The big bitting guide
Everything you need to know about choosing and fitting your horse’s bit
BITS TS HAVE BEEN used too control horses for thousandsth of years, with the he earliest ones made fromrom rawhide. Today’s bits are much more sophisticated ophisticated and designed esigned to be kinder and more comfortable. But with the enormous range available, it can still be confusing when it comes to choosing the right one. We’ve spoken to three experts to get the low-down on choosing and fifitting bits.
Why one size doesn’t fit all
Knowing your horse’s mouth is important when choosing a bit that does the job you need it to do without causing discomfort. “You want the bit to sit just in front of the first cheek teeth so the pressure is in the right place,” explains equine dental technician Martin Brookes. “But it’s important to recognise that mouth conformation varies enormously in horses and between breeds.” For instance, in Thoroughbreds, the tongue lies on the flfloor of the mouth, leaving plenty of room between the tongue and the roof of the mouth for a bit. Warmbloods can have thick tongues, sometimes bulging out of the teeth, and need a bit that doesn’t pinch at the sides, which is the most sensitive part of the tongue. And in Arabs, their palette can be low, leaving little room for a bit. Martin often sees horses that have a smooth groove worn into the teeth caused by them holding onto the bit, generally a sign that the bit isn’t the right one. “On all the riding horses I treat, I routinely carr y out rostral profififi ling, which used to be called a ‘bit seat shaping’,” says Martin. “Basically, the first cheek tooth is square and by rounding this off at the front I can help relieve any tongue pressure and reduce the chance of pinching.” A horse’s mouth is very sensitive and needs to be treated with care, so take time to study your horse’s mouth before reaching for a bit. You can easily do an assessment yourself but ask your equine dental technician for help if you’re unsure. “Gently part your horse’s lips at the side and check if his tongue is bulging through his teeth,” says Martin. “This tells you he has a large tongue, which is a cause of mouth discomfort if the incorrect bit is used. In some horses, the tongue protrudes at the front too.” Check what room your horse has between his tongue and the roof of his mouth – with and without a bit. Finally, take up a contact on the reins so you can see the areas of his mouth the bit is acting on and if it’s pinching or rubbing.”
Start simple
Lindsay Middleton is a bitting expert with Sprenger UK. She trains retailers to help customers choose the correct bit and she troubleshoots when things aren’t going to plan.
“I always recommend assessing horses in a simple bit – the KK Ultra for example, as this is a very neutral bit,” she says. “Ride in this and see how it feels. Is your horse mouthing it or leaning on it? Or are you having trouble turning or stopping? If any of these apply, it suggests it’s not correct.” Traditional thinking was that thicker bits were kinder but cause horses to lean and thinner bits were strong. But this opinion is changing. “Lots of horses struggle with thicker bits as they’re just too big and it can cause them to mouth the bit too much or, in some cases, not even be able to close their mouths, making the bit ineffective anyway,” adds Lindsay. “Thinner bits are becoming popular and are more comfortable for many horses. Inconsistency in contact is a good indication that a problem exists, so if your horse is on and off the contact when you ride, have his bit assessed. I still see lots of horses wearing the wrong choice or size of bit. If you’re unsure at all, you owe it to your horse to get some advice.” Ros Canter is an international event rider who has competed at Burghley and Badminton horse trials. “With a new or young horse, I start with a loose ring snaffle with a lozenge,” Ross tells us. “I then assess from that point. For instance, if I find the horse isn’t taking enough contact, I’ll try a Sprenger Eggbutt with lozenge, or a happy mouth straight bar, which is a comfortable, kind bit. For horses that aren’t very supple or are on the forehand, I find a loose ring bit useful as it has more movement and helps prevent leaning but, in all instances, it’s important to keep it as simple as possible.” Ros doesn’t change her bits regularly, although she finds that a session in a different bit can be useful. “If I feel the horse is starting to evade or resist I’ll try something different just for one session as it’ll make him think. I find it best to use the same bit in training and competing but sometimes, cross-country for instance, I may need to make a change. I much prefer to have a stronger bit and be able to ride with kind hands as this is better for the horse than sticking with a bit that isn’t working and then pulling unnecessarily. This is how horses become numb in the mouth.”
Is your bit still doing its job?
On deciding whether or not a bit is still working for your horse, Ros advises keeping a mental note of how it felt when you first rode in it, or even write it down. “If the bit is right, he’ll feel steady in the contact, flexible and responsive. Lock this in your mind when you find a bit that does all these things. When you’re riding, you’ll be able to check if you’re still getting that same feel. If not, then, as well as looking at other things, training issues for instance, you can decide if the bit is still doing its job and change it if not.”
“It’s important to keep it as simple as possible”