English Bits

Whats a nice english stater bit? And where can I buy one?

Egg butt snaffles are known as "baby bits". Might be a good start...you can find one at doversaddlery.com.

If anyone has any other suggestions, that's be great, because I know I might be off...

I've heard the loose ring snaffles are good too, but I'm not positive so don't take my word on it.

Single-jointed eggbut and loose ring snaffles are your basic bits. A D-ring is popular in the US too. You should only need to move onto anything 'harsher' if there is a specific reason and many horses will need an adaption to these bits to make them even milder in order to be happy.

For starting a young horse, a very nice mild bit is good. Usually a french link (three-piece mouthpiece) snaffle - make sure you know what you are buying and it's NOT a Dr. Bristol mouthpiece!
A full-cheek (eggbut with long bars) or fulmer (loosering version) snaffle is probably the best style of snaffle to go for with a youngster. Whether you choose a fixed or loose ring depends on the horse, but many youngsters prefer an eggbut as the bit is more stable in their mouths. Either of these bits are nice for establishing bend and cannot slide through a horse's mouth.
An alternative to acheive the same function is a hanging snaffle (also called a baucher bit). Contrary to its appearance it does not apply poll pressure.

There are tons of variations, including different materials for the mouthpiece to make it more appealing. There is also something called a 'breaking bit' which is used to gets a horse used to having something in its mouth, but it's not really designed for riding in.

This site has a brilliant section on bits:
http://www.sustainabledressage.net/tack/bridle.php

Eggbutts are good starters. :) I used them when I first started out.

I use this one (eggbutt french link)

http://www.doversaddlery.com/product...cd2=1218453040

It's considered to be one of the mildest ones.

The three jonted one with round mouthpeace in the middle is milder than french link. So when you buy a three jointed bit, be obs on this:

Mildest: http://ridebutikken.no/catalog/image...%20tredelt.jpg

Stronger: http://www.tackroominc.com/images/JP...renchLink.jpeg

Strongest: http://www.horsetackinternational.co...38-eggbutt.jpg

Most young horses go well in loose ring or egg butt snaffles that have a bean or french link in the middle, making it a double jointed bit. These types of bits lay flat in the horse's mouth, making communication clearer and distributing pressure evenly on the tongue and bars. Single joint snaffles can concentrate too much pressure on the bars of the mouth, which some horses don't like.

The bean is actually "stronger" than the french link because it concentrates more pressure on the tongue. The french link lays flatter and is more "passive" in the mouth. Put both on your leg and pull down to test this theory yourself. I like both though, it just depends on which one the horse likes best.

I always state in a double jointed snaffle, then move on to something else if needed.

Excuse my ignorance, but what is the difference between the three types of french-links? What makes them milder/stronger?

I always start my greenies in a medium wieght hollow loose ring snaffle. It is really soft on their mouths and forgiving. You can pretty much get them anywhere. Maybe order it online, or at a local tack store.