Cat Amoung The Pigeons - Bits!

What types of bits have you used?

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Katikins

Katikins

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Sometimes this forum makes me laugh so so much especially when it comes to bits. Now I'm really curious about all you people who leap down someone's throat regarding what bit they use knowing nothing about their level of riding or experience.... when we get lovely pictures posted in PG with the top level eventers riding in massive bits not a word is said!! However someone mentions that (heaven forbid) they ride in anything other than a snaffle and they are this monster who can't ride and is obviously cruel to their horse ;) . Now in no way am I saying that harsh bits should be used with the wrong hands but just because you don't use a snaffle doesn't mean you're a useless rider. So lets have a poll... how many on here have actually ridden in anything other than a snaffle? I've tried to limit the options as there are obviously a lot!

Personally I've used many types of snaffles, pelhams, hackamores, dutch gags (yes on the bottom hole, shock horror), american gags, kimblewicks, myler combinations etc.
 
I've also used all sorts of bits, not my choice as not my horses. But I know that there are some I like and some I don't as a result.

Personally I have experienced the fact that you get much better results from a dutch gag or pelham with two reins than with one or roundings and that it isn't as hard to do as you think, that is why I would always encourage people to use two reins if they rode with either bit.

Other than that I think much has to do with the horse and the rider and what they are doing. If it works, and the horse is comfortable and going correctly what is the problem?
 
Over the years I've used many kinds of bits, but now would only use Mylers as I've had great results using them and love the independant side movement.

Plus there's so many different mouthpiece styles and cheek combinations it's hard to find a myler that a horse doesn't go well in.
 
I think there is a lot of ignorance about snaffles.

As I said in a previous post I would be happy to use a mullen mouth, but as a rule I am a KK lozenge girl!

Have never ridden bitless or with one rein on a pelham. No snaffles apart from the above, really, really don't like them.

Used a hackamore for years.
 
Ticked other = I've used mainly snaffles... but at advance levels of dressage they used to insist on a double (much to my chargrin as my boy had a tendency to over bend anyway and went far better in a snaffle) and in the show ring, snaffles are looked down on...

It did / does annoy me that you can't just 'stick to a snaffle' in the show ring at higher levels... People say that it's for more acuracy but my DWB can do perfect pirouettes (was borrowed by Stephen Clarke to demo these so they must be good!) and great one time changes (when he's sound) etc all in a snaffle... so why insist on the stronger bit????

I did use a dutch gag occasionally on one pony that used to take the mick out of little riders and shuv his head on the floor and gallop off... but that was more a safety issue than a schooling issue... he knew what he should do and he knew what he enjoyed doing and with a 10 year old on his back I wasn't prepared to take that risk...

Blitz
 
I have used snaffles on most horses that i have ridden as the YO who i rode for wouldnt use anything other than a snaffle. I used to ride a huge, rude cob who was in a rubber snaffle!! I requested to change his bit to a mullen mouth pelham with 2 reins, he went beautifully, the difference was immediately noticable!

However with my own horse i have only used a french link snaffle as this is what he likes and i have never needed to use anything else.
 
Over the years I have used all sorts of bits, I have done and always will do go with whats best for the particular horse as well as my own ability :)
I have also used a chiffney not for riding for leading just incase anyone thinks i ment I have ridden in one :D I had the perception these were overly nasty bits and had no place in my tackroom until I had a beast of a horse that would of killed someone or himself if I did not use the chiffney, it was a case of my very experienced YO taking time to educate me on the bit and show me how to correctly use it. Education and people realizing there own riding ability is whats needed with bits as with other things ie schooling aids :) I am very opened minded on all bits chiffney experience learnt me to :D
 
i use whatever is needed for the horse... and whatever is need to be safe! i'd prefer a light contact on a 'harsh' bit than hauling on a 'soft' bit
and i also think that although schooling etc is good and maybe som of the horses out there that you see in 'harsh' bits could be schooled to go well in a softer bit - there are some horses who just need a stronger bit in certain situations
i trust myself and my hands to ride well in any combination fif the horse needs it
and btw i put other, snaffle and pelham as i regualiry ride out bareback in head collar and leadrope on hacks when i can't be bothered to tack up :o, hunt, hack, xc, sj, dressage in her mullen eggbutt and show (ridden and worknig hunter) in a show pelham - so eyah - my mare just gets on and does what she's told in any bit lol!
 
iv used a variety of bits, just what ever suits that particular horse, my new one is in a snaffle (kk lozenge) but i havnt ridden her yet and she might turn out to have no breaks! my gelding is in a simple happy mouth loose ring snaffle as he has a very delicate mouth but he can get strong sometimes so can be tricky to bit as i cant over bit him because of BD rules and he isnt as settled but i have breaks. hes most likely having the rest of this year off so a complete re school next year, (if hes sound)!
 
It depends on the horse. On some horses I have only used snaffles, one has 'progressed' to a double, I have had other horses that needed a pelham or gag for jumping or cantering in company...different bits for different horses!
 
I have used many diffrent bits on many different horses.

My last horse was incredibly strong and I tried many on him, double, Mcgenis, Dutch gag, Cheltenham, Myler long combo, various NS, but nothing really held him. He did not require a martingale and he could go with his chin on his chest! In the end I rode him in a plain loose ring bridoon because nothing stronger was any more effective!

