MizElz
Well-Known Member
I think this is a rather tricky question to answer, since all have different properties. Any opinions on this?
What do you think is THE softest/kindest bit?
- Thread starter MizElz
- Start date
RachelB
Well-Known Member
The one attached to a soft/ kind pair of hands.
Eceni
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
The one attached to a soft/ kind pair of hands.
[/ QUOTE ]
Seconded. And those hands attached to a body and mind that understand schooling so that the reins become the last and subtlest communication of a series of immensely subtle communications. I'd rather like to see bitless dressage being legal, just to prove that a horse works itself from the back forwards, not the front back and that self-carriage doesn't involve leaning on a bit...
But then I'd also like to see nosebands banned and that's not likely to happen, either.
to answer your question the way I think you asked it, depends on the anatomy of the horses mouth. A bit with a central lozenge tends not to jam up into the hard palate and is often kindest.
And - contrary to most practice - thinner bits cause less displacement of the soft parts of the mouth than thicker ones (see various works using fluoroscopy by Hilary Clayton).
Finally, it needs not to pinch at the sides of the lips.
does that help?
E
The one attached to a soft/ kind pair of hands.
[/ QUOTE ]
Seconded. And those hands attached to a body and mind that understand schooling so that the reins become the last and subtlest communication of a series of immensely subtle communications. I'd rather like to see bitless dressage being legal, just to prove that a horse works itself from the back forwards, not the front back and that self-carriage doesn't involve leaning on a bit...
But then I'd also like to see nosebands banned and that's not likely to happen, either.
to answer your question the way I think you asked it, depends on the anatomy of the horses mouth. A bit with a central lozenge tends not to jam up into the hard palate and is often kindest.
And - contrary to most practice - thinner bits cause less displacement of the soft parts of the mouth than thicker ones (see various works using fluoroscopy by Hilary Clayton).
Finally, it needs not to pinch at the sides of the lips.
does that help?
E
laura_1983
Well-Known Member
silmarillion got it in one!
depends on the horse too though, i started my pony in a thick eggbutt snaffle thinking this was one of the kindest to have him in, thick mouth piece being not as severe as thinner ones and plain snaffle being a kind bit to use, turned out he has a really small mouth and his bit was hurting him for while before i discovered the problem, changed him into a french link and he's a very happy boy, space for his tongue now without the single joint hitting the roof of his mouth!
depends on the horse too though, i started my pony in a thick eggbutt snaffle thinking this was one of the kindest to have him in, thick mouth piece being not as severe as thinner ones and plain snaffle being a kind bit to use, turned out he has a really small mouth and his bit was hurting him for while before i discovered the problem, changed him into a french link and he's a very happy boy, space for his tongue now without the single joint hitting the roof of his mouth!
MizElz
Well-Known Member
I would agree with everyone so far; just to clarify, I'm not asking because I'm looking to use a new bit on Ellie! I was simply curious to see what people thought; we see a lot of threads devoted to 'Is this bit severe' etc, I wondered what people thought at the opposite end of the scale.
Completely agree with the comment about different bits for different horses/ponies - I used to ride my old New Forest in a chunky eggbut snaffle - a bit considered by my PC instructor at the time to be the kindest for her. she went beautifully in it....but the same bit does not suit Ellie, as she has a very small mouth and the chunkiness causes her pain!
Ellie is currently in an apple mouth straight bar snaffle
Completely agree with the comment about different bits for different horses/ponies - I used to ride my old New Forest in a chunky eggbut snaffle - a bit considered by my PC instructor at the time to be the kindest for her. she went beautifully in it....but the same bit does not suit Ellie, as she has a very small mouth and the chunkiness causes her pain!
Ellie is currently in an apple mouth straight bar snaffle
D
Donkeymad
Guest
Agree with you all. In the wrong hands ANY bit can be severe.