Can we talk about bits?

[Faster horses]

I think different bits are interesting. Here are a couple that
we like.

This is a broken mouthpiece, and I really like the way the
shanks curves back away from the horses mouth. Plus, I think
it's pretty:



Then this one I saw on a horse at a Mormon rodeo. I asked the
guy about it and he said he made it. So I asked him to make one for
us and he only charged $20. This bit is so comfortable that a lot
of horses really like it. It is made with 'sweet iron'.



And I doubt not many cowboys/ropers have seen this bit.
It's an English bit called a "Kimberwick." Mr. FH has modified
it so that harness reins can be used on it. It's a great bit for a young
horse as the shanks can pull straight out to the side if you need to
help start a young horses nose. It has a little curb action so
that helps the transistion from snaffle to curb bit.
This bit is very mild.




We have others of course, but these were some out of the ordinary.
Ok, lets see your bits!!!

[HAY MAKER]

Here are a few bits,couple in there are handmade by Texas bit maker,caint remember his name but they are marked "Roy" I got some fancy bits somewhere if I can find em I will take a pic and post it.




good luck

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

LOL FH....should I post all the pictures of bits that I took not long ago when we were discussin bits???

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

Ok...I found them, might as well....

[katrina]

For me I find that most bits are way to severe... Finding a good bit is like finding a needle in a haystack...
fh I like your bits.. I think I could ride your horses...

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

...the bits are only as severe as the hands holdin the reins are.

[RobinFarmandRanch]

[katrina]

[Faster horses]

double post, don't know how that happened

[Faster horses]

gee. three times...
Sorry!

[Faster horses]

[quote="Faster horses"]Yes, I agree to a point.

A long shanked bit is more severe...more
leverage...and not everyone has soft hands. Took me a long time to learn what
'soft hands' really are. What I learned is how fast you release pressure.
Pat Parelli says "humans hands open slowly and close quickly"...just the
opposite of what is neededl They need to open quickly and close slowly.

Another thing that is important to look for is the 'purchase'...the distance
between the mouthpiece and where the headstall hooks on to the bit.
That's one reason I think that our $20 bit is liked by a lot of horses...
it has a long purchase. Short distance in that area makes a bit prone
to pinch.

I like Lily's 'Little Wonder Bit". I think they are good for a lot of horses.
JL seems to use a lot of sliding gags, and I don't know much about them, but I do know those can be severe or not,
depending on the person using them, as she said.
Our daughter barrel raced and she had a grandson of Leo who
had a lot of run. She tried a Lynn McKenzie combination and it was too
much bit for him.

I'm like katrina, I see quite a few horses that are over-bitted.
Thanks for your nice comment, katrina. You can sure tell alot about
what's going on with horses by looking in their tack room.

Solid bits are more severe than broken bits. We have a friend
that's an excellent horsman and he maintains that bits need to be
broken somewhere. In the mouthpiece or on the shank; but somewhere.

FWIW[/quote][/quote]

[katrina]

Here are a couple I have used alot... I have a tom thumb I use, but it's in the trailer...