[ConclusivelySmooth]

I have two English bits for my Quarter Horse.
We have a Kimberwicke Uxeter:
Korsteel Uxeter Kimberwicke from SmartPak Equine

And a Double Twisted Wire Full Cheek:
Korsteel Double Twisted Wire Full Cheek from SmartPak Equine


I'm debating which one to use. He needs the one with the most control.

Which would give me the most control?

 

[Spastic_Dove]

Gah! Do not use a double twisted wire! Out of those two, certainly the kimberwicke.

Just a note (that im sure others are going to respond with) A bit does NOT give you control. Schooling and training does and it sounds like your horse needs it. If your horse does not understand what is being asked of it, you're going to keep needing to go to stronger and stronger bits until you have a horse you can't control with any piece of metal.

 

[Sunny06]

^ Agreed. No twisted wire. If your horse is hard to control, there are holes in your horse's training. Go back and work on the basics with at least a snaffle or some sort (no twisted wire).

 

[roro]

Um, neither. I wouldn't put those in any horse's mouth. Most horses do best with a snaffle. Snaffles are probably the most common bit for English riding and are very nice on the horse's mouth. A strong bit, like the ones you have posted here, will mask the problem temporarily but then the horse can get mouth sores and riding problems such as rearing and head tossing.

 

[ConclusivelySmooth]

Okay.
Any particular reason for the NO on the Double wire? I've always been afraid it might pinch him, but it never really has...

He can't use a snaffle. He runs right through it. We use it for schooling, but at shows and he's hyper, I need a stronger bit.

I've done both on him, and he does fine in both (no headtossing, rearing, etc.). I just want to know the better one.

Thanks for replying!!

 

[Scoutrider]

A no on the double wire from me as well.

The wire is thin, and works on the same general principle as a rope halter. Smaller area giving pressure, more "bite". The difference is, the rope halter goes on the outside of the horse's head, the wire goes inside his sensitive mouth. It just has a lot of bite, and no horse needs that kind of pressure in his mouth.

The kimberwicke can be a nice bit. My sis uses one on her QH, who is just very used to a curb from his western background. The thing is, the horse also does everything asked of him nicely in a snaffle. The kimberwicke just seems to make him happier, so she uses it.

My advice to you would be to work on the "running through" behavior in a snaffle. It CAN be fixed in any situation. Trust me on that :wink:. In the meantime, the kimberwick shouldn't cause you any trouble, and I would definitely pick that over the twisted wire.

 

[AussieDaisyGirl]

I've seen horses that have been happier (odd as it seems) in jointed kimberwickes and in light hands than in simple snaffles. I would never use one with a port.

Twisted wire snaffles - double or single - just a smidge too strong a bit.

The kimberwicke is the lesser of the two.

 

[Spastic_Dove]

I ride in a kimberwick sometimes. They are not an evil bit. However, my horse can do it in a snaffle if I wanted to.

Again, a stronger bit is not the issue. You need to work on training.

The lesser of the two is the kimberwick. The twisted wire has a lot of bite like someone said. It is very harsh on the sensitive mouth and IMO anything other than a slow twist is unnecessary (And most people don't even think those are good bits).

 

[JustDressageIt]

*wants to destroy all double twisted wire bits*

Severe, and completely unnecessary. Sorry, but that's my feeling on the subject. Every time you say (with your average horse) "I need a stronger bit" there is usually something else going on, health- or training-wise that needs to be addressed instead.

The bit does not make the horse, but it can sure break one easy (and not in the good way.)

 

[JustDressageIt]

Okay, here's an analogy:

Riding a horse is like someone teaching you to learn a foreign language. The horse has to learn exactly what you mean when you pull on the reins, you would have to learn spelling, and grammar. If you don't understand what the instructor is trying to tell you, him grabbing a megaphone and yelling at you sure isn't going to help. In essence, when you grab a harsher bit, that is what you are doing, yelling instead of trying to explain it again nicely or in a different way.

 

[Scoutrider]

Okay, here's an analogy:

Riding a horse is like someone teaching you to learn a foreign language. The horse has to learn exactly what you mean when you pull on the reins, you would have to learn spelling, and grammar. If you don't understand what the instructor is trying to tell you, him grabbing a megaphone and yelling at you sure isn't going to help. In essence, when you grab a harsher bit, that is what you are doing, yelling instead of trying to explain it again nicely or in a different way.

I forget who said it, but one of my favorite "tidbits" is "Yelling louder in English to someone who only speaks German doesn't make them understand you any better."