Switching to a ported bit for Western Pleasure and Reining?

Question

I have been riding my 7 year old Quarter Horse in this bit - http://www.rods.com/p/7205,229_7-Engraved-Aluminum-Shank-Snaffle-Bit.html - but my riding instructor has recommended that I advance him up to a bit with a low port.

How would you go about switching?

My friend uses a ported D ring snaffle on her eventing horse (not a kimberwick, but similar) - should I start with something like that? Or just start using a ported bit and let him get used to it?

Answer 1

I use a Monty Foreman bit as the transition bit and it works great. It has rings on the side and of course the typical shank and rings. When you first transition them in to the Monty Foreman you continue riding like you did in a snaffle. Once they are accutomed to that, start working on riding with one hand. Then when that is going well, drop down the reins to the shanks rings and then school that way. Anytime they start to loose bend or need softening I move the reins up to the snaffle part (I actually work them with two sets of reins so I can alternate easily and make the correction on the spot as needed, just tie the extra set over your saddle horn out of the way.

Answer 2

If he's already used to a shanked bit, it shouldn't be too hard to get him used to a low port bit as well.  If you go with something like a low-port correction bit (yeah, it sounds bad, but it really isn't), it might be a good transistion.  Most of the correction bits you find are jointed in the middle still, and you can get a really low port.  The bit will have similar flexibility as the one you ride in now, with that extra port.  It will take a few rides for your horse to figure it out, so don't get impatient with it.  After he's riding well in the correction, you can start upgrading to a regular curb, spoon, or whatever your instructor would like you to eventually get to.  I went from a snaffle to a correction, to a spring loaded spoon with my AQHA pleasure horse, and had a lot of success.  Here's an example of a correction bit for you:

http://www.sstack.com/shopping/product/d...

You can get the ports in varying heights, the shanks in different lengths, etc, but you can see the that port in the middle isn't solid where it connects to the rest of the mouth piece, so there is still some flexibility like with your shanked snaffle.  Good luck!

Answer 3

Usually when you switch from a snaffle to a curb, you use a transition bit.  It's basically a snaffle with shanks so that they start learning about the leverage and curb action.  It looks like that's what you already have so I think your horse would be fine to now put a low ported curb bit on.  The transition should be fairly easy for you both, I think, because you are halfway there already.

Shannon: She needs to switch bits if she is going to show competitively.  Western pleasure and reining shows don't allow snaffles...unless you have a "green" horse (usually under 5).

Answer 4

The first thought that comes to my mind is, why does your trainer want you to switch bits? If your horse is responding well with that bit, I wouldn't change it.

Edit - Thanks. See I learned something new. I never competed heavily in either of those sports so I didn't know that.

Answer 5

Just switch.

The low port curb - unjointed! - is a far milder bit than the jointed bit you are using, which combines the nutcracker action of the snaffle with the leverage effect of the snaffle.

It's also far less confusing to the horse.  The jointed curb puts pressure on the bars, lips, tongue,poll,jaw,roof of the mouth, side of the face, and the other side of the face every time you pull on it.  The unjointed curb is much simpler for the horse to interpet, and he'll be more responsive to your cues.

People always seem to think these jointed curbs are really mild, like a snaffle, but they're not.