Is A Kimberwick Bit Too Harsh?

Question

I have a pony, who is pretty calm and slow. He is responsive to aids. I bought him from a stable I trusted, as I was riding him in lessons, and I noticed he used a kimberwick bit. My riding teacher said that he has always used one, but now I wonder whether it is too harsh. He is well behaved and listens to voice commands, stops well, and has never run away with even the younger riders. If so, what other bit could I try on him thats a bit gentler?

Answer 1

Nothing with any kind of twist!

A Snaffle is the general choice for a lot of people, but I ride with D ring French link, which is a very mild bit (even more so than a snaffle), on a OTTB to boot, and he loves it.

If a french link is not severe enough try a dr. bristol which is the same idea only has a little more pressure

Answer 2

YES YES YES YES!!! lol horses act up when they are in pain so the only bit i would ever use is a happy mouth d ring or a happy mouth full cheek thats it and both being french linked too.

Answer 3

i'm glad that you have consern for your pony. if your pony has always used this bit it's probably used to it. you can always change to a different kimberwick but i wouldn't change to a snaffle or anything. he's probably used to the pressure. if you want to change though i would talk to your riding teacher and see if she has any suggestions, since no one really knows how he will respond other than you and your instructor. i hope i've helped in some way.

Answer 4

You are totally correct, and very well done, this shows you have both knowledge and consideration for your horse, that is SO RARE these days!!!

If your horse is this well behaved it is totally unnecessary to have him in a Kimberwick. You should work down to something like a "D" ring snaffle, if he is OK with that maybe try a Loose ring snaffle.

Good luck!

Answer 5

Heya

To be honest there is only ever 2 bits i will use on my horses.

A snaffle or a 3 ring dutch gag. Any others i dont agree with and think they are 2 harsh.

=] x*x

Answer 6

A kimberwick can be set to give you leverage, or a simple snaffle action, depending where you fasten the rein.  

As a leverage bit it isn't extremely harsh (in the right hands) as their is literally no shank length.  I prefer the solid kimberwick with a bit like a curb bit, there are also jointed bits that look like a snaffle.  Except when you use the lower slot of the bit you then turn the snaffle into a leverage bit.

Is a Kimberwick too harsh?

If used as a leverage bit it has the ability to apply pressure under the chin and in the mouth in different ways than a snaffle.  If used roughly it can be more painful and harsh than a snaffle, that's for sure.  I personally would not put a beginner rider on my horse with a kimberwick in case they jerked and caused my horse unncessary pain - unless the horse became more difficult to handle without it.  We all know there are horses that are easy to handle and polite in a leverage bit, and then drag their beginner riders around in a nice thick snaffle.

Is a Kimberwick harsh if used on the upper slot so its a snaffle?  No, the jointed bit would make the bit very similiar to a d-ring snaffle, with perhaps a bit more "ouch" since the rein is fixed and not riding loose.  With the solid mouthpiece the kimberwick on the snaffle slot is not harsh, but not always effective for horses, either.

If I owned this pony I would put him in a D ring or O ring snaffle and then ride him myself in a bunch of different situations and see how he responds.  Do you have good stopping control?  Can you keep his head up when you ride over grass?  Does he give his head laterally?  If he responds well in a simple snaffle I'd keep him there.  If he cheats and takes advantage once he's in a snaffle, then you know that you can't trust beginners on him that way.

Many judges consider a kimberwick a bit bulky and unattractive compared to a nice plain snaffle.  But you need to use what best suits you and the horse as a pair.

Answer 7

If he has a soft mouth and is responsive then you can use just about any bit you want.  I actually prefer to use simple snaffle bits on all my horses, if I have to use a bit.  (I am a fan of a bozel)  I would recomend that you use whatever but you feel comfortable with.  But remember it is not the Bit that is tough on a horse, it is the one at the other end of the reins.  You can gently use the harshest bit in the world, and have the same results as being tough on his mouth with a snaffle.

Answer 8

What you didn't say is what type of mouthpiece the kimberwick has.

Jointed (Like a snaffle)

Ported (Like a curb)

Now the one advantage of having a kimberwick is that it doesn't have to be used as a shanked bit.  See those little rein slots?  you can move your reins to different positions on them, the shorter the shank the milder the bit.  Then if you just put your reins on the D part, the you have a snaffle or direct pull bit.

Learn something new every day don't we?

Answer 9

There couldn't be any harm in trying a new bit.  Always start in an enclosure though in case he really won't listen to a milder bit!  Depending on what discipline you choose to ride, i would try a dee ring ( maybe with a slow twist) for hunter, or a loose ring snaffle with a fairly narrow mouth piece for dressage.  I hing that it is very admirable that you want to step down your bit- generally people are trying to step up when it is the way they ride that is the problem!

Answer 10

Well if he has had that bit for such a long time I think he is probably used to it. But if you think it is too harsh and you want to try another one you can try a twisted bit or just a normal kimberwick

Answer 11

I don't think there is nothing wrong with trying different bits on horses.  The one thing to remember is though is if you are having trouble with a horse and you think a bigger bit will solve it, you are wrong.  With your situation, It sounds like the horse goes great in a Kimberwick.  You could try a smooth mouth snaffle or twisted wire, but...

If it ain't broke why fix it?