Bits and bobs....?

Question

Just wondering what english bits you guys use and why?

Do you use the same bit all the time?

I personaly use a standard eggbut snaffle everyday:

http://images.google.ie/imgres?imgurl=http://www.americancowboysupply.com/Imagescowboy/Bit_Eggbut_Snaffle.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.americancowboysupply.com/Bits1.htm&h=186&w=300&sz=9&hl=en&start=6&um=1&tbnid=IbLLqIHYynegtM:&tbnh=72&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Deggbut%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN

and a three ring on the second ring when jumping or xc as my mare can get very strong (she loves this bit): http://www.doversaddlery.com/product.asp?pn=X1-0168&sid=shopz&CATALOG_CODE=1X844&EID=X1844001&zmam=1460880&zmas=1&zmac=45&zmap=X1-0168

Answer 1

I always use an Eggbutt French Link on my horse at all times which can be difficult because he can be VERY strong but he also tends to carry his head very high and the nutcracker action of single jointed bits make him gold it higher, whereas the double jointed french link kind of encourages him to bring it down a bit.

Answer 2

Try and find the most comfortable for your horse i use a hackamore for show jumping and cross country and a myler snaffle for dressage. They are both fantastic and feel like magic!!

hope this helps

pink.converses

Answer 3

i have a new forest mare whose quite strong in her mouth so i use a pelham. i use a plain snaffle when showing her in hand.

Answer 4

Whether riding english or western I stick to snaffles for most of my horses, d-ring and full cheeks for the most part. I have a couple that I have advanced to different bits but I do it because I can, not because I have to.

Answer 5

We alternate between the duch gag, and the half cheek snaffle, the former for X country, so we have some brakes!!

Answer 6

For Falco I use a Dutch gag with a Waterford mouthpiece.

For Harvey it depends what we're doing/who we're with if it's going to be a calm day I use a Dutch gag with a plain jointed snaffle mouth but if it's going to be fast work then I use a slotted Kimblewick with a low port.

Answer 7

I use a loose ring snaffle for dressage and I use the same 3-ring elevator that you do, except mine is not a happy mouth. I love that bit!

Answer 8

Well, im an english rider but it depends on what im doing.

If im jumping/normal riding i use a Dutch gag (http://www.eclipse-equestrian.com/acatal... on the second hole (because my horse is quite strong).

But if im hunting, i usaully use a pelham (http://www.tackroominc.com/images/JPJoin... purely because i like the contorl it gives me. You can never be too careful out hunting so yeh.

Answer 9

sorry, don't ride english

i ride western!

Answer 10

Since I'm still developing my hand, on the schooling horse I ride, we use a standard eggbutt snaffle, and then we also use a D ring snaffle, if there is a difference I don't know. But we use snaffles a lot.

Answer 11

I like a loose ring french mouth snaffle for everyday use.

I also like to use a double bridle for showing.

Answer 12

i use the same snaffle all the time coz it fits right and is comfortable for us

Answer 13

I ride my guy in a loose-ring sweet iron snaffle with copper inlays. He loves that bit, and does so well in it.

I don't ride much english, but either way i use the same bit on him no matter what.

Answer 14

D ring happy mouth 99.9% of the time

http://www.doversaddlery.com/happy-mouth...

rubber mouth tom thumb pelham when my horse is being stupid and or riding out on the track (just need the extra leverage SOMETIMES)

http://www.doversaddlery.com/korsteel-to...

and happy mouth 2 ring elevator for cross country

http://www.doversaddlery.com/happy-mouth...

Answer 15

we used to use either a plain egg butt snaffle or french link egg butt. Our two year old is in a bit-wrapped snaffle when he needs to be bitted. Our cob is currently in a drop-check french link bit. It has a small ring at the top which attaches to the check pieces, then a small bar down to the ring the snaffle is attached to. This means that it exerts a little poll pressure while being gentle on the mouth. Our cob absolutly loves this bit, as soon as he gets it in he starts sucking away. Part of this is also that it's thinner than anything we've used before and although this is normally thought to be harsher he prefers it as he has quite a fleshy tongue.

We don't do a lot of jumping or xc, but have found that we need to use a drop noseband as he likes to drop his mouth and go 'I'm not working today'. He doesn't need it tight - we can still get a couple of fingers on his nose under it but it kinda reminds him that he has to soften his jaw and listen.

Having said that he can be lazy and generally the biggest problem is getting him to stay in pace rather than dropping out.