What bit should I use for speed events like barrel racing?

Question

My mare is a seasoned barrel racing horse. She is very responsive to cues. I recently competed in barrel racing with her and she takes her corners very wide and wont stop as quickly as she usually does and almost acts like a different horse in the arena competing. I need some opinions on what bit would be best. I need a bit that will help me control her at fast speeds and help me stop her quicker and she also has a habit of snapping the bit if its a snaffle and knawing on a regular noncopper roller. What should I use??

Answer 1

Hi there,

I am a barrel racer and I had the same problem when I first started barrel racing! I was riding my horse in an O-Ring snaffle: http://www.horse.com/Western-Tack/Bits/P...  and well we just outgrew it like you have to your bit! :-)

So I switched to a Jr. Working Cow Horse Bit:

http://www.horse.com/Reinsman/Bits/Reins...

This is the one I have^^^^! :-) Exact one!

My horse and I started RUNNING WAY FASTER TIMES!  He was more receptive to the bit and turned sharper as well.

This is actually the bit I use him in for EVERYTHING! I absolutely LOVE IT!

I will comment on your bits in a minute.. Let me look at them first! hehe....

Okay the first one you listed:

There is no give to the sides of the mouthpiece, do you see that?  So I would say it is a little more severe.  But I am not an expert.  My sister ran in one similar on her retired horse and ran 1D times!  And it is Sharon Cammerio so that is a plus! :-)

The second one:

Before I got the Junior Cow Horse I had one similar to this but it had shorter shanks.  That might be okay, it reminds me of a tomb thumb twisted with a dog-bone! lol... Might work out okay for you and your horse although you probably do not need a dog bone(that the piece in the middle the extra thing on there.)...

The Third ONE!

Lol... That is almost the SAME one I suggested with a dog bone! lol.. That is Hilarious! I didn't look at the links before I wrote the bit I suggest! I like this one out of the three the best, just because I know that these bits are REALLY nice!

OKay so there you have my opinions! LOl... Anyway, I recommend that you pick one and try it out. The only way to know how a bit works is to try it out, so pick up a cheap one maybe on ebay give it a try and see how your horse does!

Hope I Helped and Best Of LUCK!

Barrel Racing ROCKS! :-)

Oh a friendly pointer...

Next time you have a horse question like this you will get a lot more answers under the Pets>horse section! :-)