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Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
 
Location: Durango CO | I was watching Janna Beam'so bit video on trainingbarrelhorses.com she said "I have hands for these types of bits" in reference to Dave Elliott bits. Can you explain what that means and give examples of what kinds of bits fit certain hands? |
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 Regular
Posts: 73
| Dave Elliot has loads of different bits, so she was probably referring to the intensity of the specific bit. For example, someone with really light hands might want a stronger bit, while someone who tends to be a bit heavier with their hands will want a lighter bit. Do you have the link to the video? |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
Location: Durango CO | I don't have a link but at trainingbarrelhorses.com you can search her name and it will come up quickly. Thanks for the input? What kind of bits do you like? |
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 Don't Wanna Make This Awkward
Posts: 3106
 
Location: Texas | Dave Elliott bits are amazing. A simple o-ring of theirs compared to a a reinsman or any other basic bit will have a major difference. The weight and quality of the Dave Elliott bits makes a huge difference in how a horse responds. Once most people start riding in them they don't ride in anything else, especially if it's not of the same high quality. That is most likely what she means. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
Location: Durango CO | That makes sense. I believe Elliott bits have a pretty high price tag. Are they worth buying new or can you find them used? |
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Regular
Posts: 73
| Lil_Pony35 - 2016-06-27 5:38 PM
I don't have a link but at trainingbarrelhorses.com you can search her name and it will come up quickly. Thanks for the input? What kind of bits do you like?
It all depends on the horse. For my softer horses, I will work them in a junior cowhorse, or sometimes with a mild curb with a bit of a port for some drive. If they're a bit heavier on the front end, I lean towards a lifter or a broken snaffle with a twisted mouth piece. |
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Impressive!!
Posts: 1954
Location: Idaho | Lil_Pony35 - 2016-06-27 4:37 PM That makes sense. I believe Elliott bits have a pretty high price tag. Are they worth buying new or can you find them used?
They are a bit of money, but I promise you wont be disappointed... if you did want to sell, you will get atleast what you paid, if not more if you put on Bit Auction on facebook. I have 13 Dave Elliots... thats all I ride in. |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 911
Location: Durango CO | Where do you buy them? |
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Member
Posts: 35
| Gag bits don't really work well with my hands, I like to be able to pick up and release quicker than a gag will let me. I have pretty slow soft hands so a non-gag works well with the way I ride as well as for the style of horse I like to ride. |
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | I go with the bit that fits the horse not my hand.....jmo :)...m |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| I think figuring out what type of bits fit your style/horse takes a lot of time, trial, and concentrated reflective riding along with an understanding of how the mechanics of each bit works.
Perfect example would be a horse I just sold - overall her style suits him better but the bit I was running him in didn't quite work with her more agressive style. A bit change and back to making excellent runs.
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Red Hot Cardinal Fan
Posts: 4122
| mruggles - 2016-06-28 9:58 AM I go with the bit that fits the horse not my hand.....jmo :)...m
I think everyone would agree with this. But each person has their own feel and many times certain types of bits seem to work well on many of the horses that they ride. And no two riders have the same type of hands, so what bit may work well for a horse with one person may not work with another. Yes, ultimately it is finding the right bit for the horse but a riders hands have a huge impact on this. |
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  Keeper of the King Snake
Posts: 7622
Location: Dubach, LA | Nothing I've ever ridden works in a three piece mouth bit. Almost everything works in a mullen. I assume the mullen fits my hands. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 456
Location: SW MO | I am the opposite... I have 3 bits that fit my hands because of how I ride... I don't think it is so much the horse because I use the same bits no matter what. That being said I would love love love to have a few elliot bits |
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 Money Eating Baggage Owner
Posts: 9586
Location: Phoenix | For my horse and my hands, I like an Ed Weight pretzel because I get a quick reaction and can be softer with my hands. |
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 Lady Di
Posts: 21556
Location: Oklahoma | My favorite bit is a hack. ;)
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 Hot Dispatcher
Posts: 10185
Location: Utah | My favorite is an old Merrill hack, I would say my hands are best for med shank bits. Odd comment on your profile picture I have horses with the same brands. Is the LV Lee Watson in Colorado and the C arrow Bosen land and livestock? |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I love how my horses feel in a chain mouth peice. |
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 I Don't Brag
Posts: 6960
| For the most part, a Jr Cowhorse seems to fit my hands. The trainer I got my new horse from rides everything in a long shanked, curb strap is way high, I don't know what kind of bit it is.
Gag bits do NOT fit my hands. There is no bottom to them....sometimes I want a definite contact. My hands tend to be little quick, so the tiny amount of gag on the Jr Cowhorse, slows them down just enough.
That being said, some horses are just comfortable in something else, then they take priority. Had one super light mouthed mare who only like a chain or a bar, no other broken bit would do (she would shake her head a lot). What fit her AND me the best was a Rutledge Roper. That shocked me but all that metal in her mouth seemed to give her confidence? and the swivel action slowed my hands down just enough. My good, now old rodeo mare has been ridden in everything from a thin broken gag, mule bit, easy stop, Jr Cowhorse, hack....you name in. It took me a while to figure out that you could put anything in her mouth or on her face to run her.....as long as you didn't use it. Any contact with her mouth during a run (except in emergencies) would be met with extreme head shaking.
My go to is a Jr Cowhorse (usually with a super loose chin strap). I have taken a few hard mouth horses and was able to lighten their mouths and get them supple the way I like.
I Do think that there is a "fit" to hands and bit. I think it relates to how heavy, quick they are, combined with the physics of height, weight, strength and angle from hand to mouth. I have the same suspicion when it comes to horse and rider. I like a horse with a long, lower set neck...I have long arms and a shot necked, high head set is awkward for me but I think is much more suited to a shorter rider. And again the physics of angles, arm and hand to mouth come in to play. |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 889
Location: on the fine line between insanity and geniusness | I have a three piece ported lifter from L&W that is my absolute favorite. It seems like I can ride everything in it. I also LOVE my Kathy James- I have three different mouthpieces! |
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