Why are ported bits not dressage legal?

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Gorgeous George

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Can someone explain to me why ported snaffles are not dressage legal, a lot of horses have big tongues and are more comfortable with a port so I can't really understand why they're not legal :( BUT I'm very much a dressage novice so am probably missing the point somewhere!

Thanks :)
 
Will be interested to see answers to this! We're hoping to get my sister's mare out doing dressage this summer but will have to sort a different bit as she is currently in a cambridge mouth snaffle. It's very irritating as she is most comfortable with this bit and it's milder than a single-jointed snaffle IMO. Can't understand why they wouldn't be allowed!?
 
It was quite common a few years ago to see high ported bits which apply a lot of pressure onto the roof of a horses mouth and this will then go to the bars of the mouth when the reins are pulled. This is a severe and can force a 'false' outline on some horses so therefore not dressage legal.

The lower ported bits do not do this unless they are under a certain height, therefore I don't see why they're not dressage legal but thats rules.

If you want to do dressage and your horse has a thick tounge try a french link. You can always warm up in the ported but and just change to the legal bit for the actual test
 
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Well I've only ever done local dressage and eventing but I would always see people warming up in a stronger bit like a gag or pelham and then change to a snaffle.
They may be totally in the wrong and in BD competitons they may be repremanded.

Just another thought aswell the bridoon part of a double bridle may also be a good bit to try, they are very thin and allow a lot of room in the mouth.
 
I think (and could be wrong), that because there are sooooooo many different ports that it would be hard to police if some were made legal and some not, whereas if the rules are no ports, it is much easier to check?

A mullen mouth is also a good dressage legal mouth piece for a horse with a thick tongue. Plus a hanging cheek will raise the entire mouth piece a small amount, or a full cheek with fulmer keepers.
 
My IDxTB loved a cambridge mouthpiece but I couldn't use it in Dressage. I now have him in sprenger duo which he loves. I tried all number of bits until this.:)
 
monkeybum13 said:
I *think* that some myler bits are dressage legal, not sure if it's the ported ones are not.

Not much help am I, sorry! :confused:
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Myler MB01 comfort snaffle, MB02 comfort snaffle wide barrel, MB09 single joint, MB10 french link and MB32 mullen barrel mouth pieces are all dressage legal if used with dressage legal cheeks.

Eggbutt (no hooks), loose ring, full cheek and hanging cheek.

No ported mouthpieces by any company are dressage legal.
 
ported bits are only allowed as the weymouth bit of a double bridle which is permitted at Elementary up and then I believe BD wise there are still rules as to the side of the port.

No matter the size of tounge a french link or lozenged bit 'should' give sufficient room for the tounge. From my understanding a cambridge snaffle will actuallly place more pressure on the tounge as it is a straight bar, yes it has a port but it is very narrow in comparison to the width of the tounge! A port will only offer notable relief to a fat tounge if it is a wide port.

Ported bits can place significant pressure on the roof of the mouth and enforcing a rule allowing very small ports would be difficult without removing the bit from the horse's mouth so the size of the port could be measured. Checking what type of snaffle is in the horse's mouth is far simpler as they need only open their mouths!

Also you cannot under BD or PC rules warm up in one bit and then change to another just before going in as all tack worn at any time at the competition must be competition legal with exception of boots/bandages which can be worn in the warm up but not the arena. This is why draw reins/bungees etc are also not allowed in the warm up although you are allowed side reins if lunging first!
 
blond1 said:
How many riders have been checked when competing at unaffiliated local shows though? I've not seen or heard of any checking at any local competitions.
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Just because no one checks doesn't mean you shouldn't follow the rules! They are there for a reason and should be obeyed especially when it comes to bitting and gadgets.
 
BD are a strange buch of people, I have never understood why a hanging cheek snaffle is allowed but a sweet iron loose ring snaffle with a copper lozenge is not? Surely the sweet iron bit is milder that the hanging cheek snaffle? :confused::confused:
 
Eeyore.1 said:
BD are a strange buch of people, I have never understood why a hanging cheek snaffle is allowed but a sweet iron loose ring snaffle with a copper lozenge is not? Surely the sweet iron bit is milder that the hanging cheek snaffle? :confused::confused:
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Again, I may be wrong but though mixed metals were now allowed?

Spider - I guess due to the poll action of Wilkie snaffles.
 
Santa_Claus said:
but a sweet iron bit with a copper lozenge contains more than one type of metal and that is another major rule re bits that only one type of metal (which can be an alloy) is allowed. Its why Myler dressage legal bits do not have the copper strips.
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A mix of metals is allowed now. I used to sell Myler bits, so I know that dressage legal Mylers do have copper strips like non legal Myler bits.
 
rulebook says 'a mix of metals in the mouthpiece is permitted' :)

have to say although french link/lozenge would give room for a fat tongue it does give rise to increased playing opportunities :).

OP have found our mare to go better in either a mullen mouth hanging cheek as she didn't really like the movement of a mullen mouth myler which also gives more space. Have to say I can't see how cambridge snaffles allow much tongue room given the width of the port, they just look pinchy to me.
 
showjumpergirl said:
Even though they're called Wilkie snaffles, they actually have a mild(ish) gag action - they are basically 3 ring gags, with the smaller rings inside the central ring rather than outside.
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Which gives a similar action to a hanging cheek.


No logic to it.

BD has missed a huge opportunity by not licensing "legal" mouthpieces.
 
they dont have the same action as a hanging snaffle.

a wilkie snaffle fixes both the rein and cheekpiece which turns it into a gag, a hanging cheek doesn't fix the rein in place so it is not as strong or sharp
 
Thankies E that must have changed since I last did BD which is admittedly a few years ago now ;) :p I just remember when mylers first came out for BD you couldn't have the copper strips!

and agree totally about the wilkie. Hanging cheeks as said don't have a poll action although most people believe they do!
 
Santa_Claus said:
Ported bits can place significant pressure on the roof of the mouth and enforcing a rule allowing very small ports would be difficult without removing the bit from the horse's mouth so the size of the port could be measured. Checking what type of snaffle is in the horse's mouth is far simpler as they need only open their mouths!
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I'm interested in how - and how regularly - bits are checked against rulebooks in BD? In reining all competitors are expected to drop the bridle to the judge at the end of a pattern and the horse is also inspected (alternatively there is a separate designated bit judge), it's no big deal?
 
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