Can you suggest a bit for hacking please?

[Surbie]

As a starter, I am going to get a fitter out, but I know zilch about bits and would like some help navigating what feels like a maze of information.

I had an accident nearly 2 years ago and am starting to ride again. My friend has been keeping my horse ticking over for me, but this has been quite stop-start. I've started some schooling and am beginning some slow hacks.

Archie generally aims to please in all things. In the school he's ridden in a NS turtle top loose ring snaffle. It stopped him leaning and he seems very happy in it. Out hacking he can be reactive and strong. This means he sometimes spins and/or tanks off.

It's been suggested that I change his bit for hacking - to a pelham or hanging cheek bits or various gags. His previous owner hacked him in a kimblewick.

eta: I probably have been a bit unclear, I'd like to understand a bit more about how the different bits work and, the normal hands comment aside, how severe the action can be/if particular bits are usually used for particular scenarios. I have only ever used snaffles before.

 

[expanding_horizon]

why not start by trying a similar kimblewick?

 

[Surbie]

why not start by trying a similar kimblewick?

I've tried to make my post clearer.

 

[expanding_horizon]

I think it depends. My horse is 17hh and was 11 when I bought him. When he arrived he had the quirk of sometimes bearing down / leaning down on bit and trotting / cantering (slowly) off with me on open spaces. And jolly hard to stop as head v heavy!!

I changed hacking bit for a Waterford elevator which helped as is not comfortable to lean on and has a head raising action. After a time he stopped the habit and I’ve hacked in a Snaffle with no issues for a few years

 

[Widgeon]

The NS Universal is a useful bit - have a search of the forum and there are a lot of interesting and useful threads about bitting.

 

[Love]

Mine can very occasionally get strong and silly when on big fast hacks and funrides when in a group. He is in a loose ring verbindend 99% of the time but in these situations I change him to a loose ring waterford. It seems to be a very "marmite" bit with people but it works perfectly for us. He really likes it (is incredibly fussy in his mouth instantly if in a bit that he doesn't like - for example anything with a single joint) and is lovely and light and responsive. I would take that any day over having to haul on something that he doesn't respect in those "one off" situations when his blood is up and all logical thought is out the window! The multiple links in the waterford make it harder for them to be able to grab hold of the bit, preventing the baring down and tanking off in theory

 

[vhf]

As a starter, I am going to get a fitter out, but I know zilch about bits and would like some help navigating what feels like a maze of information.
eta: I probably have been a bit unclear, I'd like to understand a bit more about how the different bits work and, the normal hands comment aside, how severe the action can be/if particular bits are usually used for particular scenarios. I have only ever used snaffles before.

There is a massive amount of information out there, you're right. To work out what the best bit is, you need to think about quite a few things. The different cheek styles and the different mouthpiece styles will have different effects. Then the sort of mouth the horse has. What you need the bit to do. The skill of the rider. The horse's history and training... it goes on. And of course, the horse hasn't read the books. Severe action - or not - will depend a lot on the horse and rider, for example one I had found a ported snaffle 'severe' because her mouth had so little room in it, the port hit the roof of her mouth every time I touched the reins. Another one was happiest in a waterford; it just suited her for reasons of her own, she wasn't strong.

A gag type cheek will generally lift the head, a curb type will generally lower it/bring it in. (Very broad brush!!) A loose ring cheek allows more movement of the mouthpiece by the horse. A hanging cheek tends to hold the bit still in the mouth, and 'up' a bit from the bars. D or full cheeks give a bit of steering aid. Waterford mouthpieces can stop a horse grabbing hold or leaning. A port can relieve tongue pressure. A horse with a thick tongue may prefer a thinner mouthpiece, one with a low palate may not like joints, and so on. Then there's different materials for the mouthpiece that make a massive difference for some horses and none for others. Unwanted habits may be caused by any one of all the above not agreeing with the horse, or they may not really relate to the bit at all. All of those are things you need to think about when you are considering changing your bit! That's an awful lot to work with.
That said, the horse is the best judge of what they like, then you just need to factor in what it is you need the bit to do for you. So if they love a turtle mouth, but you need to get them to raise their head, you'd look for that kind of mouthpiece with a gag action cheek, and so on. A good independent fitter should be helpful and interesting for you.