Bits and your Horses?

Question

just for fun and 2 points, what bits do you use on your horse and why?

I use a Dutch gag on the second hole because my horse is a 15.3hh Irish Draft and once he gets his head down, theres no stopping him!

Answer 1

http://www.horsetackinternational.com/im...

That's what I used on both of my horses. I actually had to buy two because I couldn't keep switching the bridles. I really love using the hackamore. It's not very harsh, but horses still respect it. I always got comments after I ran in barrels, poles, and such about how responsive my horse was (everyone was surprised to see that I was using a hackamore). And the other horse I had, we worked cattle with a hackamore. Both horses also used the same hackamore for trail rides.

Arabian Filly - Is this what you're talking about? http://www.horsetackco.com/images/applel...  That's a "Happy Horse" snaffle.

Answer 2

I don't own a horse but I ride three main horses.

Rocky-9 year old paint gelding I ride in a plain snaffle bit. We stared in a D-ring snaffle then switched it.

Atty- 15 year old OTTB mare goes in a plain snaffle bit aswhile. Her mouth is extreamly soft.

Bailey- 13 year old OTTB mare goes in a French Twist. She is hot headed and a bit hard to stop sometimes.

Answer 3

well, i used different bits at different times for different reasons(but always went to a trainer for advice when considering changing a bit)

Kimberwicke was the first bit i used on my horse, and my fav bit. . . sometimes i used it with the chain sometimes with out.

these bits considered harsh? well i knew they were a cross tween the crub bit and a driect bit, and you had 3 options on how harsh the bit was. . . i usually rode it on the least harsh one.

Snaffle bits are they other types of bits i used on my horses, i used these more in my jumping/showing days just because i liked em.

yeah, i'm not an expert on bits, why i'm trying to research them

Answer 4

I use snaffles with either copper or sweet iron mouth peice, tom thumbs(aka Parelli engaging bit, aka Argentenian shanked snaffle), full bosal hackamores. i like to take my time with a horse and keep a soft supple mouth. I hope one day to be able to get a horse working in a full spanish spade. But that day is a long way off.

Answer 5

Argentine snaffle, because that's what my horse was ridden with before and his tack came with him.  He rides fine in it, and I don't know much about bits, so I feel no reason to change it.

My horse tried that "head down and run" thing, but if I turn him hard to one side he pulls his back up and I can stop him.

Answer 6

just a normal eggbutt snaffle

my horse really responds to it. i dont believe in using harsher bits to make horses "behave" i think it just forces them to not act out because they are afraid

Answer 7

I use a grazing bit. That's what she was used too before and she does really good on it. One day I would like to train her on a hackamore, but we'll see on that.

Answer 8

I use a full-cheek snaffle, cause my pony has ... troubles turning, though is stopping is perfectly fine :)

Answer 9

Maybe you don't have 'snaffle hands'? I think that's more likely than your horse not having a 'snaffle mouth'. The bit is only a communication device, NOT a controlling device. If you 'need' a different bit to control your horse, your horse and you 'need' more training...

I am by no means against using any kind of bit if used in the right hands, but i do know that if you can't ride your horse in a snaffle bit you shouldn't be advancing to others. There's something wrong with communication and training aspects, maybe even pain.... But hey, just my thoughts on the matter.

Answer 10

cutting horse bit because my horse does very well with it.  Why change if it ain't broken.

Answer 11

I use a wonder bit because you can attach the reins at different points, so the bit functions like different kinds of bits. In other words if you attach the reins on the central ring, it acts like a snaffle. Or you can attach the reins on the bottom, and it acts like a leverage bit.

David

http://gentlenaturalhorseman.blogspot.co...

Answer 12

i also use a dutch gag on the third ring

and still cant stop lol.

he was driven so his mouth is rock hard :)

i use the american gag (slightly harsher than the dutch) alot it the winter months because he is ALOT worse, plays up bolts ect. the cold weather leaves him rather fresh :)

Answer 13

western i use a hack-combo.. english i use a kimberwic snaffle

Answer 14

I use a Dee Snaffle bit on my horse I used to ride him in a Kimberwick because he used to take off with me when I first got him, but now I can ride him in a snaffle no problem! =]

Answer 15

I totally am blanking out and forget what it is called. Its very thick and is a rubber bit. In other words.....soft! I just got him so I am not positive why he uses it but probably because he needs a soft mouth or was trained with it.

Answer 16

When I began riding my horse before I bought her, she went in a rubber D snaffle.  The barn used her for lessons, and after I bought her I eventually had to put her in a kimberwick. (spelling?) What I would do I switch between a snaffle with rollers and the kimberwick.  When she would get to be too much for the snaffle, I would swap bits.  Now I use no bit in her, I use the bitless bridle.  My Clydesdale goes nicely in a loose ring jointed snaffle.  When I start my baby lunging next year, he will be using a loose ring jointed rubber snaffle.

Answer 17

I have two ponies in full cheek snaffles, one horse in an eggbutt snaffle, and one in a loose ring french link snaffle.

Answer 18

this is mine

http://www.bestfriendequine.com/images/2...

it is best for roping!!!

Answer 19

With Falco I use a Dutch gag ( Waterford mouth) set on the 3rd ring. He's a 17.2 Irish draft cross and a perfect gentleman about 90% of the time. However he doesn't like standing still and will just drag in anything else if he wants to go. He doesn't bolt but he will take you straight out into traffic.

I used to use an ordinary single jointed mouthpiece on him but I got this bit for another horse ( it didn't work ) and the mouth piece encourages salivation so I thought I'd try it on him - he much prefers it.

For Harvey I have 2 bits for different purposes, I have the normal jointed Dutch gag which I use when he's ridden in the field, jumped or we go on a "quiet" ride. If it's going to be a fast ride ( or my daughter's nutjob loan horse is going with us) then I use a ported Kimblewick as he will shove his head up then down and go and once the head is down you just can't get it back up. He's an 18.2 Clyde cross.

He's an ex school horse and I actually have photos of him in a snaffle, cavesson noseband and no martingale - nice but he's totally different in an arena, you could do that - just not on a hack unless you had a death wish.

My daughter uses a french link filet baucher on the nutjob as despite being crazy she is actually quite light mouthed.

The pony has a Dutch gag on the first ring or, depending on who's riding him, an English hackamore.

Answer 20

I use a basic Dee Snaffle on my 14 year old OTTB.

http://www.doversaddlery.com/myler-regul...

He loves this bit. He listens really well when I use this.