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boon
Posts: 4
| There seems to be a lot of debate over this bit and, unfortunately, I already bought the bit, but now I'm kind of second-guessing myself about it. So I recently bought a 16.2, 15 year old gelding who at one time barrel raced (it has been a few years). He is big, strong, and very powerful. I've tried a few bits in him from just an O-Ring snaffle to a tender touch, looking for the right bit for him. He didn't care for either of those bits (especially the o-ring) and it was quite obvious that I needed more control. I feel like he is pretty broke and he is responsive to leg cues and flexes and all of that good stuff, but he's pretty rusty otherwise as he hasn't been worked for a while. He has a naturally high headset but it was too high while I was riding him and I wasn't riding him in a tie-down or anything. He is also pretty 'hot' and gets very distracted and nervous. So I asked what he was previously ran in and the lady didn't know for sure but she runs all of her barrel horses in combination bits and she was pretty positive that she ran him in one also. So I'm looking for a little advice. I know it is a harsh bit and you have to be careful in it, but he's a strong horse and I'm a little person! And he is definitely one that likes to 'test' his rider out and he knows his strength. I plan on wrapping the rawhide noseband in vet wrap, I have no idea if this helps, but in my mind it will soften it up a little bit (please correct me if I'm totally wrong here).
Or maybe there is a different combination bit that would be a better fit? I've never used a combination bit before so I'm a little unfamiliar with them.
And my long range plan is to train, pleasure ride, and compete in different bits and obviously this bit will be more for competing, but how do I transition into these bits. What if I have no control while using a 'training' bit and need the combination bit to get him more focused?
Just a few questions to help me figure out the best course of action for my horse!! Thanks!
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 623
 
Location: /ARKANSAS | If you want to get serious about crosstraining your horse the best idea is to take him back to basics. Lots of transitions will help him be more responsive. Get some Parelli tapes, or Chris Cox. I spent a week with Chris (a week long ) like a boot camp, It was tough, he was tough and you learn control and the horse looks to you for what he is to do. Priceless. When I see people who say this bit lifts and this one helps bend, I just go what?!! |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 989
| I run my gelding in a million dollar bit. I ride him on the trails in anything from a hack, to a loose ring snaffle, to a grasshopper.. I do my lateral work in either the grasshopper or a simplicity.
I went to that bit because I was having problems getting his hind end under him around first and taking the extra step past before turning 2nd and 3rd. I have tried all I know, gone to clinics etc. The bit that I was currently using had to go in for warranty work, so I through the MB on. He is super soft, completely broke and really nice to ride. But, he likes and he knows his job, and is big and really strong.. and, he thinks he can beat me to it once in a while so you have to be ready. I put the MB bit on him and it was completely different. I had go, I had give, I had rate. I have not looked back with running him in that bit. It works for him. I tried the start to finish bit which is similar but with a chain, he hated the noseband placement on it and ran through it some, I couldnt get enough attention from him while he was going full tilt. I only have to really use it to go that extra stride past but it sure works nice with him. (the MB)
Keep the hands light, and use the bit when and where you need it... there is nothing wrong with using that or any bit as long as you use it right. |
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Expert
Posts: 1477
Location: In the land of peanuts and cotton | I ran my 16.3 appendix gelding in one. I was like you he's big and I'm little. He was also trained by a man so he was a little more tough mouthed. The man I got him from could run him in a halter but I couldn't because I wasn't strong enough. Ty put the million dollar bit on him at a clinic and it worked well so that's what I used until the day he died. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 475
Location: Alabama | I've used the million dollar bit on several horses with great success. |
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 I Chore in Chucks
Posts: 2882
Location: MD | in regards to wrapping the nose band
I have ran several horses with rawhide hacks and have always wrapped it in vet wrap(plus you can match colors and make it cute!). I have seen the rawhide bloody up a horses nose on a few occasions and I don't think the vet wrap alters the nose band much at all. Nothing to add for the bit though :) |
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boon
Posts: 4
| Thanks everyone for the great advice! |
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Member
Posts: 49
| I've got the million dollar bit and it works fine for me. It does seem to give you more control without having to pull on the horse. I've never had any trouble with the noseband rubbing at all and I don't wrap it, but I try to keep my hands light when possible. Ride him around in it and practice, hopefully it will work for you too.
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Expert
Posts: 1586
Location: west of East Texas | I've run three different type horses in both the long shank and short shank. They work well for me. I don't find them to be harsh either. I also try different bits for just riding around and this is by far the favorite bit of one of my horses. I've never wrapped the nose band, haven't seen any need to.
One thing to remember, it's not just finding the right bit for the horse, it's about finding the right bit for the horse AND the rider's hands. Any bit can be harsh in the wrong hands and harsh bits can be used very efficiently by the right hands. I would definitely give it a try. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 193
Location: USA | I like them on my free running stiff ones. They add more bend and flex and more rate and control than just a simple snaffle. But I don't use them all the time just like any combination bit cause if you do they'll start to throw their nose out because of the rawhide nose band so I just use it for competition. For my push styles or soft mouthed horses. I like using the Jr. Cow horse to me that is by far the best bit because I can use it everyday and even during my runs  |
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Regular
Posts: 60
| I just bought one as well and I haven't gotten to run in it yet but my big gelding has been working really well in it at home. I think if you have good soft hands, you'll be fine but if you know you're heavy handed, then I wouldn't be using long shanked combination bits. A bit is as harsh as the hands holding the reins! Also if you don't like the hard rope nose (I've found they rub and in some cases seriously put a dent in your poor horse's nose) or don't think your horse needs it, you can always cut it off and buy a leather replacement nose. It puts the pressure there for the bit to work correctly but without the bite of the rope. You can find one on The Tack Stop. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 383
Location: Sweet Home Alabama | My mare use to run about two horse lengths past the first barrel ALL THE TIME. I tried a number of different bits (I'm not very "bit savvy") on her before the Million Dollar. It's the only one that helped her nail her first barrel. She shaved about .5 off her times in arenas we go to regularly. I never thought something as simple as a bit change would help but it did!!! Now I run most my horses in one.
Oh & she is 16h. Not one that needs practice or to be tuned on. I also don't start mine off in a Million Dollar bit..... Hope this helps
Edited by Ashton94 2014-04-08 9:35 PM
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 No Tune in a Bucket
Posts: 2935
Location: Texas | The horse that my granddaughter rides never had a consistantly good first barrel. The trainer was using the Cervi short shank or a Beetle Hack and riding him two handed but he would still bow out on the back side but he would still manage to get back over for the second barrel. He always had an amazing second barrel, but would sometimes bow out leaving the third barrel. After she got him back full time in January, she found a bit in the trailer on a broken/patched together headstall that looks like a MDB. No idea where it came from. The bit seems strong and she does not even ride him around in it, but he now has a consistantly good first barrel. Who knew? |
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