What bits are best for gaited horses?
We were told that the tom thumb bits were what was used on our two Tennessee walking horses. They are jointed in the middle and I wonder if they don't pinch. We just bought the horses last Oct. and the few times we rode last fall, the horses did a lot of head tossing. They just had their teeth floated recently and maybe that was part of the problem; I am not concerned about the gaits but just want a humane and comfy bit.
You will get many different answers to this question, as it really depends on the horse, the conformation of their mouth and the riders hands.
The Tom Thumb is actually a pretty severe bit, as many broken snaffles can be. You'll find a lot of trainers that "poo-poo" the TT, such as Mark Rashid.
My Walker came with a soft flexible chain bit with 7" shanks. He has a very narrow mouth, shallow in depth and low pallette. With light hands this bit is great. He's very responsive, and we basically just finger rein with direct reins, though he's pretty good with neck reining too. I'm currently working with him in the arena with a Myler MB03 with HBT shanks (5") for flexion exercises, as he doesn't bend as well to the left as we would like. He's not quite sure what to make of the bit, as it has independent side action, but I think with a little time he'll get used to it. My equine dentist checked the fit on him and liked what he saw. I also picked up a Kimerwicke low port, which is good for the flexion exercises, but he isn't as responsive as with the plain chain.
Unfortunately bits are a lot like saddles, you have to experiment until you find the right fit. The previous owner tried all sorts of bits with G before making the determination that he liked the plain chain more than anything else. There are a few tack shops out there that will rent out Myler bits, as they aren't cheap. But in this way you don't end up with an expensive barn decoration. If you do a Google search, you might find something in your area. Good luck in your search!
Re: What bits are best for gaited horses?
im sold on the robart pinchless spinner ball type bit my wife calls it the "true wonder bit" the horses seem to like them . (mine grabs it from my hand when im putting it on) they have independent action and are not jointed . this little saddle horse we got was riding in a tom thumb and would toss and nose out to escape the pressure and when we switched it did wonders .
Chris
Re: What bits are best for gaited horses?
I think it's different for every horse. When I got my Walker he had a ported walking horse bit with long shanks. He didn't like it so I got a bit my trainer recommended - a Kimberwicke and he didn't like that either.
I finally got him a Tom Thumb and he loves it. Luckily I have light hands as does his new owner. He has a fat tongue and he likes the broken mouth bits much better.
I think it depends on the horse and like saddle fit it can be a real pain. My new horse goes well in just a snaffle.
Re: What bits are best for gaited horses?
Brenda Imus is supposed to be coming out with a new Mullen Bit (we talked about it on the other page) that is much like the Robart bit that Chris mentioned except it will have more tongue relief and a copper roller to get those juices flowing
Re: What bits are best for gaited horses?
I'm sure you are just "chomping at the bit" waiting. Just "hold your horses!"
They should be ready in about a week.
Re: What bits are best for gaited horses?
I was told when I bought both of my TWH's that they would work best in a solid mouth low port curb with medium shanks. With my mare, this is pretty true, but honestly, she works on a loose rein most of the time, and works off the curb chain more than the bit anyway, so the mouthpiece doesn't seem to matter much. My other horse, however was STIFF. He was like steering a Mac truck. I had his teeth done, and they needed alot of work. I asked the dentist what he would suggest, and he said that with a horse with a palate as LOW as Sam's (our gelding) he would suggest a double broken bit, like a Dr. Bristol but without that blade thing. It took me awhile to find one, but turns out that National Bridle Shop carries a double broken bit with a copper roller that fits their interchangable shanks. I borrowed one from a friend to try it out, and had a NEW HORSE. He now reigns with fingertip control and is ALMOST flexible (he's nearly 20, we don't expect miracles here). He GIVES to this bit. He moved like a slab of meat with the other ones I tried. I'm not saying it would work for everyone, but if you are trying bits on Walker's, check to see if they have a low palate. If they do, a regular snaffle can cause a lot of pain and head tossing. The double break was the key for us. He loved that bit from the first day. By the way,a solid curb bit on a horse that direct reins, doesn't make sense to me from a purely mechanical perspective.
