Can we talk about bits?

[Faster horses]

I like that first bit, katrina. I like the mouthpiece a lot.

That bosal seems to be a bit of an 'easy stop' with that piece of board
on the back. I'm curious as to why it is set up that way.

And I didn't know for the longest time, that floppy or soft bosals
are better for young horses.

This is fun!! I hope we get to see more bits.

[katrina]

I have my brother's old stud turned gelding. And the first bit is for him.. He needs just a little more than say a regular snaffle. I ride mostly with my feet and weight so lots of times what I have for a bridle really is only for emergencys or if a horse gets out of position and I need more of a correction... Say like sorting or cutting out of postioning sometimes needs to be corrected quicker than with just a que...

The bosel I have rode for years colts with.. The board again is for emergencys... I don't know how many times going down a sandhill I've been tried... Just gives me a little more leverage... Horses seem to get real lazy with me and sometimes I need just alittle reminder that's all..

[WyomingRancher]

Here are two more for you. This is a fun topic . Bits are something I'd like to learn more about, so keep the narrations coming!

[katrina]

Nice ones wyo rancher... I really like the first one. Where did you get it and is it stamped with a maker?
And the second one is that a roller??
Tell us why you like them... This is soo much fun. I love bits...

[Faster horses]

Like the first bit a lot, WR. Thanks.

]The second bit doesn't appear to have much tongue relief.
Do your horses like that?
Do you know what that bit is called?
Interesting...

[WyomingRancher]

The first bit has a BB stamped on it. I kinda "borrowed" it from my brother several years ago . I do like it.

The second bit has a Billy Allen mouthpiece. It was recommended as a good transition bit, but I like how my horse works in it, and he doesn't seem worried with it like he does a curb. I'll probably just keep him in it. That is a roller over the middle joint which limits movement, but it does have a little flex.

[Faster horses]

Oh, I really like a Billy Allen...we used to call them Billy Allen
Reining bits and you're right, horses like them. They kind of lay
on their tongue, but have a bit of a curve to them.
Your shanks and mouthpiece look a bit differernt than what I"m
used to, but now I can see the resemblance.
Kewl!

[WyomingRancher]

It would probably help if you had a better pic to look at . Try this view.

[Faster horses]

It's still different, but it's nice.
I don't have one for you to compare with either.

But try this! I just googled Billy Allen Reining bits and found
a picture of one. This one has an 8" shank it looks like and
the one I knew about was 5". I just have a hard time with a long-
shanked bit.

https://www.bluegrasshorsesupply.com/shop/catalog/billy_allen_reining_bit-295.html

Don't you just love those harness leather reins?
After you use them, the other reins just feel terrible. (anyway
in my opinion)...


WOW! I just found an interesting site where a fellow talks about bits.

http://www.horsetrainingvideos.com/bittinginfo.htm

[WyomingRancher]

My friend who's been helping me with my horses recommended the bit, but I see what you mean . And yep, I like the feel of nice reins too.

I meant to ask you on the saddle thread what you meant by dry spots being caused by how the saddle strings were pulled through. I've got a horse that I've taken to a few saddle makers, and the consensus is to make a custom saddle for him... which ISN'T happening, even if I had the money. The saddle I use looks like it fits him pretty good, but I'm still getting spots. He probably is just going to have to live with it, but I'm interested in what you meant.

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

Gag bits can be used to give the rider lift and sharpness, which makes it easier to progress the horse into side-passing and reverse-arc maneuvers. It's good for teaching a colt to be collected and helps to effectively communicate neck and body flexion. Lil Lilly doesn't make runs using these gag bits. She does slow work with them. Basically you have no whoa with em LOL But they are a good tool to have in your tool chest.

Also, the more breaks you have in a bit, the more bend you get in your horse. Some horses have too much bend with, say the chain mouths. Other's that's what they need to bend. It all depends on how the horse is working for her.

Also...she doesn't practice in the same bit she competes in. It's like...when that bit goes in their mouth...they know it's time to work.

[Faster horses]

The dry spots, WR...we kept getting them with this saddle, so
we took it to a saddle maker and he showed us where the saddle
strings go through under the sheepskin lining...it's not smooth
there...and the pressure creates dry spots. And if you have dry spots, you'll soon have
saddle marks because the hair grows in white. It's just something
that can happen with mass production saddles. Once it was shown
to us we could feel it, but before that, we just couldn't figure out
what the problem was.

It's a cardinal sin on this place to put white marks on a horses back.
So, that saddle gets used for first saddlings, first rides, short rides
and that's about it. It's old enough that if a colt lays down with it,
it won't hurt anything.