Buying a Horse Bit

A bit is one of the most essential pieces of equipment that you need when riding a horse. This equipment enables you to go wherever you want to go with the horse. It is basically a metal bar that resides in the mouth of the horse and is tied to the two sidepieces of a bridle with hooks. A soft tug on the reins sends pressure to the mouth via the bit. This enables the animal to know when to stop moving or change its course. Bits can be of two styles – for Western and English riders. These tow basic styles have further subdivisions with different bits, since the performance of bits can vary.

  Irrespective of which style of bit you buy, ensure that it fits suitably inside the animal’s mouth. The width of the horse mouth where the bit would rest, should be measure accurately and you should add half an inch more to ensure correct fitting.

 But how do you measure the width of his mouth? Of course sticking a measuring tape in his mouth is one easy option but the best way to go about it is to put a few varying bridles and check whether any of the bridles fit. By doing this you can find out whether about quarter inch of the bit can be seen on either side. Once the bit fits properly, remove the bridle. Measure this fitting bit and get a bit of that measurement from your tack shop. If this sounds too time consuming and complicated you could also buy a five inch bit which should ideally fit your horse, unless of course you have bought a horse from a breed like the Percheron or a Miniature.

  Whether the preference is for English or Western style of riding, the snaffle bit is the only necessary style. Since this is one of the gentlest bits, it can be good for any horse whose mouth has not been abused by poor riders. Being gentle, the snaffle bit is ideal for new riders as they tend to tug too hard at times or pull the reins suddenly to keep balance. Made up of two simple bars of metal tied together to form a bit, the standard English snaffle is long enough to fit snugly in the mouth of your horse. It has about a quarter of an inch jutting out from either side. On the contrary, the western snaffle bit is also called a snaffle curb because of its different structure. Here another piece of metal extends in a vertical direction from the sides of the snaffle on either side. 

  There are several bit options for horses with poor habits or their mouths have been abused or hardened by heavy riders. Such bits are not recommended for use, unless specifically requested by the trainer; otherwise you might injure his mouth. Bits used for such horses are the standard curb, and curb with roller bits for the western rider. The Pelham and Kimberwick bits are used for English riders.

 It makes sense to buy a spare bit as chances are that the bit would soon get spoilt with horse saliva and grass. Clean the tack after caring for your horse and return him to his stall. This is something which most horse owners forget to do or ignore. When you have a spare bit in hand, you do not lose any day, trying to remove all the junk accumulated on your sole bit.