Kevie
Kevie
Some of my best leading men were dogs and horses.
Elizabeth Taylor
Re: What bits are best for gaited horses?
Another term used for a double broken mouthpiece is referred to as a Dog Bone snaffle. We just tried one out on G Friday and Saturday, loose ring, sweet iron, with four copper rings in the center. He loved it. No shanks, no curb chain. For the first time since I've owned him he gaited consistently with a wonderful head set, and he didn't lose his wonderful head nod. Now whoa was another story, but by Saturday afternoon, he was stopping within 2-3 strides.
My barnlord who is also a trainer, recommends this type of bit for a horse with a low palette that has a tendency towards evading the bit. We had been riding with a Victory soft chain mouthpiece with 7" shanks. She explained that this type of bit never gives the horse any release from pressure, regardless of how light your hands are.
Re: What bits are best for gaited horses?
I have to admit that if we sacrificed anything with Sam, it was brakes, but that was well worth the trade off in manuverablity and general responsivness. He doesn't have G's big motor, so it never bothered me. I felt that I could now do a 1-rein stop if I needed to and that would have been impossible before. Now that he is accustomed to this bit, we don't have a problem with stopping. Isn't it nice to know your horse is happy with such an important piece of equipment?!
Kevie
Some of my best leading men were dogs and horses.
Elizabeth Taylor
Re: What bits are best for gaited horses?
Thanks for all the info everyone!!! We are rookies at this horse stuff and still trying to figure out the best bit. We will are going to try a couple of different bits just to see what they will like best. I am eagerly awaiting a photo of Brenda's new bit and I think we will end up with a couple of those also, it seems people are lined up for her new bits until next year???
What was recommended to me was the "less is more" theory of bitting. After having numerous people/trainers suggest I try using a dog bone (3-piece) snaffle with loose rings, I hung up the chain mouth piece with 7" shanks on the tack room wall. My boy G loves loves loves this bit. He's more relaxed and responsive, as he no longer has the added pressure of shanks or a curb chain to be afraid of or try to avade bumping into. His head nod is deeper than before, his back is rounding, and I couldn't be happier!
I spoke to a custom bit maker and he was happy to hear that I hung up the 7" shanks for a snaffle. He wished more people would rely on training the horse to be responsive from the saddle in the first place, rather than leaning on a bit for control. He said he still makes shanked bits, as he'll never convince all his customers that his theory is the right one, and after all he does need to make a living. But he's willing to try and convert as many people as he can along the way.
I've got to tell you that every horse we've worked with that went in a snaffle bit was significantly improved by the use of our humane mullen curb bit. This bit does not work on the common 'pain avoidance' principle that most bits use, but instead offers the horse comfort and encourages him to respond in a certain manner rather than forces him to do so. Some people will no doubt accuse me of trying to sell these bits, but truth is, we sell so many already (based mostly on word of mouth and repeat customers) that that is not the case. They're just a fabulous bit.
Every rider in the past couple of expo clinics has come back to order the bit after using it on their horse in the clinic. A few of them told me they had determined before hand NOT to buy any tack. . .but the bit had been too good not to get, after all.
Many of the horses we work with are very traumatized from inhumane tack, esp. bits--and the change that comes over them once we switch over is enough to make everything we do worthwhile.
As for the double twisted snaffle, the action of that bit is definitely one of 'pain avoidance.' A snaffle can be just as, or more, severe than a curb bit. The extra head nod from this sort of device is brought on by the joints of the mouthpiece raising up when the horse lowers his head, and poking him in the palate. . .the horse's natural response is to quickly lift his head, resulting in something that LOOKS like a head nod, but isn't the real thing. Add a shank to a double twisted snaffle, and you've got a very well developed torture device. . .
Re: What bits are best for gaited horses?
Jointed mouthpieces, when combined with a curb--or shank--form a sort of nutcracker on your horse's tongue, bars, and jaw. Tom Thumb bits work so 'well' because the horse learns to react FAST to avoid pain .
