Does anyone know what kind of bit this is?

Question

So i was looking at my instructors old bridles and i found one that was really weird. The port is straight as one piece and the shanks are straight bars making a box-shape before attaching to the head stall. It has no curb chain but another straight pole underneath the chin? Any idea what kind of bit this is?

Answer 1

Google "mullen mouth curb" (images).  See if that's it.  That's my best guess from the description but there are just so many possibilities...

Answer 2

Is your instructor english or western? The bar under the chin makes me think of a bumper bit, but you're not likely to find that outside of a WP show barn. http://www.rods.com/p/510,234_Bumper-Bit...

Answer 3

Could be a double bridle.. I honestly don't know! LOL  Here's a picture of what I think it could be.

http://www.bitlessbridle.com/RollkurFig5...

Edit: This could be it: http://www.horsetackinternational.com/im...  It's a gaited horse bit, I believe.

I just googled "old horse bits" lol

Answer 4

Sounds like some kind of curb bit

http://www.narrawin.com/images/gearforsa...

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/co...

Edit> why not ask your instructor ?

Answer 5

Well, here's a bit that sounds similiar except the pieces are curvy instead of straight, it's listed as a military cavalry bit:

http://www.andersonmilitaria.com/images/...

http://www.blockaderunner.com/images/eb1...

Is that anything at all like what you saw?

There's also this, it's called a show bit:

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

http://www.3gemstack.com/catalog/00558_t...

Edit:

Here's another, a type of driving bit:

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

Answer 6

its definatly old..you would not see this at a show.. and i have a old western pleasure bit that is just strait across w/o a curb or anything..i think it was something they used quite a few years ago

Answer 7

i have a book that is 549 pages and has 20 bits per page and only shows most of the bits that were made since the beginning of horsemanship.that comes out to 10.980 different designs of bits.without a picture it is like shooting fish in the ocean from the space shuttle.

Answer 8

  Sounds like an old western bit. Good for reining possibly depending on how long the shanks are.

Answer 9

Ask your instructor! You can probably get a history of how and when she acquired it, too!

Answer 10

hmm beats me

Answer 11

Sounds a little like a Chifney anti rearing bit.  These are usually attached to the halter or added to the bridle to help control stallions.  The top bar goes in the mouth; the lower bar circles the jaw and is attached to the lead rope.  They're popular in racing.

Pic:  http://www.europasaddlery.com/L304/antir...