Horse Bits Selection Guide and Buying Review
In order to keep good control over your horse at all times, you will need a very important piece of horse equipment called the bit. What is a bit? A bit is essentially a metal bar that sits in the horse’s mouth and hooks to either sidepieces of a bridle. When you tug on the reigns, the bit puts some pressure on the horse’s mouth, guiding them to the direction that you want them to go. There are two different types of bits for horse riders. There are the Western riders and there are English riders. Both of these styles require different bits since one type of bit will not work with the other’s style of riding. No matter which style you ride and which bit you need, you will have to be very certain that the bit fits in your horse’s mouth properly. You will need to measure your horse’s mouth since every horse is individual and you will need to get the bit to fit comfortably in its mouth. The best way to determine the right way to put a bit in your horse’s mouth is to put a variety of different bridles on him and see which one fits the best. There should be roughly a quarter of an inch on either side of his mouth. You can remove the bridle once you figure out which one fits in his mouth the best and measure the bit. You can ask a tack shop for a bit with that exact measurement. You can also just ask for a five-inch bit, which typically fits the horse’s mouth just fine, unless you have a Percheron or a Miniature horse. No matter whether you are riding English or Western style, the snaffle bit is usually a great choice since it is the most gentle. If your horse has not been hardened by bad riders in its past, the snaffle bit will work out great. Beginning riders will enjoy the snaffle bit as well since the inexperienced rider will typically pull too hard on the bit. The standard English snaffle bit is two metal bars that have been put together to create a bit that will fit comfortably in your horse’s mouth. There should always be a quarter of an inch on either side. The Western snaffle bit, on the other hand, is also called a snaffle curb because it has another piece of metal that juts out vertically from the side of the snaffle itself. If your horse has bad habits or has had bad riders in its past, there are other bit options for you to consider. Do not purchase a different kind of bit unless you have a trainer or professional that recommends them for you because it can do more damage than good and ruin your horse’s mouth. There are standard curb and curb with roller bits for Western riders. The English style riders, on the other hand, have the Pelham and Kimberwick style bits. You might want to look into getting a spare bit to keep your horse’s bit as clean as possible since you will be dealing with dirt and horse saliva. The tack should always be cleaned after you care for your horse, sometimes people forget. For this reason, a spare bit will help while you are cleaning the other bit that he was using. More Articles on Horse Riding Supplies Guide and Review: | 