More Than A Bit About Bits
More Than a Bit About Bits
Snaffle Bits
A snaffle bit is a bit that works on the direct amount of pressure you apply. If you use one pound of pressure that is what your horse will feel. The thing that determines what a snaffle bit is the cheekpiece, not the mouthpiece. Although it is a common misconception that a snaffle is a bit that is single jointed, that is not the case as you will learn below.
A loose ring/ O ring snaffle is a snaffle with a lot of movement. The mouthpiece can move around the ring of the bit as well as your rein. A loose ring may not be ideal for a sensitive horse because of the movement. However this is a common choice for a horse that leans because the movement along the ring makes it harder for a horse to lean on a riders hands.
Commonly called an eggbutt, this cheek piece is actually a fixed ring. Eggbutt refers to the shape of the mouthpiece, how it is widest the attachment to the cheeks.
A D ring is even more stable and can also help with steering on a green horse as the cheek piece will press against the opposite side of the face when you steer.
A baucher is a often misunderstood bit that has quite a lot of controversy behind it. A baucher is a very stable bit because the cheekpiece of your bridle attaches to the small ring above the mouthpiece. What is controversial is if it applies poll pressure. Videos and studies have shown that the baucher, like other snaffles does NOT apply poll pressure. This is because there is no shank below to the mouthpiece to apply leverage.
A full cheek is another very stable bit. It can also help with steering due to the cheekpiece. Many riders use these with keepers to keep the cheekpiece more upright.
A half cheek is a common bit seen on driving horses. While it gives the added help with steering it won't get caught in anything.
A fulmer is bit that isn't commonly seen in the US. It combines the use of a loose ring and a full cheek. The loose ring on it allows for more subtle communication with your horse while the long cheek keeps it nice and stable.
A snaffle can have any type of mouthpiece.
Curb Bits
A curb bit is a bit that uses leverage. The essential parts of a curb are the purchase, the part above the mouthpiece and the shank which is below the mouthpiece. You also need a curb chain when using a curb bit. The curb should be placed above the mouthpiece. This keeps the bit from over rotating in the mouth. A good rule of thumb is to fit two fingers between the curb chain and the chin. Other parts of the curb are the cheek, this refers to he total length, the shank length + he purchase. The mouthpiece, like a snaffle can have any type of mouthpiece.
I will talk about different types of western curb cheeks as it's what I am more familiar with. However questions on English curb bits are welcome. The second photo shows parts of a curb bit. Note that this is just one mouthpiece a curb bit comes in, any type of mouthpiece can be found on a curb bit.
A curb bit is for a more advanced horse that has learned how to ride well in a snaffle and is ready to graduate to riding one handed on a loose rein as you can use more subtle cues.
Parts of a curb bit 2
Curb bits come in all shapes and sizes. A short shank will use less pressure than a longer shank. The straighter the shank, the quicker the bit will engage as a general rule.
Tom Thumb 3
A short straight shank on a Tom Thumb may look like a good choice at first glance, however this is actually a very poorly designed bit. When you add shanks to a single joint you intensify the nut cracker effect on the bars and tongue. Because these bits are cheaply made the purchase will rotate into the face when you pull on one rein, effectively confusing your horse on what direction you want to go. The straight shank means that the bit will engage very abruptly, not giving the horse time to be soft.
Argentine Snaffle 4
Another common shank style is an argentine 'snaffle'. Do not be fooled by the name, as we learned earlier, once you have a shank it is not a snaffle. This is a western version of a Pelham as you have the option to ride with two sets of reins. This is a nice curb bit for several reasons. The short shanks mean there isn't much leverage to this bit. The swept back shanks mean this bit has some presignal. This bit will engage more slowly than a bit with straight shanks. The multiple rein options make this bit also a good choice for moving a horse into a curb or softening a horse with a hard mouth as you can use the rein on the middle ring first. The curb chain should go on the top ring, this will keep the bit from over rotating in the mouth. When the curb is placed on the middle ring it has no function.
