Ok, so I currently have a horse I used to do a lot of Western events on. Such as barrels. He was great, but I want to try English events. I currently just do it bareback, but doing it with a shank wouldn ' t be best ... Oh my gawd I can only imagine the answers I will get for this.hhaha
So I'm wondering what kind of bit would be good? My horse is about 14.2 hands and isn't very strong, though he can be stubborn! I'm thinking some kind of snaffle.
Great answers will be helpful!
Thanks
Oh Gawd, it sounds like you're in my exact situation! The only difference is we never got anywhere! Haha. Anyways, I got this bit:
http://www.statelinetack.com/item/korste ... My horse seems to love it ! Does your horse play with the bit? If so this would be great for him!
try a full cheek snaffle. it is broken in the middle but has the longer shanks. It is not very severe actually very mild. If you need a more "tough" bit a twisted snaffle is that. I don't like the two piece snaffles myself I think they pinch.
Amanda ~ a Tom thumb is a western bit not english.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com If you need to have the leverage affect of a western bit you can use a solid or a broken kimberwick.
Any kind of smooth snaffle bit would be a good place to start. If he can be stubborn about turning, you might want a bit with sides, such as a D-ring or full cheek snaffle, so the bit doesn't slide through his mouth.
I've been using the bitless bridle by Dr. Cook for 8 years with my Standardbred. Check out his webite. www.bitlessbridle.com
Everyone down here uses curb bits in English events but maybe we're different. I would use a full cheek snaffle if it was me.
Loose ring snaffle, or what they call an O-ring snaffle. Or D-Ring. Try to get one with a copper or sweet iron piece.
Just get a plain snaffle. It's basic and as long as you have good hands, you'll be fine.
If he is stubborn then ride with a natural halter so you don't ruin his mouth anymore!!!
If you know h ow to use your hands go with a tom thumb.
try a slow- twisted O-Ring or a slow twisted D-Ring hope this helps?
Wow, okay thats tuff. Remember that any bit in the wrong hands is a torture device. You can seriously hurt a horse if you don't know what you are doing with even the most mild bit.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com Start with a simple smooth snaffle. I recommend a D-Ring. Maybe get one that has some copper on it. Start with him in a round pen or controlled area. Ask him to bend and flex. Start gentle and increase your pressure as needed . Remember that the action in his mouth is very different with a snaffle than a curb bit with a shank. If he is a little strong there are a few snaffles that have a small shank on them. Just to give a little more controll with out over doing it.
For me what works best is a Slow Twist D-Ring Snaffle. It has some bite to it so it is not for a new rider, or a rider with hard hands or "noisy" hands. Meaning that you don't know how to hold your hands still. My horse can get strong, but he is also very sensitive. So he likes this bit because I can communicate what I need him to know with out needing to use a lot of pressure. A small touch is all it takes. In English of course you use your legs and seat a lot.
The biggest thing you can do is start in the current bridle you are using, because your horse is familiar with the feel and the way you communicate. Start teaching the leg cues, and the other things he needs to learn. And use the snaffle in the round pen, just working on teaching him to give to it. You can do what is called bit lunging. This is where you would put the bridle on and tie his head to his saddle and ask him to lunge like normal. You gradually tighten the reins until he learns finds a spot in the bridle where he is in the correct frame, but not pulling on the bit. This lets him fight it out with the bit, and learn with the release is and how the bit will feel in his mouth, with out you having to pull on him. This way when you go to ride him in the bit, he is already familiar with the feel. It won't teach him to put his head down, but it will get him aquainted with the bit.
pets question and answers,www.5d2d.com
Start there. If you need more controll and you have nice quiet hands, try a slow twist. If your horse is trained well, and is willing to learn English, he will work in one of those two bits. If not, you are just making him do something he doesn't want to do anyways. Anything more advanced is for a horse with a lot more training and a rider with a lot more training.
An egg butt snaffle or a Dee ring snaffle would be best, you shouldn't use harsh bits ever. A D-ring should be enough for any horse in basic english classes. If your horse like to have a looser bit, go with a loose ring snaffle, some horses enjoy to loose feeling in their mouths , you should buy bit guards so that it doesn't pinch your horses lips. If you horse is a bit stubborn about steering, I would got with a full cheek and get bit keepers to keep the bars from getting in his nostrils. You might also find that a French link would do him some good. If I were you I would go with a loose ring french link or an egg butt french link, or just straight snaffle in either. You should not at all be ridding him in an unjointed bit in an english class. If he isn't very strong and you can stay out of him mouth and off it, you should do wonderful in a snaffle. Good luck!
