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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
 
Location: My own little world :) | What are everyone's go to bits? Whether its for colts, intermediates, or seasoned vets what do you have to have and why? Also, when you go out to move cows and whatnot do you use the same bits or do you like something different? Just curious so let er rip! And please explain your reasoning :) |
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Expert
Posts: 1218
 
Location: Too far from home | I like a ring snaffle, smooth and twisted and a great Jr Cowhorse I have that has an especially thick mouth piece. I ride those bits on everything. Interestingly enough, I have a dear friend that doesn't like the Jr. Cowhorse and uses a similar Ed Wrigtht. I think different folks like different bits more than different horses like different bits. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 540
Location: My own little world :) | I guess I am asking because I'm finding that I really like trying new bits. Not that I'm trying to overcome any problems I'm facing with my horses but rather I just like to learn how different ones work and how I can use them effectively. I also think it is fun to teach my horses to use a variety of bits. I just figure they more they know the better they will be.
Right now I am riding horses aged 2 to 5 and I primarily use a smooth and a square snaffle. I also have a smooth and a twisted loomis gag, a little s hack, a Les Vogt Sidewinder, a Les Vogt elevator bit, a Sharon Camarillo tender touch w/lifesave, a Carol Goosetree Simplicity, and a mild correction bit. I don't use them all on all the horses yet but I would like work them all into them eventually. I also really like to just ride in a halter from time to time. |
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Expert
Posts: 2685
| 1. O-ring (generally twisted snaffle or dog bone)
2. jr cow horse (twisted 2 piece or dog bone)
3. short shank hacks (jim warner, Johnson, little s)
4. short-med shank gags (ed wright, MJ has one I like, L&W) |
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 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
Location: Texas | I'm really sad, I bought a jr cowhorse and for some unknown reason, my horse absolutely hated it. I really thought I was gonna like it. |
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Expert
Posts: 1280
Location: Texas | 3pc twisted wire snaffle/gag with a dog bone and I just got a new hackamore that I love |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | My horse doesn't like anything laying across his tongue so I like ported bits. The Mike Beers ported chain is nice, as is the Pretzel by Ed Wright and the ported lifter from L&W bits. |
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| Jr cowhorse. Three piece
Edited by streakysox 2014-12-30 12:02 AM
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  A Lady with Fight
Posts: 2701
Location: NC | 1. Smooth small o-ring snaffle
2. chain mouth rosie style gag bit
3. Short shank lifter (I am starting to really like the dog bone mouthpieces)
4. Simplicity style gag
5. Little S (it's my geldings running bit)
6. Sweet six
7. Some simple o-ring combos with different mouthpieces
I like playing with different mouthpieces vs different bits. You can really change the way a horse reacts to the bit with a difference in mouthpiece. I've had really good luck with the chain mouths. A variety of horses work well in them.
A small o-ring is what everything is started in. They aren't moved up unless they need it. My gelding works in a short shank lifter. He needs the extra refinement and lift for circles and slow work or he gets lazy. The rosie gag worked really well on a mare that needed to be reminded on how to use her butt. It also got her shoulder up and her whole body more square. The simplicity worked the same for a different mare. It got her to get down on her but more and a little more control than a snaffle but not as rough as a shanked bit. If that makes any sense. Lol.
Edited by hlynn 2014-12-30 12:05 AM
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 422
Location: Fort Bragg North Carolina | Same here I've never had a horse that liked a jr cwhrse |
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Curve Ball
Posts: 2258
Location: Pelham, TN | Bits by Shallow Creek www.shallowcreekbit.com
SC-75 Super Port with the twisted snaffle
SC-33 Colt Bit with 3 piece dogbone
SC-075 KB Ring Bit (made for Llave) twisted snaffle
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 499
Location: ARKANSAS | My one and only go to bit is an O-Ring Combo with a dog bone. But more So This is the bit i train in ALL the time, i start out with a snaffle but i get them out as soon as possible and go to the combo. I think its more because the combo FITS MY HANDS better, i ride really light handed, and I feel like i can communicate better to young horses. Some horses i have, never come out of this bit, that is what they are trained in, and i run them in it, and they never have another bit put on them. I have a 23 yr old thats only had 2 bits his entire life!!! |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 1028
| 1. Little S Hack
2. O-ring twisted wire snaffle
3. Short shank dogbone Sherry Cervi lifter bit |
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 Midget Lover
Location: Kentucky | I also love the dogbone Jr Cowhorse. Just a nice all around bit. |
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 Undercover Amish Mafia Member
Posts: 9992
Location: Kansas | my short shank twisted wire gag bit by sherry cervi |
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 Expert
Posts: 2457
| Go To Bits -
Flaharty O ring, twisted - found this recently and am in LOVE. - I've started two colts in it now and my 3 yo really loves it for sortings and mounted shooting. It is shaping up to be my personal favorite for many things.
Bull Parker dog bone, short shank - Hand made bit that every horse I have droped in it works really really well. Currently run my mounted shooting mare in it and sort cattle in it too.
Mike Beers Chain bit - works well on my mare for tie-down. I can just hold her in the box, release, and let her do the work when I sit. Real nice balance to it too.
Cervi short shank lifter dog-bone - barrel bit for my finished mare. I can also run mounted shooting in it. I like the feel for the finished mare as I barely touch it and she is prepping for the actual cue.
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 617
Location: London Ontario | I love a good old twisted wire snaffle. This and a set of split reins and training fork it kind of my go-to. I like to go back and school in it(heavy dressage movements and reining work). |
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 You get what you give
Posts: 13030
Location: Texas | loomis, goostree simplicity, ed wright short and medium shank, Dave Elliot Spur up 03 long shank, pozzi hack if i want to use a hack. |
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Veteran
Posts: 111
| I use a Fred Hunter bit on my gelding.....he loves it! Its the Show To Win. I find i get my horses too bendy and this helps me with that. 
Edited by trulyaroyaljem 2014-12-30 11:07 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 1482
Location: on my horse | I start colts in a regular old snaffle bit with some weight to it, and I've really really come to like my off brand little S hackamore. It's softer than the Reinsmans and I feel like it fits my horse's faces better. I like my short shank mylar bit with the barrel center so it's like a 3 piece with a little bit more stability.
If I'm riding my horse that's really really broke and I've put a really good handle on him I like to use a ported Greg Darnall correction bit, I've ridden quite a few horses that seem to like it. I just use it for general riding and for tuning on certain things.
Edited by redmansmyman11 2014-12-30 11:19 AM
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