Calvary Shanks 5
Another common shank style is Calvary shanks, or S shaped shanks. These shanks have a curve to them, while it is aesthetic, it is also functional. A mouthy horse will have a more difficult time getting the shank into their mouth. You can see that the ring for the rein is set farther back than the mouthpiece, so this bit has swept back shanks as well which is a good thing.
These are just a few shank styles you will find on western curbs.
Gag Bits
Now let's talk about gag bits. There are three main types of gag bits, draw gags, gag curbs and combo bits that use gag action, curb and a noseband. Gag bits are a bit that stretches the lips. The lip stretch encourages a horse to lift the head. Draw Gag/ Sliding Gag 6
Draw gags are bits that slide along a rope. Your reins would attach to the loops below the mouthpiece. As you apply pressure, the mouthpiece will continue to climb in the mouth stretching the lips, putting pressure on the bars and often a horse will suck their tongue back to avoid the pressure there. These bits are seen with a rope headstall like this or on a modified headstall that has limited room for the gag action. The amount of force you can apply with these bits is enormous.
Gag Curb
These types of bits utilize both curb pressure and gag action.
Jr Cowhorse 7
The jr Cowhorse is a commonly seen gag bit. You can tell it is a gag by the connection of the mouthpiece to the cheek. The mouthpiece can slide up the middle ring. A Jr Cowhorse is one of the most mild gags out there because of the very limited gag action. As you apply pressure the shank will rotate back, followed by the mouthpiece sliding up and stretching the lips, then the purchase will rotate as well creating poll pressure. As with any curb you need a curb chain with this. As you learned before the curb chain needs to go above the mouthpiece, so your headstall and curb will share the top ring. Many people use this as a transition bit out of a snaffle, in my opinion, a short shanked curb would be a much more mild option due to the lack of gag. The Wonder Bit 8
The wonder bit is another commonly seen gag bit. This bit has the potential for a large amount of lip stretch. On this bit your headstall and curb share the top ring again. On a gag bit the fit of your curb chain effects the gag. The tighter your curb the less the bit can rotate and thus you get less gag action. When you apply pressure your shank will rotate back, then the mouthpiece will begin to climb up the large ring. You will then get poll pressure. Since the shanks are longer you have the potential for more leverage, the larger surface area for gag action also means you will get a lot of lip stretch. These are commonly seen on barrel racing horses. The english version is popular with jumpers. The correct use of this bit, english or western is with a curb chain. With no curb chain the shanks will continue to rotate backwards and the purchase forward. This will increase the leverage and also make this much harsher on the mouth, as the mouthpiece rotates as well, pressing down into the bars and soft tissue of the mouth.
No Hit Bit 9
The no hit bit is a gag that uses an enormous amount of lip stretch. The cheeks on this bit are so long that a regular headstall or curb chain will not fit on these bits. As you apply pressure the mouthpiece will continue to slide up the metal cheeks until your horses lips can not stretch any further. Due to the shape of the cheek pieces you are also getting leverage, as the mouthpiece climbs, you get a shank. This bit uses poll pressure, lots of gag action, curb pressure and leverage from the shank.
There are several other bits on the market that function similarly but have shorter shanks such as the goosetree simplicity bit.
Sherry Cervi Bit 10
There are also gag bits that have a 1-1 ratio. The shanks are the same length as the purchase. On bits like this you will have equal amounts of poll pressure to leverage from the shanks. You may think that these bits are more gentle than a traditional ratio curb bit, after all, snaffles have a 1-1 ratio. This thinking is incorrect however. You still have shanks that will apply leverage, and the purchase has been lengthened to the same length as the shank. This increases the amount of poll and curb pressure you are getting.
Combination Bits 11
Combination bits are bits that use both nose pressure and bit pressure and very often gag action as well. The misconception on these bits is that the noseband engages first, but in reality it engages last. On a combination bit, first the shank will rotate back, then the mouthpiece will climb and gag action will be applied, then you will get poll and curb pressure, only then will the purchase have rotated enough for the noseband to engage. The bad thing about combos is that they are very confusing for the horse and they use so much pressure. Gag action stretches the lips and encourages a head to go up, whereas the poll pressure and pressure on the nose encourage a lower head.
