What kind of bit people are using for jumping?

dressage at lower levels has to be a snaffle with a smooth mouthpeice

I use a french link D ring.

^ same as above

I absolutely agree. I will take a gag bit over any bit that has a curb chain. The gag mostly adds pressure on the poll for additional control. More pull on the reins=more pressure on the poll, not the mouth. A very effective option, IMHO.

Bits with a curb chain use that leverage to pull the bit harder and harder directly onto the bars of the mouth. Harder pull=more possibility of damage to the bars. The worst retraining issues I have had is rehabbing damaged mouths on horses that these bits have been used harshly on.


An exception that I will advocate is allowing kids to use exeter/kimberwick bits. Kids often don't have enough schooling to use gags and these bits are just fine for them. They have minimal leverage and kids need to be kept safe.

The harshest bit I have used on an XC/jump course is a full cheek gag with two reins.



And I usually don't use it long.
The only curb chains I own are on my weymouths, and I mostly use the bridoon (nice fat one) rein there.

I got a "What Not" from an Olympic Eventer when I rode in her clinic because I was using a Gag. I was told that if one has to use a bit like that at lower levels for a certain level of control, then there are holes in both the rider and horses training and shouldn't be jumping, but shoud be back in the Dressage Ring filling them.

I have to agree with her.

Post a pick of your bit.

BTW, these horses were not at the lower levels, trust me. I have used it on advanced level event horses who were very opinionated on XC. Also on a couple of high level jumpers. The bit is not that harsh when ridden in doulbe reins.

I always use the least bit possible. The stallion on my avatar jumped in a fat french link in both jumper and XC. People were shocked seeing that guy galloping with it on XC.

agreed.
not quite that level, but my pony's done novice eventing (3' for most of his life and has always gone in it. almost never had a xc jump fault and always winning dressage comps. different situations are different.

Same with Sandie and I

Usually I would agree that people should go back and fix the holes in their training and use a lesser bit, but what if there are no holes? I don't know the other board members' horses but Allison's horses seem pretty advanced. They may not have any significant holes to fix and just go better in a gag. I know that my horse DOES have holes in her training that lead to the use of the elevator. Which is why she hasn't jumped in about two months. That reason and the fact that something is screwed up in her back.

Anyway, I don't like to jump to conclusions about why people use the bit they do. Unless it's a bicycle chain or something like that.

*post not directed at anyone in particular, just a thought I had*

The bit at the time, that I was using - was a Single Jointed Egg Butt Gag. I signed up for Novice with the Olympic Eventer and when she did the tack check before our 2 hour class, that's when she saw what was in my horses mouth.

I got ripped a new one for it, and that was the last time I used the bit. It went into my tack box and then it went onto my table at the 4H tack sale that March and that was the last time I saw it.

The same Olympic Eventer is coming to my barn this Thanksgiving Weekend and I'll be riding with her again. Same horse, same rider - different bit. We now use a French Link Egg Butt Snaffle.

But she taught me to ride Seat into Legs into Hands - and remember, I'm only a low level Eventer. Never ridden, trained or compeated at Advanced or anything higher.

So I can agree with what she said to me, about needing to go back into re-educating my horse and I on the flat to correct our issues. Her training helped us drastically.

We went from a Gag - to a French Link Snaffle.

This Olympic Eventer, trains directly under Jim Wofford.

~~~

I attended another clinic that same year. Another Olympic Eventer came to our barn, and I signed up of course, but this time I was in the bit I use now.

I rode in my class *Novice* and then aftarwards I audted the rest of the classes *Training to Prelim*

Almost every single rider in those classes, had 3 Ring Elevator Bits. Our Instructor for that day, was appauled.

I remember at the start of each class, he made a point of stressing how dissapointed he was to see this level of bit, in these low level eventing horses mouths.

He said the same thing as the other Eventer said - "why are you using this bit for the low levels you are riding at?" and he went on to stress that there are holes somewhere or uneducation somehwere along the lines to make these riders think they have to use this bit for a certain level of control.

I remember he laughed in a sarcastic manner asking "Is this bit a fad here?" he was baffled.

~~

Now, I rarely see this bit at HT's here.

To the bolded part - I think that's great!