A BIT of Information

Most folks will make a visit to the local tack shop or even the feed store and buy a bit like the one they are replacing, but many don’t know or understand how to “fit” a bit to their horse. You will not be able to fit a bit to your horse from standing inside the store, it is not possible. There are aspects that to the less experienced, may seem to tell them the horse needs more training but in reality the horse needs a new and fitted bit. Head tossing, chewing at the bit and rearing are a small number of commonly experienced problems with a bit that does not fit or causes discomfort in the mouth of the horse. Only a professional experienced in bit fitting will be able to determine this. Many horse owners use a curb bit and even though it the most common, it is the most mis-understood bit used today by many recreational owners. The curb bit is a mild action bit usually with short shanks. This bit is used well in older, more experienced trail horses but often ends up in the mouths of horses whose owners want something that is not harsh but actually needs a bit with more leverage.

The word “harsh” is often and in many instances, used incorrectly when describing the mouthpiece of any certain bit. Most horse owners who desire the use of anything short of practical solutions when it comes to properly using a bit often end up with bits that don’t work right and dismiss any bit with a high or “disturbing looking” port as “cruel”. Understanding the bit and it’s mechanical attributes are in many cases, factually speaking, beyond the realm of those who subscribe to using only a Bosal to ride their horses. Some horses require more control, regardless of how catchy the slogans you use in your training clinics and how much you desire to “be nice and natural” with your horse, in many real world situations the use of the appropriate bit can make the difference in controlling the horse or simply hanging on for dear life.

In every horse I start in it’s foundation training, I begin by looking in the mouth of the horse. Yes, you can look a gift horse in the mouth! I observe if it has any wolf teeth or any sores from abnormal wear patterns, hooks or points in the teeth in which will require attention from an equine dentist. One aspect that to this day, I have never heard anyone other than myself (I’m sure there is somewhere) tell horsemanship students is that the higher on the wall you hang the feed bucket or hay rack, over time, your horse will develop abnormal patterns in the teeth and will disturb the orbital pattern of the manner in which a horse chews it’s feed or hay. Horses were intended by nature to eat with their heads down. Ask any equine dentist, he or she will tell you the same thing.

The lower mandible cavity depth plays an important part of bit fitting. If the tongue is thick then it will rest high in the lower jaw and any thick mouthpiece of a bit will become uncomfortable for the horse to have sitting in it’s mouth. Many artificially gaited horses are the victims of improper bitting and are evident in photographs when shown being ridden and the horse’s mouth is open. Some horses have a thicker tongue with a shallower lower jaw depth and some vice versa. The teeth also play a vital part of the bit also. Any horse with teeth that have never been checked or floated in a few years will develop some problems, many noticeable and many are so minor that even some horse owners who have owned and rode horses for years cannot pick up on. But report that their horses have newly developed vices. The type of metal a bit is made from plays a part into this equation, cheap nickel plated pot metal should be avoided at all costs and many of these type bits are offered up for sale at local sale barns and discount tack shops but usually last only a short time and can cause injury or irritation to some horses when they fail.

Bits made from surgical stainless steel are excellent and offer good construction with smooth and uniform edges and jointed points. The higher end bits made from molds of actual horse’s mouths are expensive and are great for the horse because of the detail and comfort they provide. They usually range in price from $150 - $500 and are found at only the best equestrian stores and shops. Another aspect of bit fitting is the rider who will use it or, as I refer to, actuate it. Bits by theirselves, do not hurt horses, it is the rider who hurts the horse when using bits they do not understand. Once again, many horse owners who have owned horses for years often cannot tell the mechanical functions of any certain bit beyond the one they use and even that, sometimes is murky.

As always I will say that the best choice is to seek the guidance and professional services of those in your area that train without force and can provide you with the proper instruction as to which bit to use or in some cases, not use in order to attain that level of horsemanship you desire. I’ll put it this way to you, putting your pride aside to seek help is better than putting your pride aside to call for help!