I have had a couple of TBs who were strong but fussy in the mouth and went really well in pelhams. One I persevered with a French link out hunting but it was just not enough. He would not tollerate a gag of any kind but I found he went well in a vulcanite pelham. Such a bit actually has a kind mouthpiece, it dose not have the squeezing nutcracker action of a single joint snaffle and my horse was more comfortable in it. So much so that he would lean on it with roundings, so I used only one rein, I didn't want to be messing about with two reins whilst team chasing and gate shutting out bloodhounding!

However, it does annoy me to see horses bitted up to the eye balls when they clearly don't need it. EG, some friends bought a childs pony as a snaffle mouth and it's a kick along pony, yet it has sported pelhams and gags as well as martingales, flashes and even a Market Harborough since they have owned it!
 
blitznbobs said:
at advance levels of dressage they used to insist on a double (much to my chargrin as my boy had a tendency to over bend anyway and went far better in a snaffle) and in the show ring, snaffles are looked down on...
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I've never understood why when it's not necessary :confused: My friend who competes at PSG always rides in simple jointed snaffle at home.
 
Is it just me, or are the percentages a bit wierd on the results, surely if (currently) 51 out of 64 people voting say that they have used "snaffles only", then there should be no more than 13 people who have used anything else? I think the poll should read "snaffles" as if people tick "snaffles only", that means they have not used anything else, so should not tick any other boxes?
 
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Maybe we should set up a poll for nosebands and ask about those as well! :D
As you are meant to change the noseband before the bit. Just to put the cat amoungst the gold fish.
 
My overlarge highland has been in a slotted kimblewick since he was five years old. He has a rather fleshy mouth and tongue and didn't like any jointed bit. He goes beautifully in the kimblewick and the slight port just makes a bit more room for his fat tongue. The curb chain has never been needed and is always fairly loose. As far as nosebands go, he only ever had a cavesson.
 
yorkiechick08 said:
Over the years I've used many kinds of bits, but now would only use Mylers as I've had great results using them and love the independant side movement.

Plus there's so many different mouthpiece styles and cheek combinations it's hard to find a myler that a horse doesn't go well in.
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Completely and utterly agree!!!
 
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Aspiring said:
Is it just me, or are the percentages a bit wierd on the results, surely if (currently) 51 out of 64 people voting say that they have used "snaffles only", then there should be no more than 13 people who have used anything else? I think the poll should read "snaffles" as if people tick "snaffles only", that means they have not used anything else, so should not tick any other boxes?
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Yeah, I tried to go back and change it to one option only and have the question as what is the strongest bit you've ever used but it wouldn't let me!!

I too don't understand that about high level dressage. Surely if a horse can work properly at PSG ina snaffle its just silly to insist on a double for competitions!!!
 
I have over the years used many different snaffles from a lozenge large ring, straight bar, very mild to a wilkie french link. I have used a Dr Bristol, kimblewick, three ring gags - two reins, American gag. Various types of pelhams from vulcanite to hartwell. Double bits - current one is a french link with a sliding weymouth. I also have a western bit sweet iron bit with shorter shanks than normal.

My current bits are:

Stinky

Wilkie snaffle for jumping and hacking, double for showing and schooling or I also use a lozenge snaffle for schooling and sometimes for hacking depending on how he is feeling.

Farra

French link snaffle for jumping, hacking and schooling though she is now using a mullen mouth pelham for showing and we are also schooling in it and on occasion hacking if she is very fresh with a small rider onboard.

I use different bit for different activities. I always hunt and do XC on a stronger bit than normal as I like to stop on a squeeze of the hand rather than to take a strong hold or have to haul for brakes when the excitement gets a bit too much.
 
my old Bobby Cob was a ride & drive (pairs) cob & I found I had little control in a snaffle, so I rode him in a mullen mouth pelham with TWO reins, much better!!
 
QR

I'm confused as the poll says "snaffle only" but I use a snaffle, but then a dutch gag (gosh, I am evil) for cross country.
How should I vote? (or am I not entitled to vote as I use a dutch gag ;) which seems to be the worst bit ever, oh apart from swales pelham )
 
I am a bit of a bit-a-holic, and will try most types if I think they will help me/horse to go better. My current chap has a kimblewick, but I have also had him in a snaffle (he hated it!). He has been a driving pony, so seems to prefer the straight bar. I have started riding him in a scrawbrig recently, as he is very fussy in his mouth - big difference, and although the brakes are not as good he is still controllable! I intend to try him in my hackamore next, to see if that is the happy medium between bitted and bitless.
 
Will always start a horse in a plain loose ringed lozenged snaffle and see how they go.
Started my pony in this 5 years ago after her coming to me in a pelham, and now still use it daily but for any jumping I switch to a universal (bit like a 2 ring).
 
Well I can safely say I have never made a passing comment on what other people choose to put in their horses mouths on here, I don't really care to be honest, not my horse, therefore not my business :D
 
Well having tried numerous bits with my young mare each seemingle causing her more stress and upset I am taking the plunge and going to try bitless for the first time in my 29 years.... the bridle is on the way - I will let you know how it goes if i survive! LOL
 
I ticked everything bar bitless and driving bits.

I have a varied collection of bits, and all have been suitable for something at one time or another.

I don't feel I need to defend my choices to other people, but will explain why I picked XYZ bit if asked nicely - I don't feel its fair to accuse someone of being too harsh unless you know why...
 
I went with what i've used on my mare as I didnt have a say in what other peoples/riding school horses were ridden in. I used a snaffle the majority of the time but started using a continental gag for hacking with one rein as most of the time we went on a loose rein but just needed the breaks for when we went cantering in the fields.
 
What types of bits have I used?

Everything listed and countless more besides. I am a bit junkie.;)
 
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