![]() Of course in the wrong hands, even the mildest of bits will hurt the horse but when used properly and with consideration then no a bit won’t hurt a horse’s mouth at all. The idea of the bit is to apply pressure to the horse’s mouth and or tongue but that doesn’t necessarily mean that it will hurt the horse. Curb bits can also be used with or without a curb chain or strap that attaches to the top of the purchase, this helps to reduce the pressure that is applied to the horse’s poll. The shank, on the other hand, is what gives the leverage and again can be short or long with shorter shanks giving the riderless control and the longer shank giving them more control. The purchase is fixed to the bridle and can be short or long, a short purchase will move much quicker in the horse’s mouth whereas a long purchase will be much slower. These cheeks include the shank which is below the mouthpiece and the purchase which is above it. They still have a mouthpiece but instead of the bit rings, they have cheeks. ![]() What are the different parts of a bit?Ī snaffle bit which is the most common English bit, in most cases, comprises of just two parts, the mouthpiece, which as you’d expect goes in the horse’s mouth, and the bit rings that the bridle and reins are attached to.Ĭurb (or leverage) bits on the other hand are slightly different. To sum its purpose up in just one sentence, the bit is an aid used by the rider to communicate with the horse. This additional pressure can either be used to back up that created by the bit or instead of it. The bit works with the reins to apply this pressure but in the case of curb bits, it can also work with the bridle to exert additional pressure on various parts of the horse’s head such as the cheeks, chin, and nose. The horse is responsive to any movement or pressure on those bars and instinctively moves away from it, which means that they actually move in the direction the rider wants them to go. The idea is that the bit applies subtle pressure to the bars of the mouth which are made of sensitive cartilage. ![]() What is the purpose of a horse bit?Ĭontrary to popular belief the bit isn’t designed to actually control the horse, it is, in the simplest of terms designed to communicate the rider’s wishes to the horse. This is why I wanted to write this article, to help explain some of the mysteries surrounding them. Then there are the different types of riding, how can both English and Western have so many different types of bit? When you consider that the bit, in most cases at least, sits inside the horse’s mouth it’s important to get the right one. The world of horse bits can often seem like something of a black art, and with so many different bits and mouthpieces on the market, it can be easy to see why.
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