Right kind of bit?

Question

I was wondering what kind of bit I should use. My horse has a tender mouth but needs a little more control than a plain snaffle offers. I'm using a slow twist full cheek snaffle right now, and would like to go to a milder bit. Any suggestions? ( i ride jumpers fyi)

i tried him on a racing D today, and it worked fairly well.

Answer 1

you can try a thinner plain snaffle. a slow twist is the next step from the plain snaffle. so if that bit works just use it. good luck

Answer 2

I've had good luck with a short Pelham. You have to manage four reins, but that gets to be second nature. (As you probably know, the curb rein goes between your ring finger and your pinkie, so you have control if you need it by pulling your whole hand back, but most of the time you use the snaffle, which is held like a single rein, coming in outside the pinkie and leaving at the thumb.) It is a mild bit but not a useless bit, and it's used a lot on hunters and jumpers who tend to be hotbloods with tender mouths and wild ideas. My very highly strung thoroughbred hunter settled right into it. Tom Thumb Pelhams are mildest, as the curb has very short shanks. The beauty of the Pelham is you can indulge the desire for a very mild bit without sacrificing necessary control ;in an emergency or if the horse tests the envelope; also, with just one piece of metal actually in the mouth, a highly-strung horse doesn't fret as it might with a double bit.

Answer 3

the thinner the bit the more severe. Try a Dr. Bristol. A corkscrew is also a good bit. On with a port may also work. The real question is why you need the twist, too fast, hard to stop.....that should decide what bit to move to.

Answer 4

try a d-ring or curb or Dr Bristol. If your horse has a sensitive mouth maybe try a bitless bridle.

Answer 5

A d-ring or a low curb would probably work well.