About Bits and Abuses

The subject of bits can be a complex dilemma for a novice as well as seasoned riders. This page is a work in progress for JRJ to sort out these issues

Three examples of roller bits and commentary, provided by Emma Kenyon

	Primary effect of roller bits: they prevent horses from leaning on the bit because they back off at the feeling of the rollers on the roof of the mouth, life their heads and lighten to the rider's hands. The rollers also give them something to play with that they can't grab. (KN - a loose ring is less likely to wear, causing rough edges)
	Effect of Waterford: Suits narrow, light mouths because there is no nutcracker action. It bends to fit individual mouths. It is impossible to lean on because it is not fixed, however the roundings are soft and can not pinch.
	Effect of Magenis: The Magenis is the strongest of the roller bits, because of its squared-off mouth which can be very sharp on a sensitive horse. It relies more on its nutcracker action and squared edges than the rollers. It is a last resort for a very unresponsive horse. (KN eggbut prevents pinching or rubbing)

Quote of the day from Ian Stark: "My conviction is that the majority of bitting problems stem from over-bitting, creating pain and discomfort that the horse responds to by running away instinctively."

Laura Celmins: This is a picture of a Pessoa on a horse (the lovely Moose is modeling), the mouth is just a plain 1 joint copper snaffle. This is one of the many ways that you can put the reins on a Pessoa (has at least 10 other names, Bubble Bit, European Gag....), this being one of the easiest to handle, but still with a little leverage. It has a slight gag action with the sliding ring on the mouthpiece and the fixed cheek part, but relies mostly on leverage. On the top hole it is pretty much like riding in a baucher, which I'll get a pic of next.

Example of a bike chain bit
provided by C.M.Newell, DVM whose comment was "ewww. gross"

Date: Thu, 3 Dec 1998 07:54:43 -0800 (PST)
To: jr-riders@horse-country.com
From: Jessica Jahiel jjahiel@prairienet.org
Subject: JRJ horsemen and "the best bit"

a JRJ subscriber wrote: "Some of us don't have the luxury of starting our horses out from the beginning. We sometimes have to "settle" for a horse that was trained by someone else. We can not be said to have a lack of patience, when in most cases we work with our horses to find the best bit for horse/rider combo. Yes in some cases that might mean a bike chain."

Sadly this is not accurate -- some practices and some equipment are simply NOT appropriate. Harsh bits, ill-fitting tack, and soring are three things that are anathema to any horseman. The problem is that there are many, many horseowners and many people calling themselves "trainers", and relatively few of these are horsemen.

What is a horseman? Simply put, it's a person who knows and understand horses and horse-training, and -- most importantly -- a person for whom the best interest of the horse will always come first. Horsemen do indeed have patience, and the patience is used correctly, to care for and train their horses. Yes, there IS a "best bit" for each horse, but that bit will always be the mildest possible bit in a form, size, and shape that fits the horse's mouth well and allows the horse to accept the bit in comfort and with confidence.

In genuine training, and for horsemen, there is no such thing as a twisted wire or a bicycle chain or a knife-edge/triangle-mouth bit. Those items belong on the pub wall, not in the "using" collection of a trainer or rider, and certainly not in a horse's mouth. Horsemen take their responsibility seriously -- the care of the horse's body and mind. You'll find, over the years, that the real horsemen are not the flashy, loud types with a different bit for every occasion, and they are not the riders whose horses are wearing masses of auxiliary reins and other gadgets. They're the quiet ones with the happy, comfortable horses. All of you can aspire to become horsemen (or horsewomen if you prefer that term) -- and I hope you will! The essence of horsemanship, though, is the good of the horse, and there is no room in horsemanship for gadgets, pain, and the so-called "shortcuts" and "quick fixes" that invariably make use of both.

Many true horsemen started with very little money and one horse -- usually a horse in need of re-training. If you are in this position, please don't see it as a "reason" to use unsuitable equipment or training methods. It isn't. Even if a horse has been trained abusively, you CAN retrain it correctly and kindly, and if you want to be a horseman someday, that's exactly what you WILL do. ;-)

       jjahiel@prairienet.org        |      Jessica Jahiel, Ph.D.
        Voice: (217) 684-2570        | * Author * Clinician * Lecturer *
   http://www.jessicajahiel.com      |    Holistic Horsemanship®
  Classical Riding - Emphasis on communication between horse and rider.
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See also JRJ What bits kids use and why
See also rec.eq bit FAQ