Buying my first bit?

Question

what size do i get? my horse is 14.2 hh and regular sized. I dont know what kind or brand or what size. I am ridding dressage and english pleasure in an all purpose saddle

Answer 1

you will want to take a fabric measuring tape [usually used when  you sew] and measure from one corner of his mouth to the other inside his mouth where a bit would be place. i usually add a half inch because the bit should cause a wrinkle on each cheek which makes it a smidge longer... then get that size bit..

Answer 2

Do you know what bit your pony usually uses? I would assume it would be a simple snaffle, but you never know. That being said, a regular 5 inch bit should be just fine. http://www.horsefriendly.com/store/sweet...

Answer 3

Size of the horse doesn't really matter--fitting the bit is harder than most think. I tried the general 5 in on my 14.3 quarter horse and it was too big. I ended up with a 4.5. It's hard to say what type without knowing what your horse is like but in my opinion ALL horses should be able to be ridden in a simple snaffle bit. I highly recommend a french link--rather then single-jointed snaffle bits. I also prefer eggbutt mouth pieces to loose rings because loose rings tend to pinch a horses mouth, and I've always thought that rubber bit guards look a bit silly. It's all personal preference though.

Answer 4

If there is no old tack to get an idea from then you need to measure his mouth, try borrowing a bit that you know the size of - I'd make a guess at around 5 inch. Borrow and try it for size.

Alternately you could get one of these bit sizing devices

http://www.bitofbritain.com/Bit_Sizer_p/...

Answer 5

I use a simple snaffle at first, then switched to a D-ring for show jumping (when I did that). My horse is smaller, too, and pretty sensitive, so he responded well to that.

Good luck to you!

You could also ask the previous owner what he/she used on the horse.

edit/

Take a piece of string and measure the width of the horse's mouth. Mark it, and take it to the tack shop (or online www.statelinetack.com for example) and simply order the bit that's the correct size. Try a D ring snaffle to start out with. That's the average english bit, I'd say.

Answer 6

in most cases, atleast in Ontario Canada, most dressage, whilst in the lower levels require tests to be ridden in an 'ordinary snaffle' so a loose ring snaffle, or even a french link snaffle (which is still acceptable, it just reduces the nutcracker effect on the horses mouth). It would be suitable for both disciplines... but really if you have an intructor i'd be asking for their opinion as to what you should be using on your horse.