who warms up their horses bit?

[xMoodyMarex]

Just curious to know who warms up their horse's bit during the winter before putting the bridle on?

 

[Inchy]

My tack room is heated so bits never go in cold - always at room temp! I think if they weren't I would warm them up first! The idea of an ice cold piece of metal in my mouth isn't very pleasant! But then I guess metal does heat up quickly so wouldn't remain cold for long.

 

[Elsiecat]

I really hope my horse never comes on here and see's how the other half live

 

[xMoodyMarex]

I really hope my horse never comes on here and see's how the other half live

I don't actually do it either just wondered how many people actually do, as felt quite bad!

 

[Ali2]

I do

 

[RockinRudolph]

I try to, today just had to hope that wrapping my hands around it made a bit of difference to the temp. Thought about using some warm water but didn't have any free plug sockets for the kettle.

 

[Django Pony]

I've never warmed a horses bit! I don't know anyone else who has/does either!

 

[mynutmeg]

Depends on the temperature, normally I wouldn't but today when it was below 0 I did warm it in my hands for her

 

[Luci07]

I will warm it in my hands if it is really cold to touch...

 

[firstponyMinto]

If the sun's out I hang the bridle in the sun, it just takes the chill off it, or failing that I hold it in my hands a little while

 

[TandD]

My tack room is heated

:O your lucky horses!!!!! warm...everything!!! (quivering at the thought of dry rugs :'( )
can i come and live with you please????? ill live in the tack room! it will be warmer than my house

 

[Chunkie]

I always warm the bit in my hands if it's cold.

 

[indiat]

I have been known to put the hand dryer on in the loos at our yard to heat the bit!

 

[autumn7]

Always through winter, either run bit under hot tap for a few seconds, then straight into horse's mouth if at home or if trailering out for a hack or whatever, I sit on it with heated seat on full. Hunting on bitter days, have been known to heat bit with water from a thermos flask as I don't travel tacked up. Yes, I know, I'm incredibly sad!!

 

[all about Romeo]

my horse a plastic happy mouth so no cold bit for him!

however if I did use a metal bit I would warm it up

 

[VikkiL]

I always warm my horses bit, he's a sensitive soul!

 

[BlizzardBudd]

I try to as I feel bad for him having to have a cold piece of metal in his mouth but our tack room gets pretty cold

 

[flirtygerty]

I always do winter and summer, bridles are kept in the house but the bits still get cold, I also dampen winter feeds with warm water with marmite in and cover the barn gates with old rugs to help stop the draughts, but then our barn is exposed and the wind comes off the moor, it's not uncommon this weather to find frozen poo in the stables, having said all that my lad is still unrugged and my arthritic 18yr old is only in a MW and tonight it's -3

 

[Lulup]

I warm the bit before use if its really cold and always rinse it clean straight after use before anything can dry and go hard on it.

I think this is simply a case of treating your horse with respect - I wouldn't offer somebody a dirty knife or fork and equally I wouldn't ask my horse to take a cold or dirty bit. Always amazes me the number of people who have endless matchy matchy blingy things for their horses that make no difference to the horse at all but it never occurs to them to take simple steps that actually do make a difference

Seeing people bridling their pony/horse with a bit crusted up with days/weeks gunk is a pet hate of mine and doesn't reflect well on the amount of thought actually given to their horses comfort...

 

[brighteyes]

Always, if it is cold.

 

[ELFSBELLS]

I do, always pop it under my arm for a few mins, it was bloomimg freezing the other day because I'd left my bridle in the car overnight !!!

 

[mandwhy]

I don't really but I might with new horsey as she is a bit sensitive. I don't like leaving green goo on bits mainly because its so hard to get off once dry!

 

[trottingon]

I always make sure my horse's bit is clean. It has never even occurred to me to warm up them up before tacking up.





I now feel incredibly guilty!!!

 

[FRESHMAN]

OMG whatever next

 

[OldNag]

I've never heard of/thought of warming the bit!

 

[Daytona]

No I never thought to

Oh my poor boy

I will now though

 

[rara007]

When it's really cold I do- my tack lives at outside temp and I'm soft! Only rub my hands on it till its not very very cold or if getting in hang the bridle round my neck and zip the bits in my jacket When it's frozen the bits are painful to touch so even though it only takes them a few mins to warm in the horses mouth I feel bad

 

[tallyho!]

My hands are always cold so warming up in me hands would be useless.

I just tuck the bit and bridle between my thighs for a few minutes while I do girth up or pick feet out. The shuffle back to head and put on bridle. No problem... until someone sees me and says "what ARE you doing???"

It's just habit. If I think about it it's no colder than drinking water for them or us eating ice cream. Sometimes cold is quite pleasant

 

[Hoof_Prints]

my auntie does this! I go to tack up and she grabs the bits off me and pours them under the kettle

I went and bought rubber bits for them all so they weren't so freezing cold

 

[yannialice]

I do. was trained to by crazy old huntswoman back in the day. i also sugar dip them when bitting youngsters.