What does this bit do? Why would you use it? How severe is it?

Question

http://www.twenga.co.uk/offer/0191319670.html

Answer 1

The bar sticking out (I am not sure what they are called) prevent the bit from sliding through the mouth.

The copper causes increased saliva which keeps the mouth moist and more sensitive.

The beads allow the horse to play with the bit a little which can calm a nervous horse.

Other than that I can not answer because I do not ride english or use snaffles.

Answer 2

Is this *the* correction bit?

At least it's mild...I have to agree with everyone else in that it's designed for leaners and that it is indeed quite kind.  (I am a fan of full cheek snaffles).  But...I don't know how well this is going to help your particular situation.  It's a nice idea, to design a bit with the intention of giving a leaner/puller something to occupy their mouth with (and then salivate, and then theoretically be more receptive to rider cues) but heck, I'm just not sure that a bit can outweigh a habit like that.  It just seems like a habitual leaner horse, taking this bit in their mouth, would think, "Hmm, this is different...I'm going to play with it for a little while..." and then leaning just as much as ever and going back to the old routine.   : /

PS - A waterford? Naaah..why would he need that?  I thought the common use was to help with a strong horse that locks its jaw against the bit...?  There is a big difference between your issue and a horse fixing his head against the bit and overpowering his rider.  I scratch my head at that one...I am sure you had a few words to say about THAT when it was brought up! :)

Answer 3

go out and get your horse an 'O' ringed snaffle with a copper mouth. no cheeks. no rollers. the problem your horse is having isn't in the bit. it's in the rider.  try lightening your hands ands start using leg pressure and breathing to get your horse to start and stop. do a lot of bending and stay off of your horses mouth as much as possible.  if your horse still feels a little hard get yourself a rope halter or a cowboy halter and do a lot of riding in a round pen with this halter.  this will loosen your horse and make him think more fixing many of the problems that would have came in the future

Answer 4

I like the looks of it...I've never used this one, but I always use a full cheek sweet mouth snaffle....and this would be as good as anything you'll try to discourage leaning...maybe better.  You might want to get a pair of bit keepers for it just in case you want the added leverage on the poll....it's very mild.

Answer 5

ooh... my trainer had 1 of these in her tack box & she found it randomly when we were cleaning her tackbox out & she said it is for horses that lean on the bit... & it just goes with ur horses mouth with whatever u do... its also good for horses that get bored easily w/ their bits cause they kinda just keep moving... she says when its in their mouths its kinda like "its alive!"

Answer 6

The design does not allow the bit to fully collapse as does a traditional jointed mouthpiece, thereby reducing tongue pressure and palate injury.

   The curved shape looks to follow the natural contours of the horse's mouth so it wouldn't be like to hurt the bars, and evenly distribute pressure on the tongue.  The copper rollers help encourage swallowing and relaxation of the jaw.

  Because the balls rotate, the horse can play with them and becomes calm and relaxed, the copper can cause salivation and encourage a soft mouth.

Its basically a snaffle with a toy ;) As to whether it would stop the leaning on the bit - I would say no - however, if you were to work on light hands and training your horse to bend and flex and give to LIGHT pressure - that will solve your leaning problems - check out Clinton Andersons methods... he'll have your horse dropping its nose even with the lightest cues!

Answer 7

This full cheek snaffle looks okay to me.  It's not a mild snaffle; the copper rollers provide a little more bite than a regular or french link snaffle.

The copper  and the rollers will promote salivation (good) and should interest him in the bit at least for a while (good).  I suspect it acts a little like a Waterford in that there's enough joints in the middle so he can't lay on it so easily.

The full cheek is an added dividend.  Used with keepers adjusted properly, it will add a mild leverage to the poll which will encourage him to set hims head properly.  This mild leverage also helps keep the bit on the bars rather than on the lips and tongue, will gives more consistent cues and thus greater control.

I'll be interested to hear how this works for you.  I've never used it, just analyzing from what I know of similar bits I've tried.

Answer 8

It is a snaffle the easiest bit on a horse's mouth you can get. With the copper mouth piece it make the horse salivate, so that it keep the animal's mouth supple. A snaffle has very little leverage on the mouth. I use snaffles, and I love them.

Edit- Yes. The several breaks in the bit at the rollers reduces more leverage. With a horse that really leans on the bit, it will help.

By the way I ride western and all I use are snaffles and tom thumbs(aka Parelli engaging bit, aka Argentinian shanked snaffle), and Hackamores( I prefer bosals over mechanical).

Edit- NFR looks like you got trolled by some people who have no idea about bits. By the way thats a pretty nice bit.

Answer 9

A very nice bit.  Keeps the mouth moist and most horses enjoy the rollers  The sides keep the bit in place.  Any bit can be mis-used but snaffles are mild bits..

Answer 10

It is a snaffle it is the easiest the bit to uson a horse's mouth.  the copper mouth piece makes the horse salivate, so that it keep the horse's mouth supple.

I ride western and I use these quit a few times.

I use this bit to barrel race http://thmb.inkfrog.com/thumbn/horseproc...