Do bits without links hurt horses mouths?

Question

I heard that snaffle bits and bits without links that hurt a horses mouth and pinch it. They can also pinch the tounge. Is this true?

Answer 1

Any bit can hurt a horse if used incorrectly.  No exceptions!  I find that the cruelest bits are often those that are pushed as soft because the horse ends up fighting the bit and the rider ends up sawing with the reins to control the horse.  I have actually seen more sore mouths from snaffles than I have ever seen from curb bits because the horse is much less likely to fight a curb bit.  A bit is used as a communication tool.

The bit should rest in the mouth until you are asking the horse to do something.  Then the lightest possible pressure should be used to tell the horse to do it.  An attentive horse will then do what is asked with little or no bit pressure.  Since I neck rein my horses move off the rein at the side of the neck so even turns require little or no bit pressure.  Everything can be done with one finger hooked loosely in the reins.

However since I am a trail rider I am always well aware of a possible run away.  Despite what people say a curb bit is also an EMERGENCY brake though be aware it should only be used in a true emergency.  I have had to use this once with an arab that did not want to stop and was heading for the highway while a milk truck (weighing in the neighborhood of 25000 pounds was heading on an intersect course.  I am alive today because I do not believe in using snaffles and was not using one then.  In her case the run away was from excitement and wanting to run not fear but the point is I am alive because a curb bit was in her mouth.  

BTW on that mare I actually bent the bit before she stopped and she had still ran 250 feet before stopping.

Edit

I should amend....I do not believe in using snaffles outside the arena such as on trail work.  Of course people who jump, event, or do other arena work can get by with snaffles and they can be preferable to curbs in those situations.

Answer 2

In all my years of riding I have never seen a bit hurt a horse. The rider hurt the horse. Thats like saying a whips are hurting horses. The whip is doing nothing, just the human holding it. lol. Spades are often thought of as cruel, but a horse that is trained for it with an expert rider it is amazing. Also, the key word in you question "can." With a capable rider, the rider will not hurt any horses mouth. Hope I helped!

Answer 3

They can i you don't use them properly

Answer 4

It really depends on the particular bit.

For example, french link bits look similar to Dr. Bristols, yet the Dr. Bristol is much harsher. That said, bits with more than just one link tend to be gentler on most horses.

With regard to the links, it also depends on the individual horse's mouth. A horse with a low palate and fat tongue will do better in an un-linked bit than in a linked. The links could hit the horse's palate. However, certain 'fat' bits, like a vulcanite mullen mouth, may to too thick for the horse too, so it's take careful planning.

My favorite bit is the eliptical link snaffle. It doesn't pinch and I've seem many horses go well in this bit. Every horse is different though, so you need to check what they'd prefer.

Answer 5

Hey girl I know finding the right bit for your horse can be frustrating! What do you use your horse for, then you can find a bit that works best for you and your horse.... Im going to give you a link to explore.. its Charmayne James website   if you dont know she is  a 7 time world champion barrel racer and breeds her own horses and on her site she has many bits you can look at and read the details about them....

http://www.charmaynejames.com/store/cate...

seriously check it out, there are bits that have links and she explains all about them!

Good luck!

Answer 6

They can, if used improperly...

Answer 7

I've always found that any bit is only as harsh as the riders hands.

Answer 8

The riders hands hurt the mouth. Not the bit. If the horse is just standing with a bit in his mouth, the bit will not hurt. But put a rider who doesn't have trained hands, then yes, the bit can/will hurt the mouth. Yes, some bit can pinch. Not all snaffles pinch. It is how the bit is made.

Answer 9

No, not unless you really ride poorly.

Answer 10

It can be true - it all depends on the bit, its fit, and the anatomy of the horse's mouth.  A horse with a low palate might be bothered by a linked bit, but a horse with a high palate might be more comfortable in it.  There are no hard and fast rules where this is concerned, simply because not every horse's mouth and teeth are the same.

Answer 11

They can, if used improperly. You should always consult a trainer before changing your horse's bit.

Answer 12

Any bit can hurt a horse's mouth...bar bits and snaffles without shanks are mildest...once you add a chin chain and shanks, it becomes more severe...the level of training of the rider's hands is the major indicator of the degree to which a bit will hurt a horse's mouth.

Answer 13

Bits with links can hurt a horses mouth if they are used improperly such as being too loose or too tight. of course you want to normally use the simplest bit possible for your horse, but if they have a super sensitive mouth or like to chew the bit a lot then you should try unlinked bits before linked ones.