What is your favourite bit and why?

Hey all!

I have realized that I am very much biased towards riding horses in snaffle bits. I firmly believe most horses can and should be ridden in one and find them to be effective and useful for all types of training and disciplines. I especially like the eggbut snaffle for older horses and full cheek snaffle for younger horses. Even if a horse is hard mouthed I would rather school them in snaffles until they re-learn to respond to cues. The reason I like them so much is I believe that they are simple and effective yet aren't too harsh for the horse.

Granted, my background is English riding (eventing, dressage, SJ) so I limit my comments to those areas as that is where my experience lays.

So what is your favourite bit and why?

I have an Imus Gaited Horse bit for my Paso Fino, and he wegoes really well off it

Any basic cheekpiece with a bean link :)

Yep, I am using a french link snaffle on my mare at the moment, it suits her well!

Lorentzo works best for me, better then french link. However my paint goes in loose ring, and my qh absolutely hates the loose ring, so she's in eggbutt.

This is a picture of a Bosal/Hackamore with a hair rope Macate.




In this Western style of training a horse is introduced to bend and the neck is suppled and relaxed till the neck starts to drop and we are in the very early stages of collection and frame.

At the same time the horse is learning to "step around" with their front end and begin to build lightness.


This setup is a very old system that was basicly brought to Spain by the invading Moors in around 720 AD.
The Spaniards brought the system to the New World with their horses.
The idea is to stay out of the horses mouth and save it for the work later on.

I grab this setup the most and if I am having a problem with anything to do with bending this is what I would like on the horse.

The snaffle is a good bit and I do use it,Just not all the time.

I feel that folks should be a little more open minded about the use of different bits and their use.

What would you think about going to a car mechanic to have your car worked on that had a tool box and it only had a

Hammer,a screw driver,and a pair of pliers in the box?

At this moment I ride with none and I do hope to continue that :)

So my favourite is None! I ride with a rope halter and clip-on reins!
I like it !

I love the bosal system; keeping out of the green horse's mouth is kind! Thanks for the pics--niiice!

Hey, thanks for the info Marecare, great post. I didn't mean to sound close minded about the use of different bits, not my intention at all! I am actually using a bosal on a 3yo quarter horse that is currently being started. I tried him in a snaffle but I didn't feel the bit was suited to him as he is slightly parrot mouthed. He is going beautifully in the bosal.

I do like the Myler Bits - the Level 1 Comfort Snaffles, and I do like my French Link Snaffles.

I use a Loose Ring for dressage, and then for hacking and other aspects, I use my Egg Butt's.

I don't understand when people think that the need "special" bits when training their horses. I don't get it when people think that gadgets train the horse, when they don't.

For example, I know a rider who asked to borrow my 3 Ring Elevator, and thinking this person was just going out hacking, I allowed it. To then see, the rider working in the arena doing flat work with this horse - with the 3 ring elevator in the horses mouth, a Figure 8 Nose band clamped on and a German Martingale holding her face down - going around doing work.

I asked, what the hell, and the answer was "Training"

I took the bit away.

In my opinion, it is the rider who needs the training.