How to Choose a Bit for Your Horse

There are many different choices when it comes to bits, and the selection at your local tack shop can be overwhelming. It sometimes takes some experimenting to find just the right bit for your horse. When determining what type of bit should be used on your horse you should consider:

• Whether you will be riding English or western, and if you are competing and what specific discipline you will be competing in.
• What your riding skill level is.
• How your horse has been trained.
• The shape and size of your horse's mouth.

Types of Bits

You should be riding in the mildest bit that still allows you to communicate clearly with your horse. Most horses do very well in some sort of simple snaffle. Sometimes, you'll have to try a few bits to find one that your horse is happy in.

Many horses are trained as youngsters in a snaffle and are ridden in snaffles for their whole lives. If you are pleasure riding in a western saddle, there's nothing wrong with riding in a snaffle bit, even if you neck rein.

Many western bits are curb bits, but a beginner who might still inadvertently balance themselves with his or her hands can harshly jab his or her horse's mouth with these bits. A snaffle bit can be quite harsh if a rider is heavy-handed, but a curb bit with its leverage action will amplify any mistakes that much more. If you feel you must use a curb bit, choose one with the shortest shank you can find. Ideally, a curb bit should only be used if your horse has learned all of his lessons well in a snaffle bit.

Curb Bit

Often riders will resort to a curb bit, or a long-shanked mechanical hackamore because they don't have enough "whoa" in a milder bit. If you are having trouble stopping, you may be better off going back to schooling and reinforcing the basics. If a horse is hard-mouthed, it's because the rider has been riding with inconsiderate hands.

There is nothing wrong with riding with a curb bit provided you understand how it works and how to use it. If you are showing western, you'll probably need to ride with some sort of western curb bit. Just remember that when you pull on the reins with a curb bit, your rein aid is amplified because of the leverage action. You will need to learn to ride with very light, considerate hands.

Your Horse's Mouth

One thing that is sometimes overlooked is the shape of the horse's mouth and dental condition. If you find your horse is having difficulty holding the bit, is lolling its tongue, tossing its head, or stiffening his jaw and poll, it may be because the bit is uncomfortable in its mouth. Some horses have shallow palates, thick tongues, or other conformation that makes it difficult to carry some bits. Overgrown teeth and wolf teeth may interfere with the way the bit sits in the horse's mouth. A vet or equine dentist can help with dentition problems. It might take some trial and error to find a bit that is comfortable for your horse to carry. Consider a bitless bridle for hard fit horses.

When choosing a bit for a new horse, consider what the horse has been ridden in before. It wouldn't be fair to use a long-shanked curb bit on a horse that has only ever been ridden in a snaffle and expect it to understand your aids completely. If the horse is used to a long-shanked curb, you might find the horse doesn't respond well—you might not have enough brakes—in a simple snaffle.

This does not mean you cannot make a transition from one type of bit to the other. Horses that are ridden in a curb bit because they have learned to ignore a milder bit can be re-schooled. If for some reason you want to ride in a curb bit, you can school your horse to understand your aids with considerate hands.

Trying out different bits can get expensive if you have to buy each one. Either borrow bits to try or head to the consignment section of your tack shop.