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Is he actually correct or just thinks he knows everything?

2K views 16 replies 7 participants last post by  wyominggrandma 
#1 ·
Okay, sooo I know this person and I went to his house tonight.I actually rode my horse there with her new bit but my on my way my curb strap broke so I was just praying she wasn't going to do anything funky. Anyways, we made it there( he lives really close to where I board) and he told me I put the bit in wrong :? and said i needed a curb strap and I showed him what happened so he made me one out of twine untill I got back to the stable.

He said this bit was used for walking horses and my horse has the wrong bit for her. Well she does really well in the bit except she with yank her head down to eat grass and it's hard to pull her head up...that's the only thing and I just have to watch her closely to make sure i don't let her try to do that.

Here is the bit...well same kind..this is one i found of the internet.
I put it in correct, I know I did or else my horse would give me fits and my friend who knows a lot about horses would have told me. The shanks are pointed down and I didn't flip it around...anyways, so my horse and I do mostly western but are learning english...DOES IT REALLY matter what bit I want to use? I also have a full cheek snaffle but haven't tried that one out.

 
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#3 ·
That is a straight metal pelham; an English bit but not necessarily or specifically a walking horse bit. Yes, it is typically ridden with two sets of reins. The cheekpieces of your bridle attach to the top most ring, the same one with the hooks for the curb chain. Hooks go behind the cheekpieces. Can be used with a lip strap or leather or rubber in place of the curb chain. Snaffle rein goes on the largest ring, curb rein goes on the ring at the bottom of the shank.

Pretty difficult to set up correctly if you've never used one.

Also, a fairly harsh bit, especially with a curb chain, and not usually a Western bit.
 
#4 ·
okay thank you. This does sound difficult but I didn't think it had to be for a walking horse. I only used a single loop rein for her as I do not like any type of split reins. However I do like double reins for english :)

I don't use curb chains...I use just a basic leather curb strap. I have backups.
I am trying to find a good bit for my horse. I want to ride her english and western and not sure what kind of bit to use...she does NOT respond in an o ring, dee ring. How mild is a full cheek snaffle?

For western she rides in a medium port curb bit.
 
#6 ·
alright, thank you.

I got this bit for free from a friend. So she might want it back since it is too advance for me. I didn't know you had to use double reins for this bit. I am looking for a nice snaffle that will suit my horse and so far not luck...this one she responded to but again,too advance.
 
#7 ·

This is what the bit looks like when used correctly. I wasn't sure if you understood what I meant by two sets of reins because of your reference to split reins. In the photo on the left, they will actually be 4 reins in the rider's hands.

I am not a fan of the converter device on the right that gives you two reins; it robs the bit of the flexibility that makes it useful and essentially turns it into a straight curb bit.

A full cheek snaffle can range from very mild to very harsh, depending on the mouthpiece. I don't know what training or control problems you're having with your horse, but I suspect this bit is not the solution, even short term.

I hope you can work with an instructor or trainer and get some assistance with gaining better control and finding an appropriate bit.
 
#9 ·
.I actually rode my horse there with her new bit but my on my way my curb strap broke so I was just praying she wasn't going to do anything funky.
I would be most concerned when somerone said their curb strap broke.

This is a curb bit which means it exerts a lot of power and NEVER should enough pressure be applied for either the rein or strap to break (unless it was in such poor repair the it was falling apart).



Anyways, we made it there( he lives really close to where I board) and he told me I put the bit in wrong :? and said i needed a curb strap and I showed him what happened so he made me one out of twine untill I got back to the stable.
For the bit to work PROPERLY yes a strap or chain is used and how it is fitted is most important. Either too loose (so it is ineffective) or too tight (so it pinches and applies constant pressure) are both wrong.

He said this bit was used for walking horses and my horse has the wrong bit for her. Well she does really well in the bit except she with yank her head down to eat grass and it's hard to pull her head up...that's the only thing and I just have to watch her closely to make sure i don't let her try to do that.
Other than the shanks on this bit are very long and places this bit on the very harsh level it is a bit used over a multitude of disciplines.

I also can see why the strap broke if you are constantly yanking...a serious no no in a curb bit. Putting a harsh bit to correct a training problem is not the way to go.

DOES IT REALLY matter what bit I want to use?
Yes because some disciplines won't allow this bit.
 
#11 ·
I would be most concerned when somerone said their curb strap broke.

This is a curb bit which means it exerts a lot of power and NEVER should enough pressure be applied for either the rein or strap to break (unless it was in such poor repair the it was falling apart).



