5 favorites for youngsters

I, like most horse aficionados, have quite the collection of bits, not because I need them all but because “you never know” and one day you might need that one bit for that one horse and it would be a shame if you were not able to dust it off and pull it out of that back corner of the tack room. With that being said, most horse trainers tend to have a handful of go-to bits that they use across the board; I’m sure you’ve heard the theory that bits tend to fit a rider’s hands more than the horse’s mouth and I tend to agree. So, below I have listed out five of my go-to bits. When I get a new horse in training or am starting one these are what I tend to put on them, the bits that I am the most comfortable that I can feel the horse beneath me and not worry that the bit is compensating for a hole in that horse’s training.

Smooth D-Ring Snaffle

I start all my colts in a d-ring snaffle. I try and pick one with copper inlays to encourage that colt to salivate and I also prefer a d-ring to an o-ring because of the stability it provides that colt in the beginning. I don’t have to worry about the mouthpiece moving and potentially scaring them or there being any confusion on my intentions when I pick up the reins, the fixed mouthpiece gives a very direct signal crucial in those early stages.

CHS Reverse Twist Snaffle

I have had this snaffle for years and it is what I transition to from a smooth snaffle at the 60-90 day mark. It has a nice weight to it and the reverse twist lays like a smooth snaffle until that horse starts to lay on it, then you are able to see-saw your hands and back them off of it the way you would with a normal twisted snaffle. It’s a great tool for me to put on a horse I don’t know and gauge how broke, or what type of mouth they have because it is not enough to scare them but it is enough to have some control should they not have any respect for a bit. The loose rings give a little more play than a D-ring making for a slower and smoother connection from your hands to their mouth.

Square Twist Ring Snaffle

I couldn’t tell you the maker, or where I got this snaffle and it is definitely not the highest quality but I have had a lot of success with it when it comes to softening a pushy or stronger horse. The typical twisted snaffles used to soften up a horse tend to have a smaller diameter mouthpiece making them harsher across the tongue and can make a horse shocky quick if not used correctly, But this snaffle, maintains the thicker diameter and the twists are spaced out enough making it not as harsh yet still effective. Its the perfect combination of a twist and square snaffle. Even when I am trying to soften one up I don’t want to get to the point of becoming overreactive or shocky.

Earl Bimson Hackamore

While not a tool I use often, it is a critical part of my program and think it is important for all colts to learn to carry a hackamore. Riding in a hackamore requires some skill as you can’t just pull on the horses mouth but rather need to learn to “bump” the reins understanding that you are working off their lower jaw and not their mouth. Not every horse feels great in it, but they all feel better afterwards and it helps later on when they transition to a bridle or something with a curb strap. A hackamore is another piece that I use to uncover any holes in the horse’s training, specifically if they are able to carry themselves balanced without any assistance from the rider. It is important when introducing it that you go slow and remember that this type of pull is completely different than that of a bit.

Long Shank Mullen bit

Usually towards the end of their two-year old year I will begin introducing my colts to a bridle. I don’t generally like shanked snaffles so I will go to either a mild correctional or a shanked mullen type bit. I love the feel of solid mouthpieces and a mullen is usually my bit of choice. It is not offensive, so when introducing leverage, curb pressure, and neck reining the colts are able to focus on that rather than the mouthpiece. The straight mouthpiece also encourages that colt to maintain balance and stay stood up, minimizing their tendency to fall in or out of circles. The fatter mouthpiece of this particular bit is a favorite among all my horses, and they carry it well. The shanks on this are about as long as I like, and because of the softer mouthpiece the added leverage compensates so that the bit is still effective.