Every horse that is ridden has a bridle. The most important parts of a bridle are the reins and bit. Without a bit, the control you have over your horse diminishes. There are many different types and sizes of bits. It depends on the branch of equestrian sports that you practice which type of bit you can best buy.
What are the two most important things when choosing a bit?
There are two very important things that every bit must meet:
- A bit should lie comfortably in the mouth for the horse
- The rider must be able to maintain reasonable control over the horse by means of a bit
Bit or not?
There are many people who say that it is better to ride a horse without a bit. When a horse really wants to run away, you can’t stop him with such a piece of iron in the mouth. Nevertheless, in an emergency situation a bit ensures that you can get your horse back under control more quickly. Horses are by nature flight animals, if they are startled by something they usually run away. It is too risky for scared horses to ride without a bit.
With horses that are very calm and do not run away 99% of the time, it is certainly a good option to ride without a bit. A bit can cause damage to the mouth because the bit is used incorrectly or fits incorrectly. To keep the damage as little as possible, you should always provide a properly fitting bit!
Types of bits
There are many different types of bits. A different bit can be used for every branch of equestrian sport. There are: English bits, western bits, driving bits and harness sport bits.
Snaffle bits
The snaffle bits are part of the English bits. It is the most commonly used variant. They act on the tongue, the corners of the mouth and the layers. The snaffle bits have a very direct effect. The horse feels exactly what you are doing, when you are soft in the hand he will feel it softly. Snaffle bits allow the rider more control by raising the head. In most cases a horse is taught with a snaffle bit.
Pelhams
A pelham is used less often than the snaffle bits. It’s also an English bit. A pelham is mainly used for show horses or horses that are ridden at a very high level. It is a useful option when the horse’s mouth is too small for a bar and snaffle. However, a pelham is prohibited in Dutch top sport! This bit has an effect in the horse’s mouth, behind the ears and in the chin groove. The pelham consists of a mouthpiece, two bit rings, scissors and a chin strap. The bit uses leverage.
What should you pay attention to when buying a bit?
There are many different bit systems. Normally, it is best to look for the softest possible bit that is good for you and your horse. Among other things, there are bits that follow the shape of the mouth. These are, for example: a double jointed snaffle and a pelham bit with a slight port. It differs per horse which bit suits him best. Many horses respond very well to a snaffle bit. You must ensure that the horses remain calm, cooperative and content.
If your horse chews its bit excessively and produces a lot of foam, the bit may not fit properly. It’s a sign of stress. In a normal situation a horse that is concentrated will foam a little and chew its bit. These horses will respond well to your aids with a light contact. The foam production does not necessarily have to be a sign of stress. It is also possible that your horse has a hypersensitive reaction to the metal type. In this case, there are a number of things you can do to make it more pleasant for your horse.
- An option is to buy a bit made of vulcanized rubber, your horse may prefer this
- You can buy a bit made of stainless steel. This is a type of metal that has no taste
- If you don’t think your horse is allergic, you can try to ensure that your horse associates the bit with something nice. For example, you can give your horse a peppermint every time before putting in the bit. This gives him a nice taste in his mouth and he will associate the bit with something tasty to eat.
How do I find the right size for a bit?
Finding a good fitting bit is very difficult. There are a number of criteria that a properly fitting bit must meet.
- The bit should always be wide enough to allow a finger to fit between the bit ring and the corners of the mouth on each side. This way, the bit will not slip, but it will not pinch either.
- Bits that are too thick are not comfortable for certain horse breeds. Arabs and Thoroughbreds often have very small mouths. Small pony breeds and cobs often have a thick tongue that prevents a thick bit from fitting. In these situations, a thinner bit will be better accepted.
- An unbroken bit lies well when it touches the corners of the mouth, but it should not cause wrinkles.
- A broken bartack or underlay on a bar and bartack is good when there is a maximum of one wrinkle visible.
- The bar at a bar and snaffle is well positioned when there is about 1 cm between the underlay and the bar. The rod is at the bottom. It does not touch the corners of the mouth! You should be able to easily put 1 finger between the curb chain, it comes into effect when the scissors of a bit are at an angle of 45 degrees to the mouth line
- With a bit with a curb chain, do not use a noseband that runs under the bit. This is counterproductive and affects how the bit works.