one that is handy to have. |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | Love my Mike Beers ported chain! Most horses love it. |
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