Bitting is a complete minefield as there's so many variations on the market now. It can all get confusing very quickly. So today we will explore the most common types of bits, their action and hows they relate to a horses mouth. This is a generalisation as some bits may have slight variations to others.
The loose ring
Fig. 1 shows an example of a loose ring snaffle. This is a bit where the rings can slide through the holes in the mouthpiece. These bits are the most popular as the loose ring has more movement than a fixed cheek. This can discourage a horse from fixing, leaning on the bit and encourage mouthing as they can play and adjust the bit to where they'd like in the mouth. This allows acceptance as they may place the bit following the shape of the mouth and tongue (jointed mouthpieces).
This can also have the opposite affect and horses may play excessively with a loose ring and it may not be a good choice. Equally horses that are not confident may not like the movement of loose ring as they cannot find stability from its action.
Fig. 1 Loose ring snaffle with single joint.
Snaffles in general encourage lift and carriage and do not have any effect on the poll region.
A loose ring correctly fitted should not pinch or rub the lips and we discussed this before.
The eggbutt
This is a fixed cheek bit seen in Fig. 2. These are designed to fit snug to the lips and so give a more stable contact in the mouth. Some horses prefer this when they don't like the movement of a loose ring.
Fig. 2 Eggbutt snaffle with single joint.
This can be a good choice for a young horse or one lacking in confidence as they can be reassured by the riders aids.
The filet baucher (hanging cheek)
This bit has been much debated as to if there is poll pressure or not with this bit. As you can see in Fig. 3 the cheek slot is positioned above the rein ring. When the bit is put into use at 45° angle, the bit lifts in the horses mouth and suspends above the bars and tongue.
Fig. 3 Hanging cheek snaffle with single joint.
These bits are excellent for sensitive and fussy mouths. It is great for horses that don't like the unstable nature of a loose ring and horses that have trouble rounding the neck into the contact as it does encourage the horse into a more rounded outline. This bit isn't recommended for horses that tend to over bend as it may cause them to further go beyond the vertical.
The most recent research has shown that this bit doesn't give any poll pressure and due to the lift action cheek pieces will bow out sideways and no poll pressure is applied.
The full cheek and fulmer
These again are fixed cheek bits and have bars that extend above and below the mouthpiece. A full cheek can be seen in Fig. 4. Not to be confused with the Fulmer Fig. 5. A fulmer and full cheek are essentially the same bit but the loose rings of the fulmer allows for movement and aids the same as a loose ring with the added benifit of the cheek for steering.
Fig. 4 Full cheek snaffle with single joint.
Fig. 5 Fulmer snaffle with single joint.
Provinding the bit is the correct size, these bits are a great aid for steering. The gentle pressure of the rein aid will apply pressure to the opposing cheek, telling the horse to go that way. This is a great way for a youngster to learn how to recognise rein aids. The large cheeks will also prevent the bit from pulling through the mouth as snaffle rings can do.
If this bit is too large, as will any bit which is too large, it will slide though the mouth causing rubbing to the bars and tongue.
If you choose to use a fulmer you should use fulmer loops attached to the cheekpiece of the bridle. This bit has no self support and will tip forward so the loops just add some support. These are not needed for a full cheek.
The D-ring
The D-ring bit seen in Fig. 6 is a great all around bit, its name given by the larger D shaped rings. The fixed cheek will create a stable contact in the mouth, giving confidence to nervous or young horses. It will also help compensate for an unstable rider contact and the larger rings will stop the bit from being pulled through the mouth owing itself well to novice riders. The flat nature of the cheek also acts in a similar way to the full cheek giving a more precise directional rein aid.
Fig. 6 D-ring snaffle with single joint.
The bevel / wilkie / cartwheel
This category is a wide one given to those bits that are snaffles with a mild gag action. Generally these bits are loose ring bits that have additional attachments to the ring in order to fix the cheek piece and/or rein in a single place so that the ring doesnt spin through like a loose ring snaffle.
These bits can be classed as lever bits, as the rein is fixed below the line of contact, however they are much milder in effect than gags.
The bevel or loop ring bit can be seen in Fig. 7 and the "wilkie" snaffle (created by Fylde Saddlery) in Fig. 8. These bits offer mild leverage and a little more control than any of the snaffles outlined above. They have a lever action and so will bring the head down promoting an outline and head carriage without bringing the horses head too low and beyond the vertical.
