Bit Information (Curb and Western type bits and hackamores)

Great, I am actually going to be ordering from State Line very soon as I need to get some holiday gifts....I think I will be adding a bit to that order.

Great job smrobs!!!

I just started using a hackamore on my Tb and I love it, before when we were in the jumping ring he would pull me around,take off , rush jumps now I have alot more control and he seems to like it alot better.
He had a mouth injury im sure in the past because he was always mouth shy and we tried different bits and none seemed to please him.

Oh My Gosh, this was the easiest to read explanation of bits I've ever read (ok so I haven't read a lot, but mostly got to confused to continue reading). I applaud and thank you for making this thread.
Now for a question, I am using a copper barrel (Billy Allen) bit almost identical to the one you posted on my new Morgan gelding. He has not been ridden much in the past year but is very quick to re-learning. Anyway, When I first got him they had a chin strap on him (all leather) that was awfully tight, he was do a small rear and throw his head straight up when I would pull back or tried to back him. We loosened it one hole and seems to help, however, backing he just refuses to do. He still is tossing his head if I use to much pressure on him. I was thinking of switching bits (also going to have teeth done at the begining of the year as I'm not sure when they've been done). Any suggestions?
Thanks again, this was awesome.

Yea you don't want the chin strap to tight, you should be able to fit 1 or 2 fingers in the space.
What are you doing for riding??
When I rode a western mare I just used a curb bit with a chin strap
And when I got her to back up I would have my reins loose then slowly squeeze her and pull back on the reins gently. She tossed her head a little at first but then she got it and put her head down and backed up.

Yeah, that is what we said about the curb strap too. The BO wanted to put it back where he had it and I said no leave it he was throwing his head back and acting crazy, the BO said oh I just hit him in the head with the reins UGH. Love my new BO's they are so nice but he's pretty cowboyish.
Mostly just doing trails, its gotten so cold here, no arena just the pasture to ride in and deer hunting so not doing a lot of riding right now. Going to look at another boarding facility tomorrow, but she said her arena gets so icy in the winter so I might wait till spring.

Yea im all about communication with horses, if a horse bucks,rears,bites. Ect theres always a reason and doing something else( hitting him on the head) is just going to piss him off . What I would suggest before you hop back on your horse is doing some ground work with the bit in his mouth. Use a small crop or just your hands pull back on the reins gently and push his chest so he learns that if you pull back after a halt you want him to back up. If he continues to throw his head back I would get his teeth looked at,, possibly have wolf teeth under the gums bothering him.

Jenn, do you know if he has been ridden in a curb type for a long time or is it kind of a new thing to him? Have you tried him in a snaffle type that doesn't have the curb or poll pressure? Lots of questions I know but my old standby is that if there is something they are doing that I don't like, I will go back to a simple snaffle and see if that helps. Don't get me wrong, I'm not one of those 'curb bits are evil' type people LOL, but a snaffle can alleviate a lot of issues the horse has and with the proper work, can prepare them for a curb bit better.

I recently sent a mare home that came to me with 30 days of supposed training so I progressed her pretty quickly up into the curb and she reacted much like you describe your gelding. She was either bracy or avoiding the bit and I couldn't get her to do anything I wanted; so I put her back into a snaffle for a little while longer and the second time I moved her up it went smooth as glass.

This is the bit that came with him. I was also told he came from a Boys Military Academy and was used as a parade horse, so I was thinking he is probably used to a curb. My thought was to try one of the snaffles on him to just to see how he'd do in one too. I thought maybe the center piece that turns in the bit was pinching his tongue because if you lay your had over it and move it around it will pinch your fingers.

Love this! Thank you Smrobs!