Can anyone explain this bridle/bit I saw in a Shorts video?

[FinnishLapphund]

I was watching some Shorts/TikTok videos on YouTube, and noticed this horse in a bridle/bit that confused me. I don't think I've seen this before, can anyone explain/give me some guesses about what it is, how the bit is attached to the bridle, how it (supposedly) works on the horse, benefits the rider...?

 

[Red-1]

I have not come across this bit before but it looks like a fairly thin mouthpiece with a whacking load of poll pressure.

It actually looks as if it may have been designed to use with 2 reins.

 

[SilverLinings]

It's hard to see what's going on further up the head too, there's a throatlash, but then the cheek piece seems twisted around another strap which then passes beneath the jaw. IT doesn't look like a terribly pleasant set-up for the horse, with a huge amount of leverage.

 

[Melody Grey]

The bit would appear to be a massive crank that gives a big amount of leverage and poll pressure. I think there is leather around the crank (presumably so as not to trap hair/ noseband). Looks horrific. One to avoid!

 

[Barton Bounty]

I saw that @FinnishLapphund earlier and read all comments to see if it said

 

[Barton Bounty]

Its a shank type , not sure what type, google is no help lol

 

[FinnishLapphund]

I saw that @FinnishLapphund earlier and read all comments to see if it said

Yep, I've scrolled through all the comments, too, and I've only found 1 comment with 2 replies, who mentions the bridle/bit, saying it looks horrible, and the 2 replies agreeing that it looks to have too much leverage.
1 comment mentions that it looks like the other horse's bridle have 3 reins, and all the other comments are basically either about that they got scared watching the video, and/or the riders shouldn't have allowed their horses to bump their noses against each other like that while they're riding them.

Nothing actually explaining what the bridle/bit is.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Yep, I've scrolled through all the comments, too, and I've only found 1 comment with 2 replies, who mentions the bridle/bit, saying it looks horrible, and the 2 replies agreeing that it looks to have too much leverage.
1 comment mentions that it looks like the other horse's bridle have 3 reins, and all the other comments are basically either about that they got scared watching the video, and/or the riders shouldn't have allowed their horses to bump their noses against each other like that while they're riding them.

Nothing actually explaining what the bridle/bit is.

I think my comment was one of them

 

[Maddie Moo]

I can’t seem to find one online, at first I thought it was a type of Mikmar bit because the bit around the mouth piece looks similar. But is not that!



There was this western Hackamore I saw but I don’t think the shanks on the side are straight or thick enough.


I also tried looking up spade bits and western long shank curbs and I couldn’t find it either.

 

[Barton Bounty]

It looks like the bit with shanks is over the top of another bridle therefore having two bits in? Looks similar for the other horse just no shank

 

[FinnishLapphund]

@Maddie Moo Maybe I'm wrong, but I think it looks like the bit is attached to a piece going up and in under the poll piece, rather than to a check piece attached to the poll piece?

 

[ycbm]

Massive leverage due to the length of the piece above the mouthpiece. Vile bit!
.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

I think my comment was one of them

I'm impressed you could think of saying something that wouldn't get removed due to foul language.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Another one of those 'if you actually need to use this, then you need to take 10 steps back to the training you haven't done' bits.

 

[Escapade]

I can’t really see the bridle but at a guess it looks like hackamore cheek pieces to keep away from the eye

 

[FinnishLapphund]

View attachment 114619
I can’t really see the bridle but at a guess it looks like hackamore cheek pieces to keep away from the eye

Thanks for satisfying my curiosity about what bit it is. Googling the bit it seems to be meant to work both in the mouth and on the poll when one end of the bit is attached to a check piece, and you touch the reins attached to the other end of the bit. I'm not sure if attaching it like this makes it more or less severe.

 

[Red-1]

The lower you attach the reins, the more severe the action.

If the reins were attached at the level of the mouth (the ring in the middle of the bit) it would not cause the rotation.

In essence it is a big lever to put poll pressure. The fulcrum is the mouth.

 

[ycbm]

The lower you attach the reins, the more severe the action.

Agreed, the length of the shank makes it easier to apply more pressure. But the length of the piece above the bit is more important in terms of the severity. Long shank bits always look severe but if the piece above the mouth is short, they aren't.

That bit is extraordinarily severe. It will create huge pressure at the poll and equal pressure in the mouth it's pulling against.
.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

It looks as though it has a strap from the cheekpiece under the jaw presumably to stop the cheek pieces going forward into the eyes when leverage is applied.

 

[Red-1]

Agreed, the length of the shank makes it easier to apply more pressure. But the length of the piece above the bit is more important in terms of the severity. Long shank bits always look severe but if the piece above the mouth is short, they aren't.

That bit is extraordinarily severe. It will create huge pressure at the poll and equal pressure in the mouth it's pulling against.
.

I meant on this particular bit. There are two possibilities for attaching reins. One on the fulcrum, one below at the bottom of the shank. If attached on the fulcrum point, there would be much less effect, despite the long lever above - on this bit.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

Lots of googling later, I still can't find a picture of someone else using that bit on a bridle. I did find a Question & Answers page talking about Graham Lovegrove winning a show jumping class in Spain on Huron des Gerbaux, back in 2008, ridden in a leather check elevator bit in combination with both a drop and rope noseband (!?), but it didn't include any pictures.

Did find a page with some barrel racing rider using another elevator bit, where she said it "should only be used with very loose curb chain and soft hands". But her's is attached straight down from the check piece, not in an angle as in the screenshot I shared in the first post.

I can't help thinking that it looks like someone straightened out a crowbar, and attached a bit in the middle.

 

[Escapade]

Lots of googling later, I still can't find a picture of someone else using that bit on a bridle. I did find a Question & Answers page talking about Graham Lovegrove winning a show jumping class in Spain on Huron des Gerbaux, back in 2008, ridden in a leather check elevator bit in combination with both a drop and rope noseband (!?), but it didn't include any pictures.

I recall a horse named Dieudonne de Guldenboom used wear it, I believe with a wrapped curb chain. I'm sure there must be some pictures

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I recall a horse named Dieudonne de Guldenboom used wear it, I believe with a wrapped curb chain. I'm sure there must be some pictures

You have a fabulous, memory - said horse below:

 

[Escapade]

You have a fabulous, memory - said horse below:

View attachment 114644

I think more a case of going "what the hell is THAT" and it never left me

 

[FinnishLapphund]

I recall a horse named Dieudonne de Guldenboom used wear it, I believe with a wrapped curb chain. I'm sure there must be some pictures

You have a fabulous, memory - said horse below:

View attachment 114644

I came back to HHO having just found another from the side picture of Dieudonne de Guidenboom. Also having the bit attached sort of more diagonally compared to continuing in a straight line down from the check piece as the similar bit used on a barrel racing horse (#21).

I wonder if there's some thought behind the difference in placement, as in less, more, or the same amount of poll pressure, or if someone one day just said "You know I think that bit would look way cooler if you just angled the top shank a bit forward".

 

[ester]

The angle of the top section depends only on rein pressure.

 

[SilverLinings]

The length of the cheek piece is dictating to some degree how the bit shanks lie when the reins are slack. With the photo above (post #21) where the bit shanks lie in a continuing straight line with the cheek pieces it would be easier to engage more poll pressure than if the cheek pieces were longer and the bit shanks more vertical. It is difficult to compare the pictures though as the one in the last picture (post #25) shows the reins engaging with the bit; at rest it may sit with the shanks in the same position as the earlier picture.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

The angle of the top section depends only on rein pressure.

Of course now that you say it. I was too focused on nurturing a tiny hope that it might be something intentional to make the bit less severe.