Most horses will prefer a mild snaffle bit, but if you aim to train in dressage or another more demanding discipline, you may need something more intricate. Consider your own goals, your horses needs and then decide on the type of mouthpiece, rings and materials. Choosing the best type of bit takes a lot of consideration as well as trial and error. You should ride your horse with the least severe bit that still gives you enough control. What Is The Best Type Of Bit For My Horse?ĭetermining the best bit for your horse depends on a few things: Gag bits are one of the most severe horse bits. There are several different types of gag bits: dutch gag, elevator, gag snaffle, and Duncan gag. They are often misused and therefore illegal in most shows and race tracks. These bits are used for short-term corrections, like when a horse pulls or bolts. Gag bits were originally created from snaffle bits and are considered to be powerful correction bits. Most horses prefer fixed because they don’t pinch the corners of their mouths as loose ones do. There are two different types of rings loose and fixed. Depending on the type of bit, they can be attached to the mouthpiece or the shanks. The rings stick out of the horse’s mouth and are where the reins attach to. English riders also use curb bits, especially in dressage. You can see them decorated with detailed patterns. In western riding, curb bits are the most popular. Shanks can be straight or curved and are most commonly made of metal. They provide the rider with more grip on the horse’s mouth which increases the pressure of the bit. The shanks are the side pieces of curb bits. The most common joint types are straight/mullen, single-joint, double-joint, and chain. This part specifies the bit’s mode of action and severity within the mouth. The joint type is the most important part of the mouthpiece. It is the part that is in the horse’s mouth and sits over the horse’s tongue, resting between the pre-molars and incisors.

The mouthpiece is the part that all the pieces share. The curb chain also helps to amplify rein signals. They prevent the bit from applying too much pressure on the horse’s hard palate. The curb bits should always be used with a curb chain or strap because it ensures proper and safe action. They attach at the top of the shanks and run under the horse’s chin. The curb chain or curb straps are used with the curb bits. It mostly depends how the rider uses the bit. However, when used properly and respectfully, they are not necessarily cruel. Some bits are stronger which helps control a difficult or stronger horse. Some riders are more heavy-handed which can cause higher levels of pain for the horse. Are Horse Bits Painful?īits can be painful, but that depends on how the rider uses them and what type of bit is being used. However, through training horses become used to it and are usually less bothered by it. Most animals don’t enjoy objects in their mouth, especially if they are being pulled and tugged on. Do Horses Like Having a Bit in Their Mouth? It is usually reinforced through other cues by the rider’s legs or weight signals. The bit works by applying pressure to the horse’s tongue, hard palate, and bars. The reins connect to the bit and through certain motions made by the rider, will tell the horse what to do. The bit is one of the main tools for communication between horse and rider. It can be made from metal or synthetic materials. It sits in the part of the horse’s mouth that doesn’t have any teeth. It is what controls the horse’s mouth and some of the other movements a horse may make. What Is a Horse Bit?Ī horse bit is part of your horse’s tack and attaches to the bridal. This guide will go over all the basics of what you need to know when finding the perfect bit for you and your horse. Still today, most riders use a bit and bridle, although bitless bridles are becoming much more popular. The use of horse bits dates back all way to 3000 BC by the Botai people of northern Kazakhstan, who were some of the first people to domesticate horses. It is a direct connection between horse and rider. Horse bits are a very important piece of equipment that almost all riders use to control their horse. There is a lot to know about horse bits, so much so that there are entire books written about them.

Horse bit gag