Mouthpieces
Any type of bit can come with any type of mouthpiece. Below I will go over some of the more common things you see. Single Jointed 12
A single jointed bit is just that, a bit that is broken once in the center of the mouthpiece. A single jointed mouthpiece will fold in the mouth when pressure from both reins is applied. This will put pressure on the bars, lips and can squeeze the tongue. Depending on the angle pressure is applied at this bit may fold forward or angle up toward the roof of the mouth. Horse also may suck their tongue back to avoid pressure from this. On a snaffle, a single jointed mouthpiece can be quite mild, once you add leverage it gets harsher.
Double Jointed Mouthpiece
Dog Bone 13
There are many types of joints for a double jointed mouthpiece this one is a dog bone, a very similar one is a French link if you ride English.
A dog bone mouthpiece applies more pressure to the tongue and tends to sit in the mouth more comfortably than a single jointed bit. This is a very mild mouthpiece.
Dog Bone with Roller 14
A roller is a very common mouthpiece in the western world. You still have the gentleness of a dog bone, but adding the roller gives the horse something to do.
Lifesaver 15
A lifesaver is also called a donut mouthpiece. This is a harsher double jointed mouthpiece. The center ring sits pretty much vertical in the mouth. This creates a pressure point over the tongue. When pressure is applied the lifesaver will begin to dig into the tongue as well.
Ports and Mullen Mouth
Mullen 16
Mullen mouth bits are a mouthpiece with no joints, or port. These are a soft mouthpiece that is great for a horse that prefers a more stable mouthpiece. Because of the lack of joints you do not have the most clear directional aids so this may not be the best choice for a green horse.
Sweet Water Port 17
A sweet water port is a solid wide port designed to give tongue relief. This mouthpiece will work off of the bars and lips for the most part. This is a pretty mild port
Low Hinged port 18
A hinged port is a bit that allows you to pick up on each side of the bit independently. These low ports give tongue relief and are a nice mild option. This is a bit I commonly use to transition out of a snaffle. Correction Port 19
A correction port is misunderstood mouthpiece. Many people think it gives tongue relief. At rest, the bit will lay over the tongue. As you pick up, the port will rotate up, trapping the tongue in the narrow port, and putting a great deal amount of pressure on the bars. A correction ports width is designed to press down on the bars. On a correction port with 'buttons' there is even more pressure. Once the port has rotated up, this puts pressure on the palate and the upper bars as well.
This is a mouthpiece that only belongs on finished horses that neck rein. This is on the harsher end of ported mouthpieces. Narrow tall ports need a finished horse and experienced hand. Any direct reining will make this mouthpiece very severe as the trapped tongue will pull across the mouth as the port moves t the side and it will scrape on the bars.
Bit Textures
Smooth Mouth
A smooth mouthed bit is one without any additional texture added and is the most gentle of bit textures.
Copper wire wrapped 21
A copper wire wrapped mouthpiece has more texture than a smooth mouth and is thus more harsh. When you direct rein, the texture of the bit will be more abrasive than a smooth mouth. The copper will help the mouth with salivation. Twisted Wire 22
A twisted wire bit is an abrasive mouthpiece. The twisted mouthpiece creates texture designed to make a horse back off the bit. While training a horse to be softer is the ideal thing to do, this mouthpiece is often used on horses that are hard mouthed, and is used to intimidate a horse into giving to pressure, not actually teaching a horse to soften.
The thinner the mouthpiece is, the more harsh it becomes.
Slow Twist 23
A slow twist is another step up in harshness. This mouthpiece creates pressure points on the edge of the twist.
Remember any of these things can be combined to create a harsh or mild bit. Hopefully this is a step in education to help people understand what they are putting in their horses mouth.
Any further questions are welcome.