Bit poll

[PapaFrita]

This is anonymous, so be honest!!!

 

[Helenabbey]

My pony was driven as a youngster and despite trying many bits, he likes the liverpool bit (straight, not ported) best. He kept catching the long shanks on things and stabbing me with them so we sawed the ends off, he only has it set on the first bit below the ring. People look it it in a funny way but never comment unless I bring it up first.

 

[piebaldsparkle]

My mare is schooled in a KK ultra with a crank flash, but on sponsored rides she has a double joint (lozenge mounth piece) pelham with two reins, an elastic curb and a caveson noseband - I went through loads of bits till I found the combination suit her. Cross country I use a flash and hanging cheek french link snaffle.

I don't care what a horse is wearing, provided it looks happy and comfortable. Horses are individuals, so what suits one will not suit all.

 

[sojeph]

I put the first one. I have one cobbie in a loose ring french link snaffle and one in a french link fulmer. Daughters pony is in a french link hanging cheek snaffle because thats what they go well in.

 

[lillie]

i can ride in a snaffle in the school but other than that he is ridden in a pelham, cheltenham gag or double bridle. he is driven in a liverpool on the middle slot.

 

[RunToEarth]

"I have a fairly good understanding of how bits work and try to keep things simple. I would ask for help/advice if I thought my horse would go better in a different bit"
Only 16years old, and have a world of knowledge to learn, so I wouldnt put anything inmy horses mouth without Bekkas and my mums blessing. I ride a lot of other horses to I try to widen my understanding of bits via this.

 

[KatB]

First one. Have had a fair bit of experience in bitting, and don't generally have anyone to ask advice of who couldnt tell me what I already now. Will take any advice though as that is the only way to learn!!

 

[Lucy_Ally]

I am happy that I understand bits and their uses but would always ask more experienced people for their opionon, I change bits regularly to keep Spring sweet and stop her learning how to evade them too quickly. I like simple single and double jointed snaffles but also have a waterford which I use quite often and have had raised eyebrows over that

 

[Chex]

I don't know a huge amount about bits, but I know what works for Chex. I don't like nosebands that hold the mouth closed, so tend to only change bits. I think with young horses, schooling and teaching can help, rather than putting a stronger bit in, otherwise by the time they're 15 you've run out of bits to use!

 

[teapot]

Second option for me. Experience has mainly come from working on the yard, seeing what bits were used when etc. And yard has a strong policy that you have SM lessons as well as riding. Think one of my first ever SM lessons at this yard when I had only been riding a couple of years was having every bit in the tackroom explained to me. I had to put them in their groups etc. And obviously, friends, instructors, this place have also fuelled my knowledge as it were

When I first started riding Baron - he was in a loose ring french link sweet iron; probs the "nicest" snaffle you can get as it were. But I had no brakes at all, and I didnt want to have to say OI come back, to get him to stop.

With the advice of other people, tried him in a hanging cheek and again this made no difference. Baron is/was a driving pony so of course owner always used to harp on about how light he was but of course he was driven in a liverpool.

In the end, after the hanging cheek not working, I actually was preparing for a M&M class so in came the rugby pelham. Rode with 2 reins, loose curb chain, and the difference was amazing.

Yes, the jump from snaffle to pelham in some eyes would be huge, but I had to have the brakes in order to school him properly and my intention was to eventually come back to a snaffle. I didnt use the curb rein but knew it was there incase I needed it.

I'm very much of the opinion, would rather use a bit that was deemed stronger but use less of it/much lighter hands rather than to have to haul a snaffle in order to stop.

 

[FlipFlop5]

I'm with the second. Rocky is the first horse that i've had that is strong and so it has taken me a while to get use to what bits to use in him. As i'm only 17 ,I would always ask advice from my instructor on what bit to use, but i couldnt care what bit looks fashionable, just so long as it works

 

[vickers22]

I always take advice before i use a bit, however if you ask too many people you get so many replies it is hard to decide!!
In the end you know your own horse better than anybody else. I constantly change my bits so that my boy does not get too hard a mouth from the strong ones, but for sj and xc he definitely needs more than a snaffle!I would be off over the hills and away!