BITS

No single piece of equine equipment has the potential for greater abuse than the bit. Misuse comes from using the wrong type, or incorrect size, and from rough or pulling hands.

Bits are made from a variety of materials from aluminum to stainless steel. Some are chrome or nickel plated and should be checked for flaking and peeling, which can irritate the horse's mouth.

The mouthpiece of the bit may be made of different materials, one of which is cold-milled steel (sweet iron), which is porous and will rust with time. This creates a pleasant taste in the horse's mouth. It encourages the horse to move its tongue around, to salivate and to relax the lowerjaw. Copper mouthpieces also encourage this reaction.

Bits place pressure on five areas of the horse's head and mouth: the roof of the mouth (palate), the tongue, the chin groove, the bar (interdental) space and on the poll. Each bit design affects different pressure points in different ways.

Snaffle Bits

When used correctly, a snaffle first applies a light pressure on the corner of the horse's mouth and increases with pressure from the rein to the bar space and the sides of the tongue. When pulled hard, it will also apply pressure to the palate.

The snaffle utilizes a jointed or broken mouthpiece that forms a upward V when the rider pulls on the reins.

Because the snaffle does not have a shank, leverage is not applied as with the curb strap on a curb bit.

The most visible abuse of a snaffle bit is often seen on the corners of the mouth where open sores or thick calluses are observed. Once these calluses are formed, the sensitive nerves around the mouth are deadened, and the rider must pull increasingly harder on the mouth, until more severe bits are used to get the horse to respond.

The snaffle bit has rings attached at the butt of the mouthpiece that are loose-ringed or fixed.

Because the fixed-ring snaffle distributes pressure over a larger area than the loose-ring snaffle, it is easier on the mouth.

As a general rule, the larger the diameter of the mouthpiece of a snaffle bit, the milder it is. The larger mouthpiece spreads the pressure over a larger area.

The most severe of the snaffle mouthpieces are the twisted wire or fishback. This type of mouthpiece localize the pressure to a specific area, and used long enough will cause the corners of the horse's mouth to become tender. The tighter the twist the less severe the mouthpiece.

Shanked Bits

Shanked bits are designed in two basic types, solid- shanked and loose-shanked. Usually the loose shank is used when riding with two hands, and the solid shank with one hand.

Depending on the design of the shank bit , pressure is put on the roof of the mouth, the tongue, the bar space, the curb area under the chin and the poll of the head.

The most common shanked bits have a jointed, Mullen, or curb mouthpiece.

A Mullen mouthpiece has a slight curve and when the bit is 3/8 inch or smaller it can cut the mouth easily. This mouthpiece places pressure primarily on the bars. The Mullen also places pressure on the corners of the mouth, and gives some relief to the tongue. A mouthpiece similar to the Mullen is the straight bar, and this bit give no tongue relief at all.

A curb or port bit has a U-shape in the center of the mouthpiece bar, which comes in a variety of heights and sizes.

The height of the port will determine how much pressure is put on the palate. In the average horse there is a two inch space between the depressed tongue and the palate or roof of the mouth. A bit with at least two inches' elevation is called a high port bit.

The palate is the most sensitive of the five areas affected by a bit.

The width of the port will determine how much pressure can be created on the tongue by pulling on the reins. The wider the port, the less pressure. The size, degree of slope, and shape of the bars of the mouthpiece determine how much lateral pressure is on the tongue.

Can you find pressure areas which are used with bits and headstalls ? They are located in the roof of the mouth (palate), the tongue, the chin groove, the bar (interdental) space and on the poll.