An Education On The Horse Bit
A rider depends on the bit to keep control over his horse in whatever his job is, be it real cowboy work or in the show ring. The horse has to like his bit and not work against it. Lets go over all the equipment that goes with the bit and the different choices to make on mouthpieces.*Purchase - The purchase is a part of the bit located above the mouthpiece. A shorter purchase will make the bit act quicker where a longer purchase will make him act slower.
*Shank - Located below the mouthpiece it gives you leverage on the bit. In this case, the shorter the shank, the less control, and the longer the shank the MORE control.
*Cheeks - The cheeks are the sides of the bit and includes both the "purchase" and the "shank".
*Mouthpiece - The mouthpiece is part of the bit that goes in the horse's mouth. Bars are the part of the mouthpiece that rests on the horse's bars, which is the gums behind a horses teeth. The Port is the piece that rests on the tongue. They come in high, medium and low. The closer together the bars, the more severe and the wider apart they are the less severe. A Mullen Relief is a forward curve to the mouthpiece and gives even pressure across the mouth.
The Snaffle is one of the most common mouthpieces. It is broken in the middle. and is very comfortable to the horse. The Double Twisted Wire Snaffle is made of two small snaffles that are "off-center from each other. The Three-piece Snaffle is broken in two places which allows it to work on different places on the bars than the regular snaffle. The Chain Mouthpiece works on the corners of the mouth but do now work on the bars as a snaffle would. Any mouthpiece that is not broken is called a Solid Mouthpiece.
*Curb Bit - A curb mouthpiece places a rotation in the mouth pulling downward and then pulling upward on the curb chain. This bit is a severe bit meant to be used for training and not necessary for trail riding.
*Metal In Mouthpieces - Copper is a common metal used on mouthpieces as it makes the horses mouth salivate which allows their mouths to stay soft. Sweet Iron is a material that is intended to rust and gives off a somewhat sweet taste to the horse. Stainless Steel is another.
Hopefully the above information will give you some idea as to which Mouthpiece would be best for your use and will help when you go to a tack store looking for that perfect fit of horse and rider.
posted by Posh Pampered Pets @ 9:44 AM
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