Fig. 7 Loop ring or Bevel bit.
Fig. 8 Fylde Wilkie Bit.
These bits have been popularised by the showing community as they are very effective for horses and ponies that have a high head carraige and "poke their nose" in the air. Riders that are perhaps a little more novice and cannot yet work the horse into a suitable outline may find these bits particually effective. These bits will encourage flexion and lowering of the head with a mild action.
These bits preserve the directional aids given by the rider compared to bits with more leverage outlined below.
The cartwheel, swivel or sliding cheek bits are another level of control to the bevel. These bits commonly have the same inside ring structure of a bevel with the change in postion of the mouthpiece from the main ring, to a bar connecting the rein and cheek slots, Fig. 9.
Fig. 9 Cartwheel bit with french link.
This bit again gives more control over the horse with a milder action to that of a gag. The bar the mouthpiece slides on allows the bit to sit at a more tilted angle and the horse can position it where it finds it more comfortable. These bits have been more popular with showjumpers and event riders as they are very useful with turning aids as the larger rings at the front act as a steering aid much like the full cheek and D-ring above.
This bit has a mild gag action as the mouthpiece can slide upwards and the main action of this bit is a lowering of the head from poll pressure given from the fixed position of the cheek and reins. This like the bevel bit above promote a rounding of the neck offering more control. You can choose to place the rein on the main part of the ring offering a lesser gag action or within the rein loop for more control and rounding and gag action.
The gag
This category can be subdivided into 2- / 3-ring gags, american gags, cheltenham and running gags. Each of these bits has increasing poll pressure and level of control.
2, 2.5 and 3 ring gags all work on a similar principle, theres a ring above the mouthpiece ring for the cheek piece and either half, 1 or 2 rings for the reins below the mouthpiece. Fig. 10 shows the Neue Schule Universal which is classed as a 2.5 ring gag. Fig. 11 shows a 2/3 ring gag (people count them differently and so can be very confusing) and Fig. 12 shows a dutch gag, also known as a bubble gag or pessoa gag.
Fig. 10 Neue Schule Universal, similar gags with this ring structure are known as 2 and a half or 2.5 ring gags.
Fig. 11 these are known by a few names, most usually 2 or 3 ring gags. This has a single jointed mouthpiece.
Fig. 12 this bit is known by a few names dutch gag, bubble bit, pessoa gag are a few. This one has a lozenge mouthpiece.
As with all these bits the rein can be attached to the same ring as the mouthpiece for a small amount of poll pressure. Moving the rein down rings increases the poll pressure as the rein is moved further below the line of contact and increasing tension is applied to the cheekpieces of the bridle.
Each of these bits also have a loose ring action which lifts the head as the ring slides around and in effect the mouthpiece moves upwards. This is a minor part of the bit as is primarily brings the head down.
These bit may cause the horse to bear down onto the bit, lean and try to avoid the poll and mouth pressure and can frequently lead to horses heads going beyond the vertical.
They are popular bits for faster work to increase control. They can also be fitted with a curb strap which does not need to sit in the chin groove but does apply jaw pressure. This will apply before the bit reaches a 45° angle and so can limit the amount of poll pressure applied and ease pressure on the poll.
American gags are a similar principle to the above gags however the inly option for the rein is at the bottom of a curved extended shank Fig. 13. The cheek position is significantly higher than the mouthpiece and so this bit has a large amount of poll pressure when contact is taken up.
Fig. 13 American gag with single joint.
English gags, running gags, Cheltenham and balding gags all look like snaffles, however, the rings of the bit usually have two opposing holes which allow a leather or rope cheek to run through Fig. 14 and Fig. 15. This cheek replaces the cheekpiece of the bridle.
Fig. 14 Cheltenham gag with single joint. This one has eggbutt style sides.
Fig. 15 Beris balding gag with plastic posted mouthpiece. This one has loose ring sides.
These bits were made popular by hunters and should be used with two reins. One rein to be attached on the "snaffle" ring and the other to the ring at the end of the running cheek. This allows the bit to be used as a snaffle until the gag action is required where the mouthpiece slides upwards and the cheeks create tension on the bridle and pull down on the poll. This has a crushing effect as the bit slides upwards and the head is forced downwards. The snaffle mouth has a lifting effect on the lips and side of the mouth and can be very affective with horses that lean on the bit and are heavy in the hand.
