Where to start?! Getting horses ready for a healthy season of competition and fun can be overwhelming at times. Regardless, every year, you should really take a close look at the bits you're using, and how they fit! It can make or break your riding season!

Horses can continue to develop and grow up to 8 years old depending upon breed. Even if they're not growing... just like humans; teeth may realign, or move; your horse may have a shallow palate or a large tongue. All these occurrences and others will cause changes in a horses' mouth. Regardless of how small the change; you want the best most comfortable fitting bit, and the one that communicates best. Also, prior to purchasing a bit, you also need to measure for length and know where the specific bit that you're purchasing should stop at. Did you know that under normal conditions, horses DO NOT breath through their mouths? They are known as 'obligate nasal breathers'. And the soft palate in the horses' mouth contributes to that inability to breath through the mouth. So consider a harsh bit and a tight cavesson restricting the nasal cavity... and then asking the horses to perform. The horse is being restricted of oxygen while being asked to work! If I haven't said it already... its more complicated than you think! So do your best for your best friend! This blog today should be considered only as a small introduction to bits. The knowledge you should develop for your horses' benefit would take up far too many pages today! Use this as a primer to research more!

First I am going to assume for the sake of this discussion that your horses is beyond training level and has been working for at least a year since being developed for riding. If you're in an area where there is a bit fitter, and you knowledge level is limited, it may be a good idea to visit them in order to learn about your horses' mouth and what types of bits may be best for your horse.

Of course the first issue after assessing the horses' mouth is: what discipline you're riding? This affects the type of bit. If you're competing; you may be restricted by regulations to the type of bit used due to breed, discipline or style of riding.

I'll use our warmblood for an example. She is a primarily a jumping horse, who is very well balanced. She has an average amount of room between the tongue and soft palate. Her tongue doesn't bulge out when at rest, so her tongue is not thicker than normal. (below is an example of a thick tongue at rest)

We routinely check our horses (at rest is best) and look for ulcers, and we open the mouth to be sure the tongue looks healthy. She's a great horse (opinionated just like any mare). She's long and tall so collecting is not her favorite thing. Although she's never needed a harsh bit, she will completely ignore or fight requests to collect if in a snaffle. She also likes to keep busy with her mouth.

A few other things about bits. They're metal. Many beginners will go purchase a cheap bit from a farm store. Buyer beware! Nickel plated bits are cheap, but can flake off and be digested, leaving a harsh metal underneath which will cut the tongue, lips and mouth. there are properly even worse ones out there, and the metals used may be toxic, and sharp. The best bet is a stainless steel. From there you get into how its made, balanced, weighted... all these issues will affect how your horse responds to the bit. For my younger horses I am more often starting them out with high tech plastics, that are often apple scented. It can at times help the horse learn to accept the bit and relax. There are bits with copper lozenges which helps a horse salivate. The importance of salivating, is that the jaw then relaxes and allows for communication. If a horse has a tense jaw, they will not communicate well with the rider through the bit. Remember: the bit is NOT for control. Its for communication. So get it right!

So after some trial and error (and understand that we have already measured her mouth)we settled on a Neue Schule Turtle Top Jumper Pelham. These are expensive bits, but you can be sure of the top quality! Since they are so expensive, the company offers a trail bit prior to purchasing. She also responds well to how the bit lays in the mouth, under rein contact. Rather than being a "nutcracker" the bit has an engineered axis that assures when the rein is applied it will lay back in the mouth and does not pinch the tongue. Laying along the entire tongue allows for more communication, and reduced pressure points. She responds very well to a VERY soft hand and doesn't block with this bit, and it creates great communication between the horse and rider.

This very brief blog today is only meant as an introduction to the volumes of information useful in choosing the best bit. Research and ask questions, find a bit fitter if you can, and you'll see the benefit when riding. Until next time! Happy Riding!