Which is the gentlest bit ?

Yes I appreciate the part about the riders and having light hands, but I feel both my mares are unhappy in a Happy Mouth Loose Ring snaffle so wanted to try something else ... thanks you NBC for actually answering my question !
 
Yes but see, if you pull your hands back then different bits will have different actions vs if you pull your hands up, so a french link may be kind to someone with side rein hands, but a single joint would be kinder to someone who rides with a more classical approach. Different angles and pressure on different parts of the mouth.
 
The one that suits the horse the best - mouth conformation and temperament both affect it.

Mine hated nathe bits of any kind, also hated NS starter, team up, etc, also not happy in Mylers. For him the gentlest bit is one with tongue relief- a blue Bomber happy tongue. Never had such a fussy horse, but he's happy now :) bit banks are the way to go!
 
My youngster with a fairly large tongue seems happiest in a mullen mouth.

But as others said, I worked on my use of my hands first to make sure I wasn't the problem.
 
I agree with it being the one that suits the horse. I tried a happy mouth snaffle she hated it. She went well in a wilkie with a lozenge but I was concerned it was too much poll pressure so tried a loose ring with lozenge, again she hated it! We went back to the wilkie and she seems happy. It is trial and error
 
Def think its trail and error. I have 2 horses with sensitive mouths but are both happiest in completely opposite bits. One prefers a thinner single jointed mouth piece, the other prefers a thicker mouth piece with a lozenge
 
I was of the understanding that the lozenges are kinder than single joint and that they give more room for the tongue than the straight bar. I have also been taught that the lozenge is better than a basic french link as the latter is a bit angular.

Horses for courses mind...
 
You can have the softest hands in the world, but even so, not every horse will like every bit. I usually start with a fat loose ring French link lozenge, as they are pretty friendly and a lot of horses do like them. If the horse isn't happy with it, I move on to other ones. I've seen a few who hate loose rings and prefer egg butts or D rings, ones who prefer Happy Mouth bits, ones who prefer thin ones, ones who like a single joint, etc.
 
My cob was fussy for ages when I was told to try a slotted kimblewick I thought my friend was mad but do you know what, it works!! I don't use either slot just the main 'd' and I put the chain loose but he goes so beautifully in it. My point is don't focus so much on gentlest bit which is what I did wrongly for ages, try something to suit his mouth shape which for me, this does :) xx
 
Sorry, I hate it when " the kind hands" answer is quoted yet again. It's only partially true because if there is an ill fitting or unsuitable bit in the horses mouth it'll be uncomfortable no matter how soft the hands are.
There now! rant over and off to drink a cup of niceness :)
 
Well we have two which go much better in a French link, others ridden by same rider happy in single joint eggbutt snaffle, and a wee speedy pony happier in kimblewick..............
 
Actually, it's far more than that, it's not just the hands but the bit relevant to the horses behaviour attitude and physiology. A snaffle bit used on a horse with bad brakes can be like cheese wire. A straight bar in a horse with a big fleshy tongue... Well, not very gentle.


The most gentle bit can't just be plucked out of thin air from a list of bits deemed as gentle in the correct circumstances. It's all relative.

I used a loose ring double jointed lozenge neue Schule, for my mare, she was well schooled but she liked to lean if given the opportunity, she was sensitive and responsive in this bit, it was utterly comfortable. On the other hand, my youngster (who started fantastically well in the same bit) is soft and supple, only four so schooling is ongoing, he began to find the movement produced by the combination of loose rings and two links, annoying, he works far better with less movement in his mouth he finds it easier to concentrate on my signals.

First you must look at your horses mouth, then at the temperament and level of schooling, finally what it is that you want to achieve with this change of bit.
 
Well said prancer&vixen. Don't automatically go for a snaffle, for some horses they are just not comfortable.. the best bit is the one that your horse is happy with
 
nicolenlolly said:
My cob was fussy for ages when I was told to try a slotted kimblewick I thought my friend was mad but do you know what, it works!! I don't use either slot just the main 'd' and I put the chain loose but he goes so beautifully in it. My point is don't focus so much on gentlest bit which is what I did wrongly for ages, try something to suit his mouth shape which for me, this does :) xx
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I still for the life of me don't know why the kimblewick gets a poor press. My little Dartmooor loves his. It's a superb choice for cobs and chunky ponies.
 
My very sensitive mare goes best in a myler combination, which has their comfort snaffle with the low port for tongue relief and a bosal style noseband so that when the reins are used the pressure goes to her nose first and her mouth second.

I like a pelham, but only with two reins for a lot of horses but mine just hated it - horses for courses!
 
I love my thin, curved 'JP' fench link loose ring snaffle. I love a waterford too, it must be comfy and have never had a horse object to that either.
 
Caol Ila said:
You can have the softest hands in the world, but even so, not every horse will like every bit.
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Precisely. You can be holier-than-thou about hands but many horses will take exception to particular bits. I've tried a few bits that my horse won't accept, this isn't ridden but she won't even open her mouth! Waterford, rubber-coated mullen snaffle, french link with copper roller. She likes the Myler comfort snaffle and Neue Schule verbindend so these are the kindest for her. Both mouthpieces are thin but they suit my horse. They're certainly not the kindest on paper though.
 
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