I need to know what kind bit to put in my horse's mouth?

Question

i am traing an 8 year old quarter horse gelding. in an o-ring snaffle bit he doesn't listen very good. in a regular copper curb he still doesn't listen. i tried him in a hackamore, but he throws his head everywhere. i need to find out what kind of bit will work for traing a western horse. i have rode him in a twisted wire sliding gag bit, but that is a little to harsh for him. please help! it must be a western bit. remember he is just now being trained, so i just want to ride him in some kind of training bit.

Answer 1

try a slow twist. my horse works great with it. its harsher. but not that harsh

Answer 2

Stick with a snaffle for sure.  I would put a bridle on him, take off the reins, and stick him in a stall for 1/2 hour with the bit in his mouth.  Just let him hang out and get comfortable with it in his mouth.  Make it seem like its "part of him".  Then with the bit do lots and lots of ground work.  Flexing and stuff like that.  By that point he will be used to the bit when he is relaxing in a stall and used to a bit when he is doing ground work.  When he is very soft and supple get on and start doing some saddle work.  He should be a little better.  Then of course you can eventually advance to a harsher bit if he needs it.  But you'll know when he's ready.  I wouldnt use a gag bit though.  Since you're only just training him.  Id save that for later if you even are gonna need it.

Answer 3

i would stay with the snaffle. you will have to work with him. it takes time and practice. but good luck. sabrina

Answer 4

I'd say try a full cheek snaffle. The full cheek also gives the cue on the sides of the nose/muzzle, to help re-enforce the cue.

You could also do as someone else has said, and get someone to evaluate your horse to figure out what bit would be best, but really the bit should only be there to let your horse know that he missed a cue, so you also need to do some work with your seat, legs and voice.  It could also be just that he's being ignorant... if thats the case, keep with him, in just the bit you've been using (not the gag, but the snaffle) he'll eventually get the clue, as his 'not listening' could just be testing to get his own way.

Answer 5

You need a trainer or someone with experience to evaluate him.  There are a dozen different possible bits depending on another dozen factors.  The wrong bit could make a horse sour or hurt them, definitely get an opinion from someone who has seen the horse go.

Answer 6

some horses get strong because the bit is TOO harsh. have you heard of those bitless bridles that are not hackamore? these bitless bridles spread out the pressure more evenly and not just on the nose/ muzzle area. and its nearly exactly like riding in a headcollor. its really good! there has been people that cannot stop or control their horses till they put this bridle on.

even eventers, hunters, dressage horses and show jumpers have them on and it has been proved to work. even them people that has tried all the bits in the world.

i would highly recormmend that or to put a snaffle bit and put in an training aid on like a martingale, drop noseband or a flash noseband on to stop the horse being strong and dont listen. the bitless bridles good for this because the horse hasnt got a bit to fight against. on the other hand it might still be a shock to actually have a bit im his mouth so you can make the bit be a plesant thing instead of a horrible thing by changing him thoughts of it. to do this but some honey on the bit before putting it in an then it will be a nice taste for him so he will think its a good thing

Answer 7

SMOOTH MOUTH Snaffle! Nothing else is needed!  Remember that its a learned process (Condition Response!)  Light hands and use consistency in your training!  (dont change your cues and if you get the right answer be sure to reward QUICKLY by releasing the pull on the bit!) ON the same token - dont reward for the wrong answer - just continue to ask the same cue until you get the desired response! The faster you reward the correct answer - the faster your horse will learn to respond properly!  GOOD LUCK!

Answer 8

Your best bet would be to stick to the snaffle and just work with him to listen. Train him to listen to your cues, etc.

Answer 9

I strongly suggest a little "bit" of bit knowledge.  Go to your local tack store or favorite on-line store or visit Myler bits website.

These guys have a book and DVD that tells you about bit mechanics that is a wealth of information.

I would suggest going to a Myler comfort snaffle - with bit hooks.  

Any thing like tossing the head, sticking out the tongue, going through the bit or staying behind it are all bit resistance - he's telling you he's not comfortable and he can't focus on what you're trying to teach him.

A good bit goes hand in hand with proper training and riding technique - any bit that's great can be bad in hands that are too heavy, too slow or too quick.

However, in my experience starting a youngster in a typical, copper mouth, dee ring split (two piece snaffle) then going to my Myler comfort snaffe showed a night/day difference.

These bits are made to last - clean up easily, employ mechanics geared to speak consistently and concisely to the horse, not pinch, yet allow the proper amount of control.

Put your finger on your gum way back behind your teeth and press down.  Now walk around - how long can you walk around like that without discomfort - quite a while huh?

Now put your finger in the middle of your tongue, press down and walk around.  How long can you walk around like that without discomfort?  Not nearly as long.

This is the mechanics behind how bits work.  A snaffle bit, when engaged, collapses across the bars of the horses mouth, the point where the two parts of the mouthpiece comes together create a point that pushes down and "takes the tongue away" - gags the horse so it is very uncomfortable.

As the horse begins to learn the cues and respond more quickly and accurately to the message you are sending, you must use his tongue less and less to communicate - you can use the bars of the mouth to send a message he will respond accurately to.

Employment of leverage through the longer cheekpieces enhances the message - a broken bit with long shanks pinches down on the horses tongue faster and with more force than a snaffle bit with round or dee rings.  Therefore, until the horse responds as they should, leverage should not be used.

A horse who is uncomfortable when put into a harsher bit feels confined, in pain, etc - which does not teach him the language nor confidence in you as his leader and translator into the human world.

The ol' vaguero cowboys used a snaffle on a 2-3 year old to get the communication down - then they moved to a bosal when the bit teeth/wolf teeth were forming to keep from injuring the forming mouth.  A 4-5, they went to a two rein - a bit with a slimmer bosal.  They would communicate with the bosal, then if the horses didn't respond as required, increasing pressure engaged the big part reinforcing the message.  After the horse was "push button" with the two rein - usually after many years of working together, the most refined horses and riders were able to move to cathedral or more ported bits.  These bits appear harsh, but in the right hands of a professional horseman, they are the highest level of communication tools never used to inflict pain or mechanical means of dominance over a horse.

Hope this helps!

Answer 10

Try a broken bit! That will allow is mouth to movie more and he also will be able to eat and do normal things with that bit on!

Answer 11

try a d-ring twisted snaffle. try a jr. cowhorse, or a diamond draw snaffle by sherri cervi.