Bit Information (Curb and Western type bits and hackamores)

Ahahaha, Poor Natisha(spelled it right this time).. Yes, of course it's your fault because it can't be mine. :)

Ok, I concede.

Just kidding, it takes more than that to bring me down

I'll dance to that.

This may come in handy... thank you smrobs :)

Have a bit question. Unsure where to put it, here, on a new post. So here is the link to my post Bit help!!

I know this post is older but I thought this would be the best place to get some advice on a bit/hack for a direct reining soft mouthed horse. He's a bit on the green side (as am I ) but well behaved. Thanks!

For direct reining, any smooth snaffle is good for a greeny and a sidepull is a good bitless alternative.

^^Exactly. If a horse doesn't know how to neck rein, then they should be in something designed for direct rein riding like a simple snaffle (d-ring, full cheek, loose ring) or a sidepull type headstall. Once they have the training in place to be really responsive to neck reining and are giving to pressure from any direction, then they are ready to move up to a curb type bit.

Thanks guys! Appreciate all the suggestions. I fear that a bitless bridle at this point might not give me enough control... (although it's my future goal) He's not fiesty, but I am worried about control in certian situations. Opinions?

Well, it isn't the thing you have on his head that gives you control, it's the training that he gets. Any horse, given the wrong training, can run through just about any bit (regardless of how strong or cruel the bit is) if they take a mind to and almost any horse, given the right training, can be ridden with nothing more than the string from a feed bag.

If you take the time and have the knowledge to get the training right, and keep it right, then you shouldn't have a problem with using whatever you wish.