Bitting, what is your opinion?

[Starbucks]

I'm a fairly little girl who rides fairly big horses. I'm aware that I under bit. I'd rather hunt/jump in the kindest bit possible because I'd rather my horses be confident to jump and be happy to go forwards... although this leads to some break failures and hard work!

I know that "no bit is harsh with the right hands", but really, how many people have good hands?

 

[mandwhy]

But I think a lot of people describe horses as snaffle mouthed when they would be better off in something stronger - surely if you have to haul on a snaffle to stop that is less kind than less pressure on a stronger bit? Obviously if you are such a marvellous rider you can stop with a mere tension of the buttock then I'm sure it doesn't matter

 

[DanaHart]

But I think a lot of people describe horses as snaffle mouthed when they would be better off in something stronger - surely if you have to haul on a snaffle to stop that is less kind than less pressure on a stronger bit? Obviously if you are such a marvellous rider you can stop with a mere tension of the buttock then I'm sure it doesn't matter

Echo this........ slightly stronger bit must be kinder than hauling and pulling on a snaffle........

 

[doonrocket]

I think a snaffle when the horse requires something else can be just as cruel as yanking on the bottom ring of a gag. brute force against a gum can't be right when there ar so many bits that can be effective not because they're stronger, but because the horse can't set himself against it. i'm trying to avoid changing from a snaffle myself not because i think it would be less kind , but because I find if he's not responding its due to my riding like a numpty and not using my seat properly.
when he starts going cross country I will upgrade a a bit though. He avoids by sticking his head beetween his legs so not sure what to go for yet.

 

[Starbucks]

Well I've been all round the houses with my horse. Anything that doesn't take any hauling has to be a fairly strong, and then he backs away from it with his jumping, so I've ended up with the snaffle.

He could just listen, then it would be kind!

 

[Deseado]

Whilst I would love my horse to respond to the merest twitch of my buttock (I quote others here....), if he insists on ignoring my posterior communications I will unhestitatingly rely on a bit that doesn't require me to haul out of his gums. Better a touch on the curb rein than a 1,000 lb pull on a "mild" snaffle, pinching his face off.