Bits!
When I began my horse adventure 4 years ago, I knew nothing so used a Tom Thumb bit on my RMH because it was reported to be "mild." He did not complain and seemed very responsive. But he was as stiff as a board. So I was encouraged to use a broken mouth snaffle to teach lateral flexions. With time he became very light and flexibe. I now ride him most of the time in a rope halter (no bit) and the reins can be held between the index finger and thumb. He stops mostly with weight shift and picking up on the reins, no pressure. I try to ride as long as possible with no rein aids. He does a wonderful head knocking walk but his intermediate gait is a stepping pace when permitted. All gaits on done on loose reins, no rein pressure. Only if I knew his stepping pace might be evened out would I consider a different bit. Legs, voice and weight shift have been much more effective than a bit.
Re: Bits!I have found that Myler makes great bits. I love the comfort snaffle "D" ring. Also, Robarts makes a great comfort bit. Both types have a roller so they don't have the nutcracker effect. My Paso prefers to go bitless. I use a flat leather mechanical hackamore. Before anyone screams torchure device, it's only as bad as your hands. I use a leather curb strap with it. JoannaEdited by: trailgaiters at: 5/14/04 6:33 pm
Re: Bits!
My moms TWH/SSH also prefers bitless. When we got him they rode him in the long shanked Sleister hackamore. I tried to switch him over to a mild bit but he would go into hyper-venilating panic attack after the bit was on, before we even mounted up. So I gave up on the bit and found a simular style hackamore with shorter "pony" shanks with sheepskin on the nose piece and a curb strap rather than chain. He did really well but would still "root" down sometimes and try to snatch the reins away. When the Dr Cook Bitless bridle came out I thought it was worth a try since it can be sent back for a refund. We put it on him and that is all he has been ridden in since. He is calmer and controlable. Not a solution for all horses but worth thinking about if a horse likes bitless.
Re: Bits!
Several of my mares seem to work best in just a simple rawhide bosal. light touch and good training goes a long way. By the way, I've ridden them with just a rope hackamore with the lead rope tied around for reins with no problems. (unfortunately not all my horses will ride that way but soon maybe ) Stop is in the interaction not the mechanics. Get stop and back up, down pat on the ground well before getting in the saddle and you're half way or more there.
AMEN. I'm riding my 3 yr old MPH in a rope hackamore/halter & he is doing great. Not taking him on trails in it yet, but he just turned 3. Plenty of time for trails. Ground work is where it's at.
Re: Bits!
I agree with LuvMyBaylee. I used to use a mechanical hackamore on my Paso Fino-Arab gelding. He worked wonderfully with it and seemed very comfortable--but he would not work with any of the bits I tried on him. Different bits for different horses--whatever works, humanely!
Re:bits
Here's a ringing endorsement! My newly adopted (04/2004) 6yr old Rocky Mtn. Horse, King, and I (no pun) attended one of Brenda's clinics. He had been going in an Argentine snaffle which his previous owner/trainer/breeder said was what she had always used on him. At the clinic I got the opportunity to try out Brenda's Imus Mullen bit and what a wonderful difference it made in King's performance. He was willing, relaxed, and he just seemed satisfied. It was like he finally found pleasure in his work after all these years. Before I tried the Imus Mullens bit he was reluctant, high headed and what I would call just plain 'contrary' no matter how light I tried to be with him. I will never use a different bit on him. Honestly, it was like night & day when I switched from the Argentine to the Imus bit. Needless to say, I bought that bit asap. It's a quality bit! I also believe it encourages lightness from me. I think before, King was always trying to get away from the pain of his old bit, so consequently I held him tighter. With the Imus bit he is so content we are now working on a very loose rein with super responsiveness from him!
Good luck bitting! Tracey
.
) Stop is in the interaction not the mechanics. Get stop and back up, down pat on the ground well before getting in the saddle and you're half way or more there.
Email This To a Friend
Topic Commands
Click to receive email notification of replies 
Click to stop receiving email notification of replies