On average a bit is 3/8 of an inch in diameter.
Some bits are illegal in horse shows – Check show rules for more information on this subject.
Materials
- Copper helps dry mouthed horses salivate, becoming more responsive to the bit
- Sweet Iron – Cold rolled carbon steel – rusts easily - encourages the horse to salivate, becoming more responsive to the bit.
- Nickel
- Aluminum
- Rubber
- Stainless steel
- Synthetic - combined with rubber
Snaffle
- Nut cracker effect gives pressure to the tongue lip and bars
- D-ring Snaffle – Spreads the pressure along the outside of the horses mouth and prevents the corners of the mouth from getting pinched.
- O-ring Snaffle – use when lateral pull is needed
- Loose Ring Snaffle – the mouthpiece is attached to free sliding rings, which prevents the horse from grabbing hold of the bit in an attempt to avoid the bit action.
- Eggbutt Snaffle – The mouthpiece and bit have a lesser chance of pinching the corners of the mouth.
- Full Cheek Snaffle – Full Cheek prevents the bit from sliding through the mouth.
- Applies pressure to poll chin and mouth.
- Principle: works like a lever (a lever uses an appropriate fulcrum to multiply mechanical force)
- The longer the shank the more severe the bit will be.
- Kimberwicke – Used in polo Crosse, provides more control than a snaffle
- Uxeter Kimberwicke - Has slots in the curved portion of the ring to set the reins in a fixed position giving more leverage to the curb action.
- • Tom Thumb Western Snaffle (Shanked Snaffle, Broken leverage Snaffle) – when the bit rotates, the nutcracker action of the broken mouthpiece acts on the tongue and bars of the mouth.
- • Can be very severe in uneducated hands
Pelham
- Has the action of a Snaffle bit and a Curb bit through the use of two sets of reins. One set connected to mouthpiece and the second set connected near the shank or cheek.
Gag – most often used in show jumping and polo Crosse and can have a jointed or smooth mouthpiece.
- Works on the horses poll and lips through two sets of reins.
- Elevator
- Dutch/Continental/Three-ring/Pessoa
- American gag
- Half-ring/Duncan gag
Mouthpiece
- Dr. Bristol – Ring in center of mouthpiece assists in holding the tongue in place below the mouthpiece.
- French Link – Reduces the nutcracker affect found with single jointed bits, such as the snaffle bit.
- Mullin Mouth – Slight curve allowing room for the tongue. Putting pressure on the tongue, lips and bars. (Rubber, Steel, Copper, Sweet Iron)
- Straight bar - Puts pressure on the tongue, lips and bars. (Rubber, Steel, Copper, Sweet Iron)
- Iron Twist - Decreases the contact on the tongue, intensifying the amount of pressure.
- Wire Twisted – Twist with a small diameter greatly intensifies pressure on corners of the mouth when rein pressure is applied.
- Port – lips, tongue, roof of mouth and bars
Rings
- Full-spoon – Cheeks are flat and spoon-like
- Flat-ring - Circular rings have been flattened giving them an edge
- Tubular Butt – Sliding loose rings
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