Bits for giants?!

Foxford

Foxford

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I tried my rising 4yos bridle on him last weekend, as I was convinced his head had grown. Well it seems I was half right, as his 5 3/4" bit was practically touching either side of his mouth!! So, I now need a 6" but there doesn't seem to be a great amount of choice for the giant mouthed market?? He was in a full cheek happy mouth with a roller - that's now a no go as they don't make them any bigger. I need something mild obviously, he is nice and soft in the mouth and I'd like to keep it that way!

Any ideas would be much appreciated as he will be coming back into work soon.
Thanks! :)
 
Risley Saddlery online do a lot of of 6 inch bits if its not listed ring them, also try horse bit bank or the other one which I cant remember the name offhand. I struggle getting 6 inch bits for mine but its either been ebay or Risley .
 
Shop4Bits.com (new ownership now so ignore posts from past bad rep) have just introduced a whole section dedicated to 6inch plus :)
 
My cob takes a 6 1/4 or a 6 1/2 with bit rubbers!! Ive searched hi and low for decent bits and have found New schule do large sizes and also Abbey bits.
 
shop4bits thats the other one, couldnt think of the name.

I wonder why they dont do many bigger sizes, is there just not that many of us with the bigger headed horses?
 
I think most likely because there are a lot of horses up and down the country been ridden in a bits that are too small for them. Rather than badgering manufacturers to produce the correct sized bit for a wider mouthed horse I think some people just get what they can and make do. When I enquired about a larger sized bit in one of my local tack shops a couple of years ago I was looked down upon by a member of staff. Quite snooty actually! She said we don't stock those sizes we would have to try and order them in. Not in a helpful manner either but I can't be bothered to show you or look up what we might be able to order for you.
If anyone is met with that sort of response by these folks that work in such shops and are made to feel that their horse is abnormal because it doesn't fit into a 5 or 5 1/2 inch bit then it makes you wonder why they don't pursue the matter and give up.
Also there are likely to be people who don't fit bits correctly. As well as using inappropriate bits for the horse or the rider I would stick my neck on the line and say there are folk that put bits in their horses mouths that are too narrow for them and don't bother using the checks to make sure they fit properly. I think some people just put it in the mouth and think well if the rings stick out the other side it fits.
Nevermind the fact that the bit could be too narrow and will cause discomfort. One of my horses had a few rubs to his mouth at the side when I got him. He was in a bit that measured 5 3/4 inches and I could see that there was not enough clearance either side of the rings. So I tried a 6 inch and that was better but still not big enough so I then made my own measuring device and tried that and discovered that 6 1/2 inch would be the best fit. I have since bought all 3 bits I have in that size from ebay. One secondhand the others brand new. A Kangaroo snaffle bit for around £6 with postage that was second hand. A brand new stainless steel dutch gag for a tenner and a liverpool driving bit stainless steel brand new for £15. Bargains I thought.
It is nice to see places offering larger sized bits for customers now. I do wonder how many horses around the country are in bits that are too small because the owners/riders either won't go that extra mile to try and find a bit that is the correct fit for a larger horse. Or else are unaware that the bit they are using is too small.
My horse in question has never had any further rubs to his mouth to this day so for me it proved that the bit was wrong as he had no gap at all either side of his mouth with the previous bit.
 
Just had a mooch on there Jess and the bits are fab prices. Makes a change to see larger sized bits so cheap :) I am never going to be able to afford the KK and NS range lol so for me and any owner on a budget those prices are great.
 
Cazee34 said:
Just had a mooch on there Jess and the bits are fab prices. Makes a change to see larger sized bits so cheap :) I am never going to be able to afford the KK and NS range lol so for me and any owner on a budget those prices are great.
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When you own a 17.1hh Clydie you learn to find everything in extra huge on the cheap :p
 
Wow, this is a great help - thanks so much everyone! I will get shopping right away.
I'm now not scared he might go up another size. ;)
 
Lol Jess, you know me anyway but I got a Clydie cross 17.2 plus the two other horses I own as well so I have to cut purse strings wherever I can. I don't go for fancy names. I just buy items that will fit, be comfortable for the horse and me ( where applicable) if buying new whether online or elsewhere. Or I may go for a bit of quality occasionally at second-hand prices as there is no way I can afford new. I would rather buy something better that just needs a clean, oil or repair anyday of the week lol :)
But getting back to the bits that website is really good and if I ever want to change the big lad's bit for whatever reason I will have a good look on there. The shop prices in some of the tack shops I think are shocking and not just for the bits either. I think in some cases the shops really see their customers coming. I very rarely buy from tack shops ( excluding feed and sundries like bathing items etc) because to be honest I have yet to meet anyone working in any of my local ones that give you the time of day. There was one occasion when a lady was particularly helpful. That was once in nearly 4 years! It should not be about how many times you friggin buy from a shop. Or how much plastic you wave about. Or how many bleeding shows you go to and who you know and don't know. All customers should be treated with respect whether they are just going in to buy a £5 bottle of shampoo or a £100 plus bridle!
I shun a lot of tack shops for that reason because you don't go in looking like you never groom your bleeding horse but you walk in them actually looking the part that you take pride in the grooming/mucking out etc of your beasties. You are not wearing the latest designer riding gear that you just happened to buy in the very same shop the week before. I could go on but won't because I have a real gripe against shops because all I have mostly seen is snobbery by the staff and by a lot of the customers shopping in those shops.
Buying online is not only more affordable to me but I have good relationships with people I have bought a few items from. They are not judgemental about your appearance as you cannot be seen by them so they don't mind if you happen to not be wearing trendy stuff, but you are sporting a bit of loose straw/hay or gawd forbid you have a speck of mud/muck on your footwear or clothing. They don't drop you like a ton of bricks because they have just seen someone who is very interested in a certain brand of bridle! No they treat you like everyone else, a paying customer. Sorry rant over .......
 