QUOTE]


The curb strap was old and I shouldn't have used it(it was a bit brittle and it was an idiotic decision). I should have used my newer one. I hold the reins loosely to where it is comfortable. I do not yank at her mouth. I do have a trainer that I take lessons from. I love my trainer,she is absolutely awesome but I going to have to find a new trainer that is closer by because of the cost of gas to get to and from my trainer's house. There is a girl who trains at my stable. She rides really well and said she would help me out so I think I will take up the offer.



I DO APPERCIATE everyone's advice and answers because I did not know how harsh this bit was....my horse does need to be retained in a snaffle but the guy who I got the horse from gave me a curb bit( he got it on clearance and I found out why once the vet came out...it was bent!). My friend has a bit that I am interested in using..it's a training bit that she has for her mustang..if used correctly it is not harsh..i forgot the name of it but I am basically just wanting a bit my horse WILL respond to. She does leg cues and neck reins but I prefer to do double handed.
 
#10 ·
She probably will need to relearn how to go on a snaffle bit. If you have been riding her in the curb for a while, shes probably used to your cues in this bit (or others like it).
 
#12 ·
I am a curb bit user. In the right hands, in my opinion, they are just as gentle as any bit out there. My horse, like yours, goes on mostly leg cues. I ride with a very very loose rein and am not a yanker. Nico came to me, like your horse, with a curb bit. I tried everything under the sun on him and we are back to the curb. I would like to take the time to retrain him on a snaffle but he is a western riding horse and plain snaffles are only for the youngsters. Try other bits, for sure. I like this one for a transition bit. It still works like a curb, with a curb chain and with using poll pressure. I find it less harsh than a straight curb. The copper helps soften them up a bit too. Milepost Tom Thumb Horse Bit with Copper & Stainless Mouth - 4007452 | Tractor Supply Company
 
#13 ·
I am a curb bit user. In the right hands, in my opinion, they are just as gentle as any bit out there. My horse, like yours, goes on mostly leg cues. I ride with a very very loose rein and am not a yanker. Nico came to me, like your horse, with a curb bit. I tried everything under the sun on him and we are back to the curb. I would like to take the time to retrain him on a snaffle but he is a western riding horse and plain snaffles are only for the youngsters. Try other bits, for sure. I like this one for a transition bit. It still works like a curb, with a curb chain and with using poll pressure. I find it less harsh than a straight curb. The copper helps soften them up a bit too. Milepost Tom Thumb Horse Bit with Copper & Stainless Mouth - 4007452 | Tractor Supply Company

Thank You!
I think I will go and purchace it. It might be what I am looking for.
I do like my curb bits. I use very light pressure with her and a touch of the rein she repsonds most of the time..sometimes I use a little more pressure but only when needed.

Curb bits can be just as gentle as you said. But a snaffle can also be harsh if used with extreme force and cause lip sores but that will happen with all bits.
 
#14 ·
But if you're doing English, you'll want a bit you can use with contact. (Of course, I use contact with a curb because of my walkers, but that's neither here nor there)

Experiment with different metals. Copper, sweet iron, plain.. rollers and without rollers.. thinner and thicker.. if your horse HAS to use a curb, there's a fatal flaw in her training.
 
#16 ·
But if you're doing English, you'll want a bit you can use with contact. (Of course, I use contact with a curb because of my walkers, but that's neither here nor there)

Experiment with different metals. Copper, sweet iron, plain.. rollers and without rollers.. thinner and thicker.. if your horse HAS to use a curb, there's a fatal flaw in her training.


My horse DOESN'T have to have a curb bit but that is what she is used to. I plan on trying out different snaffles. I like the sweet iron.
 
#15 ·
One of the main things that makes that bit so harsh is the straight mouth. Unless a horse has been properly prepared and trained to accept that type of mouth and taught to carry the bit themselves, then they don't do well in a bit of this type. One of the side effects of putting pressure on this bit is it will often cause the horse to gape it's mouth in an attempt to relieve the pressure on it's tongue. I would personally go back to the snaffle and not use any other bit until she is exactly like you want in the snaffle first. If she isn't listening, then it is a training problem and a stronger bit won't solve it.
 
#17 ·
My mare was trained when I bought her to use a low port swivel shank bit. She works really really well in it, stops, side passes, gives to both sides, etc. But, when I am just riding her on the trails or tuning her up in the arena, I use a ring snaffle which helps when she is being lazy and needs a bit more "give".
I have also used an argentine snaffle, which is very mild.
 
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