The elevator / Neue Schule Jumper
These bits are similar looking to american gags, Fig. 16, they can be used with 1 rein or two. If a single rein is attached to the snaffle ring will give a small amount of poll pressure compared to a single rein attached to the bottom ring. This will give the most amount of gag action. Using two reins will enable the rider to use the bit as needed, and alternate between the two settings.
Fig. 16 Neue Schule Jumper bit with lozenge mouthpiece.
A curb strap can be fitted to the cheeks ring which will add jaw pressure and reduce the poll pressure needed for control. This bit is very good for getting the horse to sit on its hocks which is required for jumping and faster work. Unlike gags they have a fixed mouthpiece and they do not slide on the cheeks.
Tom Thumb Bits
The Tom Thumb is a cross between an american gag and an elevator bit. They are much smaller in size and the mouthpiece slides around the ring, Fig. 17.
Fig. 17 Tom Thumb bit with sweet iron mouth and copper rollers.
These bits offer a lifting effect in front and allows the horse to sit back on the hocks and the mild poll pressure will bring the head down and discourage leaning on the bit. They can be used with 1 rein or 2 increasing its effectiveness and precision.
The butterfly flip / kimblewick
The butterfly flip bit (also known as a kimblewick) is a more advanced version of the traditional kimblewick bit.
The traditional kimblewick has D shaped sides and can be classed as a curb bit as it often has a curb chain fitted which sits in the chin groove Fig. 18. The curb action on this bit is minimal as it has short shanks and it has minumal lever action. A slotted, Uxeter, kimblewick offers more rein placement options than a standard kimblewick and can provide a little more leverage with a fixed rein option. Unslotted kimblewicks are reguarded similar to a hanging cheek with a curb with more control.
Fig. 18 Uxeter Kimblewick with the rein slots.
The butterfly flip bit, Fig. 19, (also called a kimblewick or RNF bit), is a hanging D-ring bit often fitted with a curb strap rather than a curb chain. Curb straps sit higher on the back of the jaw giving jaw pressure rather than pressure on the chin groove.
This bit has both direct and indirect pressure depending where the rein is positioned. If the rein is attached as a snaffle there is more direct pressure on the mouth. As the reins are moved down the ring and fixed by the stops more leverage is applied, tilting the bit and applying both mouth and poll pressure.
Fig. 19 Beris Butterfly Flip bit with ported mouthpiece.
The pelham
The pelham bit is a combination of a double bit, curb and bradoon, into one bit and should be ridden with two reins. Many people have successfully used the pelham with one rein or pelham roundings which connect the snaffle ring to the lower ring by those who struggle to use two reins.
Fig. 20 a pelham bit with ported mouth.
The pelham, Fig. 20, applies poll pressure, direct mouth pressure and the curb chain offers pressure to the chin groove. The bit works on leverage applying pressure to the poll, using a double rein can allow you to alternate between lesser and more pressure as required. Pelham roundings are fitted to the two rein rings and will completely deaden the action of the bit and reduce it to just direct mouth pressure similar to that of a snaffle.
These bits can be very tricky to use and not many horses will need a pelham bit. It is considered a harsh bit and should be used only in extreme circumstances.
The double bit
The double bit is just that two bits used simaltaneously Fig. 21. This requires an extra head slip attached to the bridle, or a second cheekpiece on each side of the bridle, in order to attach the weymouth.
Fig. 21 Double bridle bits.
The bradoon generally has smaller rings than a standard snaffle but can be a loose ring or eggbutt and should be fitted on top of the weymouth bit. The curb, weymouth, bit is to be a straight bar and can be fixed or sliding shanked. The weymouth applies poll pressure and chin pressure through the fitting of a curb chain. The fixed cheek weymouth is fitted snugly to the lips, generally with an eggbutt bradoon. Sliding cheek weymouths and loose ring bradoons should be fitted with a gap between the hole and the lips to avoid pinching. The weymouth should be 1/2" smaller than the jointed bradoon bit.
Doubles are usually used in the show ring or in higher level dressage as it creates a highler level of control and connection between horse and rider, required for more advanced movements required in dressage. These bits give the ultimate control over a horse as you can vary your rider aids to ask precicely what you need and communicate effectively with your horse. Double reins should always be used.
The double bit may be too much at first in a horses mouth and can be tricky to fit in full mouths.