Cazee34 said:
Lol Jess, you know me anyway but I got a Clydie cross 17.2 plus the two other horses I own as well so I have to cut purse strings wherever I can. I don't go for fancy names. I just buy items that will fit, be comfortable for the horse and me ( where applicable) if buying new whether online or elsewhere. Or I may go for a bit of quality occasionally at second-hand prices as there is no way I can afford new. I would rather buy something better that just needs a clean, oil or repair anyday of the week lol :)
But getting back to the bits that website is really good and if I ever want to change the big lad's bit for whatever reason I will have a good look on there. The shop prices in some of the tack shops I think are shocking and not just for the bits either. I think in some cases the shops really see their customers coming. I very rarely buy from tack shops ( excluding feed and sundries like bathing items etc) because to be honest I have yet to meet anyone working in any of my local ones that give you the time of day. There was one occasion when a lady was particularly helpful. That was once in nearly 4 years! It should not be about how many times you friggin buy from a shop. Or how much plastic you wave about. Or how many bleeding shows you go to and who you know and don't know. All customers should be treated with respect whether they are just going in to buy a £5 bottle of shampoo or a £100 plus bridle!
I shun a lot of tack shops for that reason because you don't go in looking like you never groom your bleeding horse but you walk in them actually looking the part that you take pride in the grooming/mucking out etc of your beasties. You are not wearing the latest designer riding gear that you just happened to buy in the very same shop the week before. I could go on but won't because I have a real gripe against shops because all I have mostly seen is snobbery by the staff and by a lot of the customers shopping in those shops.
Buying online is not only more affordable to me but I have good relationships with people I have bought a few items from. They are not judgemental about your appearance as you cannot be seen by them so they don't mind if you happen to not be wearing trendy stuff, but you are sporting a bit of loose straw/hay or gawd forbid you have a speck of mud/muck on your footwear or clothing. They don't drop you like a ton of bricks because they have just seen someone who is very interested in a certain brand of bridle! No they treat you like everyone else, a paying customer. Sorry rant over .......
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It's interesting that you should feel like that because yesterday when I had trouble over hat fitting in a well-known Lancashire equestrian 'superstore' (see YorksG's post), I felt that it was in part because I had gone dressed for shopping and lunch out not as though I had just got off my horse. I can never understand why teenagers feel the need to go everywhere even vaguely horse related in their jodhpurs. I later went into a local tack shop. where I have shopped on and off for years, dressed in the same clothes and was served properly. I should add that today I went into another local tack shop to buy feed and shavings dressed for mucking out.
I do know, and sympathise with, how you feel about big bits. I had endless trouble trying to find a 6" bit for my 17hh Clyde mare. It was a relief to realise that my 16.3hh IDx takes a 5 1/2" .
 
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I know that not all shops are the same Pearlsasinger but I was basing my comments on my own personal experiences in my local tackshops. I have seen some customers being treated differently because they were regulars, in one case it was embarrassing to be honest. I could clearly see the customer was being taken for a ride, ie we have had this come in today blah de blah and the customer then bought several of those particular items. We are not talking a few pounds either. Incidentally I then did some checking online and the same product was being offered for less elsewhere even allowing for P&P so customer did not get the bargain or offer at a better price. I suppose some people are just different. Now if I saw an offer in my local tack shop I would check it out with competitors first before I parted with cash. But I suppose that is just me.
I do also see your point about teenagers and jods though lol as I can remember being in a large store that sold equestrian and other items and I saw quite a few in there. Made me laugh though because none of them looked like they had been near a horse that day. I was there throughout the day and people were coming in at different times so I don't just believe it was a case of I will nip the shop before going down to see to my horse, as it was during winter months and not summer.
 
I have had quite a few 6" plus bits from Risley Saddlery and they have been really helpful(useful when all your boys are giants and nothing fits!!!) I can reccomend their website risleysaddlery.co.uk I think.
Its a shame that a few of you have had bad treatment at tackshops. I think bad service in shops in general is on the increase and its up to customers to vote with their feet.
 
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