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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
   
Location: North Dakota | I have never had a bit with a chain mouthpiece so I really don't understand how they work. I've been told they are very mild?
Specifically, I was looking at trying a Carol Goosetree Delight bit as a "step up" bit for my colt when I transition him out of a snaffle. He's got a good mouth but I sometimes feel like I am "pulling" on him on the backside of the turn (just very recently tried galloping the pattern for the first time). And I wonder if I could be softer and lighter with something different than a snaffle.
I personally do NOT care for twisted wire, so I was looking at the bit on the top right, with the dogbone-type center.
So just looking for some informatoin on chain mouthpieces.
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| If his already pulling on you I wouldn't use a chain mouth, I think it would cause the problem to get worse. It is mild, although some will disagree(Cheryl), it works off the lips and tongue. Young horses like it because it's easy for them to pack and if you have a horse that is already very light and responsive, moving them into a chain is a good way to keep it that way and they tend to like it. Every so often I'll put a snaffle on and make sure they are still moving off the bit like they need too. I have also put it on horses that the rider tends to be heavier handed in a run and pull through a turn because I feel like it keeps the horse from getting hard and dull. |
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 Expert
Posts: 1898
| The idea behind the chain is it conforms to the horse's mouth. Rather than hitting specific areas, bar, tongue, lips, and pallet, it conforms over the tongue and lips to distribute even pressure. I find that most horses will pack it and respond to it nicely, some better than others however.
I like to transition my colts from a ring snaffle to a Goosetree Simplicity with the hybrid chain snaffle mouth piece and then if I need a little more the Delight which I have in a variety of different mouth pieces.
Edited by cyount2009 2014-11-20 11:33 AM
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Yes chain conforms to the mouth, but all those links move and dig in when you apply pressure to the bit. Some horses get overwhelmed by all the stimulation as each link in the chain leaves a pretty nice gap in between to apply pressure.
I have also seen horses mouths damaged permanently due to people using chains and see sawing on the reins.
Les Vogt has a great YouTube discussion on severity of chain bits.
Mylers, also give great educational seminars on bits.
Do your research and speak to bit makers about the mechanics of the bit. |
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 Own It and Move On
Location: The edge of no where | cheryl makofka - 2014-11-20 12:23 PM Yes chain conforms to the mouth, but all those links move and dig in when you apply pressure to the bit. Some horses get overwhelmed by all the stimulation as each link in the chain leaves a pretty nice gap in between to apply pressure. I have also seen horses mouths damaged permanently due to people using chains and see sawing on the reins. Les Vogt has a great YouTube discussion on severity of chain bits. Mylers, also give great educational seminars on bits. Do your research and speak to bit makers about the mechanics of the bit.
^^There's a lot of truth to this statement. Personally, on some horses I do like a chain....BUT you better be light handed and damn sure never ever see-saw or jerk.
Go to tack shops and hold the bits in your hands (just like a horse's mouth) and have someone pull on them to get an idea of what they're really doing. I would put a snaffle as less severe than a chain.
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Hungarian Midget Woman
Location: Midwest | See sawing on the reins is not generally a good idea....
I like a chain mouth on my gelding, as he had some mouth damage in the past from stepping on a rein and getting tangled up. (I had someone watching him for me). He responds well to a chain mouth but I also ride with a light hand. I run him in a little S hack though. I will use the chain sometimes to work on collection or some dry work where I feel a bit is beneficial. I do ride him in other mouthed bits as well, but since he has a low palette, he seems to like the chain.
PS I am not an expert, this is just my experience with the bit (I have a rosie gag)
Edited by barrelracr131 2014-11-20 1:44 PM
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 Veteran
Posts: 209
| I personally like the chain mouthpieces, they work more off tongue pressure which some horses like and others do not. I slow worked my gelding in one and it worked great for him as it was similar pressure to his run bit which was a mule mouth. My futurity mare only rides in a chain mouth, I have tried other mouthpieces and she fusses with them doesn't listen tosses her head ect. Both horses are very light mouthed and I ride very light with my hands. Just like with any bit if you jerk a lot or seesaw you can make it do damage or be very uncomfortable to the horse. I much prefer chain mouthpieces and found many horses like them and work great in them. |
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| Lyric203 - 2014-11-20 2:24 PM
I personally like the chain mouthpieces, they work more off tongue pressure which some horses like and others do not. I slow worked my gelding in one and it worked great for him as it was similar pressure to his run bit which was a mule mouth. My futurity mare only rides in a chain mouth, I have tried other mouthpieces and she fusses with them doesn't listen tosses her head ect. Both horses are very light mouthed and I ride very light with my hands. Just like with any bit if you jerk a lot or seesaw you can make it do damage or be very uncomfortable to the horse. I much prefer chain mouthpieces and found many horses like them and work great in them.
Completely agree.  |
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Nut Case Expert
Posts: 9305
Location: Tulsa, Ok | GLP - 2014-11-20 4:12 PM
Lyric203 - 2014-11-20 2:24 PM
I personally like the chain mouthpieces, they work more off tongue pressure which some horses like and others do not. I slow worked my gelding in one and it worked great for him as it was similar pressure to his run bit which was a mule mouth. My futurity mare only rides in a chain mouth, I have tried other mouthpieces and she fusses with them doesn't listen tosses her head ect. Both horses are very light mouthed and I ride very light with my hands. Just like with any bit if you jerk a lot or seesaw you can make it do damage or be very uncomfortable to the horse. I much prefer chain mouthpieces and found many horses like them and work great in them.
Completely agree.
I also agree. I find that chain mouth pieces work for many horses that are hard to bit, particularly those with wedgie shaped mouths or very shallow lips. ANY bit can be lethal in the wrong hands and see-sawing is IMHO uncalled for in 99.9% of situations. If someone thinks it is necessary, they need to back up and re-assess their program. |
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 Extreme Veteran
Posts: 475
Location: Alabama | I used a MJ start to finish chain mouth on the last horse I trained as a transition from the snaffle. She worked really well in it when we started adding speed to the barrel pattern. I eventually transitioned her to a jr cowhorse with a roller. She used the roller like a pacifier to calm herself. She was *very* light in the mouth & you only had to touch the reins for a response.
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