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 Ring snaffle bits
Wide range of models and of possible effects. Bits with direct action on the lips
with a light lift effect. Mullen mouthpieces are more severe than jointed and thin mouthpieces are "harder" than thick ones.
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Continental gag bits
Continental Gag Bit, 3 and 4-Ring cheeks, helps elevate the horse's front and when the horse
becomes heavy on the bit. The rings offer greater lateral control. The power of the action will
depend on the thickness of the mouthpiece and on the position of the reins in the rings.
-Reins on the lowest ring : very strong leverage effect.
-With 4 reins (1 pair on the lowest ring and one on the central ring) :
allows to vary the effects but requires a certain skillfulness.
-With a loop between low and central ring : the effect is intermediate but less precise.
This adjustement suits well when you are not sure of your hand.
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4-ring snaffles
4-Ring snaffle is made of a 2-Ring snaffle that fits, to moove freely, into 2 other rings on which
cheek straps are fastened. This snaffle is quite relaxing as it mooves freely in the horseís mouth,
but it becomes severe if the hand gets harder. Is also used very often in driving sport. |
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Gag bits
A Gag bit has a precise action on your horseís balance. It obliges the horse to lift his whole
front end and therefore to put his weight on the back end. It is generally used on horses which
are quite heavy and put much weight on the shoulders. You necessarily need to use special cheek
straps. You can use it on single pair of reins, with or without pelham roundings, or with two
pairs of reins if you have the required ability. |
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Racing bits
The bits that are used for racing are generally very severe. Their use is a matter from specialists.
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Eggbutt bits
Eggbutt Snaffle are very mild and cannot pinch the horse's lips. As the mouthpiece does not
rotate around the ring, the action of the hand is quite direct.
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Dee bits
A Dee Bit is a mild snaffle. It's ìDî shaped rings help with lateral control of the head.
Its effect is a little stronger than Eggbutt Bit's one.
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Weymouth bits
The Weymouth bit is quite exclusively used for dressage work. It brings a strong flexion through
its leverage effect on the bars and the tongue. It is never used on itís own but always with a
dressage bradoon (acting upwards on the lips). This combination of effects helps the rider to
obtain a light and right collection. It requires therefore the use of 4 reins and a certain riding
ability from the rider. Its action can be severe. The use of a lip strap prevents the horse from
taking the cheeks with his lips |
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Full cheek bits
The full cheek bit has a simple action on the lips which is not different from ring snaffles or
eggbut bitsíone. Its main feature is that it helps steering by giving more lateral control.
It suits young horses not used to aids or adult horses presenting lacks of flexibility that need
to be corrected. Full cheek snaffles should better be used with bit loops to keep cheeks upright |
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Pelham bits
A PELHAM bit has a strong leverage effect to flex the horse whilst taking
a big part of the impulse. It is used :
-with simple reins (very rare),
-with 4 reins and the required ability,
-with pelham roundings which allow to obtain an intermediary effect and reduces the severity of
this bit that is always delivered with a curb chain.
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Liverpool bits
The Liverpool bits are exclusively used in driving sport where the only contacts are the hands
and the voice. The rings bring lateral control and the cheeks make leverage to reinforce the action of the hands.
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Gag bit
he Gag bit has a mullen mouthpiece, a curb chain, two rings on each side to fasten the driving reins.
This bit is traditionnally more used with breastplate harnesses than with collar harnesses.
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Driving butterfly bits
The Butterfly bitís conception is closed to the Gag Bitís one, but its effect can be more severe
as it has an additive ring on each side. Like for all bits with curb chain that have a leverage effect,
the lowest you fasten the reins, the strongest the action. This bit is traditionnally more used with a
breastplate harness than with a collar harness. |
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Training bits
The Training bits are coming from western riding but can also be used for traditional
European riding. The mouthpiece is not fixed to the rings and that allows the horse to play
with the bit. They provide much leverage while also elevating the horse's front end. Only to be used
by skilled riders on horses with much impulse.
Can be used : with one pair of reins attached to the shanks, with a lunge piece or with four reins. |
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Chifney bits
A Chifney bit is used for stallions leading. It has a violent and direct action on the bars when the horse rears up.
Never to use by riding.
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Western bits
The bits used in ´WESTERNª riding are extremely varied but they all have a very strong leverage
effect and are therefore to use with care. The western riding is usually with ´long reinsª and
the bit is only used by tension of the reins to restore the balance.
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Hackamores
A Hackamore does not act on the horseís mouth as it has no mouthpiece but creates pressure just above
the soft face of the nose.
The strength of the effect depends on two points :
-the width of the noseband : the thinest it is, the most severe it is.
-the length of the cheeks which increases the leverage effect.
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"Robart Pinchless" bits
(patent pending)
Riding : a tradition
In very few human activities does practice adhere to tradition more so than in Riding.
Truly basic innovations in riding equipment are few and far between.
So it is with the bridle and harness bits.
Changes that have taken place over the ages reflect technological advances in Metallurgy
on the one hand, and design changes to obtain more control over the usually unwilling horse
on the other. The concept, however, has changed little, if at all. Obstinate horse - more severe bit,
more obedient horse - less severe bit.
A revolutionary idea !
Along comes an inventive American horse trainer (David Robart) with a revolutionary idea and a bit
design to implement it. Instead of training and working a horse on the basis of creating pain and
the anticipation of pain, his bits will correct by pressure and will eliminate the pain,
frequently unintentional, of pinched tongues and cheeks.
This desirable outcome results from a cleaver design feature. At crucial points on the bit -
in the center of the mouthpiece on a jointed mouth bit and at the ends of the mouthpiece on
straight mouth bits - there is an internal bushing which permits either half of the bit to
rotate independently of the other.
Many advantages :
The benefits emanating from this are several :
- Working one rein will NOT cause either the entire bit to raise up and hit the palate,
or to pinch the tongue as commonly happens with jointed mouth bits. Horsesí mouth remains closed and
calm. Head tossing is all but eliminated.
- Either side of the horse can be worked separately. No confusion as to what the rider wants.
The message is perfectly clear. The benefit of this clarity cannot be emphasized enough.
- Tension and stress in the horse is dramatically reduced. Horse can concentrate on learning and
on performance, not on pain avoidance.
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Kimberwick bits
The Kimberwick bit is used in Spanish riding as well as for jumping. Its action is quite strong
as it is used with a curb chain and makes pressure on the bars with a leverage effect.
It is mostly used on horses with much natural ´impulseª.
All Kimberwick bits are delivered with stainless steel curb chain and with hooks.
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the bars must not be bruised,
