Bit cheek pieces and shanks

Thank you everyone else - I was sure I didn't mention curb bits being the devil! I agree wholeheartedly with Smrobs post.

A french link and a myler will give you the same effect - Elimination of the nutcracker action. A myler simply gives you different degrees of tongue relief depending on the height of the port. If the horse goes well in a regular french link, then I don't see the need to pay megabucks for a myler. But there are some horses who go better in them - I had one. It will be a case of trying things out and seeing what works - I would start out with a french link as mylers are expensive!

From what you are going to be doing, I don't see any reason a snaffle won't be just fine. :]

Well, you can't tell until you try. My qh didn't like Myler when I tried it (I had to return it back to the store), so I personally use Mikmar lorenzo eggbutt on her. She also didn't like the loose ring snaffle AT ALL (run her crazy). On other hand my paint who is very forward and used to "go on bit" in french link eggbutt stopped doing that after I put her in loose ring. Staring with just loose ring snaffle is the great approach: give it a try, may be you won't even need those very expensive bits if he'll be happy and relaxed.

Rather then get into the reasons for or against the use of a twisted wire mouth piece, I'll comment on the Myler bit. Their comfort bit is really a variation on the Billy Allen mouth. The bit has a minimal amount of back and forth that is limited by the barrel in the center. Due to the barrel in the center, you can pick up on one rein without affecting the whole bit as with a one or two piece mouth. I find it, arguably, to be the mildest of bits.

Myler makes a nicely engineered, well built bit. There are others that are just as nice and a little less pricey. I prefer a bit with sweetiron mouth (referring to the material, not any particular brand).

As for snaffle vs curb - my horse is very push button and works off subtle cues, weight, leg, etc. even on the trail. I use a shanked bit with a Billy Allen mouth for the finesse but he goes fine in a D ring snaffle. I notice the difference but others may not. It depends on your skill and your horse's level of training.

Again, super helpful. I think, like I said, I'll start him in a loose ring and work from there. I wasn't on him long enough before getting him to notice his precise reaction to the twisted wire but he was inverting and running through it if I remember correctly. He also just needs work in relaxing and working off the seat and legs.

As for my experience, I've ridden high level pleasure horses with long shank, high port curbs with no problem. I tend to ride light in the hands and more with seat and legs. I KNOW how to use a curb and its intended use as well as a snaffle- which I always neck reined as well as direct reined in, but much of my experience has been working with trainers in which bit selection- good or bad- was not left up to me. Thats where I'm falling flat and trying to do research on.

Me personally, all my horses either get ridden in a standard loose ring or D-ring snaffle, a rope halter, or a mild curb with short shanks and a solid ported mouth like this.


Most of them go as well in one as the other so it really is a matter of preferance. Usually anything with a smooth mouth will be milder than a rough or twisted mouth. A double joint or barreled snaffle will be milder than a single jointed snaffle. Shorter shanks on a curb with a medium height port are milder than long shanks with either a straight bar mouth or cathedral port.

Bits like the twisted wire and gag bits do have their purpose but 99% of people who use them don't understand the correct time to use them or how to handle them properly and that is one of the reasons why they have such a bad rap. I personally would never use either one but I do know 1 or 2 people who are incredible horsemen that do understand the proper time and horse to use those bits on to get a positive effect with no damage to the mouth.

Show and Tell!

(my favorite bit)

Bit 001.jpg