Just talking a "Bit"

I usually start all my colts in a smooth open ring snaffle. I also tend to keep them in the snaffle for the most part, even as I trail ride them and arena work. I have had a few people tell me that I need to be transitioning them into different bits for out on the trail..... I was like well I will entertain the thought and see how it goes. I am currently bit shopping and looking for a few bits to try out on a few different horses and this will be good cause I work very many horses and need to expand my bit collection a bit ha ha. Just doing some experiments so anyone want to share a bit you like/use? Good general discussing of bits and how they work here would be awesome as well!

I don't understand why you would ever change out of a snaffle for trails if the horse works well in it....I would always stay in a snaffle unless I was showing on a senior horse. Wierd thought...

Who doesn't need to expand their bit collection? I have a half dozen that are lovely to look at, and I never use them.

Why do you need to transition to something else? For more "brakes"?

No I don't believe in using a harsher bit to get more "brakes." I feel as if stopping should be trained and a aid such as a harsher bit isn't a fix for stopping. And sorrel I do agree completely with your idea. I mean why ever transition to anything other than a snaffle?? Is there any reason to? That's what I am wanting to discuss here :P

I don't ride my horses in a snaffle, but I do a lot of ranch type work, reining with only one hand, often while the other is busy doing something else like handling a rope, moving tree limbs away from the path of my head, or possibly carrying a dog/calf on the saddle. For that reason, I need a bit that will deliver the cues with less movement on my part and is designed for one handed riding; hence, the curb bit.

However, I do start all my youngsters in a simple snaffle like you and I honestly believe that the world would have more good horsemen if people couldn't just "bit up" a horse to force submission.

These bits are very similar to the styles that I most commonly use. They are just about as mild as a person can find as far as curb bits go, and I've yet to have a horse that didn't go well in one of them (when introduced to them properly, of course).
Saddles Tack Horse Supplies - ChickSaddlery.com Reiner WIde Port Swivel Shank Bit

254330- Partrade Black Satin Bit

239091- Partrade Cowboy Collection Short Slotted Futurity Bit

796- Reinsman 7" Steel Reiner Billy Allen Mouth

Amazon.com: AT Low Port Loose Cheek Low Port...
I know a lot of folks swear by the Myler type bits, but I just can't justify spending $100+ on a bit when I can get the same basic action for a third the price.

I went through several till I found the one both my horses prefer the best (same mouthpiece, but different rings for both). And I just stick with it - I don't need more experimenting as long as it works for us.

Thanks! Exactly the kind of info I was searchin for here. I will look into some of these for sure. They aren't bad price wise at all.

Some people I know like to use a 'grazing' curb on trails. Which basically means a curb with no joints for grass to get stuck in.
That's not a good enough reason, for me though, and there are a number of other things you can do, if you're going on long trail rides, where you want to stop and let your horse graze. I'm not a fan of letting the horse graze while you're on them, because I believe it teaches them to try to graze other times, when you're wanting to work.
I'll only let a horse graze on trail, if I'm off. So in that case, if the horse is hobble train, you can stick some hobbles on and remove the bridle completely.
Or, they make trail bridles, where you can easily take the bit off and it's basically a halter.