Argentine Bit

What's your take on them?

I recently have been trying to find a bit for D. We had a argentine laying around not being used...so I tried it out on him and he did great!

Today though, someone told me they're very harsh and I should think about switching to a different bit? I was kind of shocked.

Here's a pic of what I'm using....

It looks pretty harsh cos it looks like it works on the pole and not on the mouth. It is thick or thin?

It's pretty thick, it's not the 1/4, it's the 7/16.

I guess I was just going by how well D was going in it. Guess I need to find another bit...

I'd stick with it if its working! At least for a little while. Remember that any bit can be harsh depends on how you use it. If d will carry it and not resist, if he understands the bit wouldn't it take less action to get him to do what you want? Therefore not be too harsh?

I agree with sticking with the bit. "if it ain't broke, don't fix it"

If D's working well in the bit, then don't change it until D tells you

Yeah, I know a person who has her paint mare in a curb, and too much pressure (which wasn't much) on the bit she tossed her head really crazy. I suggested a snaffle, but the owner girl said snaffles were too harsh. Here's a plus: she didn't know what a belgian was! One horse I rode in a curb, he was fine, but didn't respond well to a snaffle, aka not enough pressure.

If D likes the bit, go with it before shaking things up anymore.

Guess I'll stick with it then!

I know that any piece of tack can be harsh...depending on the hand that is using it. D seems fine with the bit, I was actually impressed on how well he responded.

I don't even know how we ended up with the bit. It had just been sitting there in one of our 'tack storage' boxes, never used...actually still had the price tag on it...Bedford Tack for $21 ...so I opted to try it out.

I was just worried I was using something I shouldn't I guess.

Thanks so much for the replies!

Yay, the argentine! It's actually a very controversially topic..... i've done A LOT of research on it....... many people believe it is too harsh and should be thrown out because it's a junk bit, and very similar to a Tom Thumb. It combines shanks with a jointed mouthpiece and it can confuse the horse. The pressure goes mainly on the bars and pinches the corners of the horses mouth as well as having the nutcracker effect. Some people will not use jointed bits altogether for this reason. A lot of the time a horse will gap at the mouth, bite the bit, toss head, or avoid bit pressure

My trainer however swears by this bit. I've noticed recently that some horses hate it and some horses have no problem at all with it. I'm starting to think that just avoiding it is a safer road, but if it works for you why not stick with it? But it you find out it doesn't work out, i'd recommend a Billy Allen style mouthpiece.

Hope that clears things up a bit..... if not I can find links to the other threads about this....

Bits like the argentine and the tom thumb pelham are def not for the beginner bc it can be a harsh bit in the wrong hands bc it does put a lot of pressure on the horses mouth if used only with the hands. Those type of bits are good for horses that lean a lot but if used correctly work wonderfully, and you should b pushing the horse from behind into the bit and using ur legs to ride ne way so you will not need that much pressure on the bit. I have been riding for 18yrs and training for 14yrs and i've used all kinds of bits and if used correctly they are not harsh at all. My tb actually tosses his head and gets mad if I put him in a snaffe instead of a tom-thumb pelham. But like I said earlier, is def not meant for a beginner rider or for someone that has bouncy hands, that can cause a lot more damage with the horse than to use a harsher bit.