What is the best bit to use?

Question

i ride my horse in a halter because in a course i am doing that is what i am up to.

my horse can go in a bridle but the bit is a D ring snaffle and some people have said that they pinch the tounge

My horse has a good mouth and no problems but is there a better bit that i can use

thankss

Answer 1

My favorite of all is the Bitless Bridle by Dr. Cook.  Amazing device.  However my horse got an injury under his jaw right where it crosses underneath and I had to go back to a bit.  I love the sweet iron snaffle bit with copper inlays.  I used one with O rings

Answer 2

You kind half to explore bits with your horse it took me awhile to find a really good one for my horse. Just see which one he is more comfortable with you'll know when. trust me!

Answer 3

The bit is only a nice as the rider. With that said a snaffle is about as safe as you can go with out going completely bitless. And unless you are riding in a true hackamore(hackamores dont have shanks that a mechanical hack). The next step would be going to a TomTumb. A TomTumb is a snaffle with a short shank. I recommend keeping a copper or sweet iron mouth peice on the bit to keep the horses mouth moist and supple while you ride. In all honesty you will not find any show that will alow you to ride with out a bit, unless you ride in a tue Hackamore(most shows don't let you ride in a mechanical). The curb is is a good bit as long as you don't start out with a high port. The port is inportant, the higher port, the harsher the bit.  Again the easiest bit you can have is a snaffle, and I would recommend getting copper or sweet iorn(sweet water bits work too), that will make sure that your horse salivates and keeps a nice supple mouth. Easy if you think about it. If you stick a piece of stainless steel in your mouth, your mouth wont watter. But if you stick a penny in your mouth you start to salivate. If the horses mouth is dry blisters will form at the corners of the mouth resulting in calusses. Translation a harder mouth. When working with your horse with the bit use as light as pressure as you can to get him to respond. As time goes by you can use lighter and lighter pressure for the same result. I have watch old vaqueros work in Full Spanish Spades(probably the harshest bit out there) and because of the wieght of the bit it takes a feathers touch to que the horse. This does not come from jerking the animal or yanking its head, it comes from a lot of time teaching the horse to repsond to the lightest touch. The youngest horse I have ever seen in a full spade was 8 years old, and they just considered it finished. I know I bombarded you with a lot of things to think about. But the thing to remember is there are a lot of coices of bits out there, how good or bad the bit is depends on how you handle it. Luck and safe riding.

Answer 4

of course theyre are many bits out there, but you know the one that is right for your horse, but if u would care to know i would be happy to say a Eggbutt mullen snaffle bit has worked out just great for me

Answer 5

it depend what kinda bit you and ur horse feel confulble with

Answer 6

Try rubber bits, I doubt they pinch. Hope this helps!

Answer 7

If your horse goes well in it, stick with it.  D ring snaffles are nice bits that don't pinch the tongue.

Answer 8

Try a hackamore,or you could buy bit guards.(Bit guards keep the bit from pinching the horses cheeks).......

http://www.horse.com/Western-Tack/Bits/N...

Hackamore bit....

http://www.horse.com/Western-Tack/Hackam...

EDIT: You could also try bits that are made to not pinch the horses mouth.....

http://www.horse.com/Western-Tack/Bits/P...

http://www.horse.com/Western-Tack/Hackam...

Answer 9

They don't exactly pinch - you're thinking of the "nutcracker " action which would send the joint up into the roof of the mouth - this will not happen if the horse is ridden on a light hand. Any bit is only as nice as the hands behind it.

If it really bothers you that much you could try a French link this has 2 joints so does not do the nutcracker and is more fluid in the horse's mouth.

Answer 10

D ring smaffles do not hurt a horses mouth i have no clue where u heard that. a D ring is about as nice as it gets. do NOT get a happy mouth bit no matter what any one says. "A happy mouth does not make a happy horse" this statment is quoted from George Morris if you dont no who this is id do some research

Answer 11

Try some sort of rubber bit if you are afraid. Or you could try and egg butt. They are very easy on the horses. D-ring's are not really all that harsh, though. Hope this helps! :)

Answer 12

I've always started mine on a rubber bit then moved them into a fat loose ring.  Some eventually have to go on a D-ring or eggbutt but that's much later.

Answer 13

I think it's best to start in a snaffle. Either D-ring, O-ring, egg-butt, etc. Something with a smooth mouth piece though, nothing twisted. If you get good quality bits you shouldn't have a problem with the bit pinching your horse. When you and your horse are ready to move to a more "advanced" bit, you kind of have to see what's out there and what works for you and your horse the best.