What bit do you use?

[vels mum]

Ive always used a fulmer snaffle on my horse, always have ridden in a snaffle bit, never in anything else.
With my youngster I started getting him used to a bit with a rubber loose ring snaffle but have now put him in a loose ring french link snaffle which he seems really happy with.
Just wondering which bit you use and why?
Id like to stick to my snaffles as ive always been told you should, however I have seen other bits being used but never really understood why, was always told more severe bits was for those why couldnt ride properly!

So tell my why you use your bit and what benefits it has had to your horse and the way it goes. ;)

[Poppy and Harmony]

I use a french-link, loose-ring snaffle.
Harmony used to be ridden in an eggbutt but she was quite resistant to it - the give in the loose-ring she like I think

However, she can get a bit strong so I've been tempted to get a hanging-cheek snaffle with a french-link to give me a bit more control

[Tiaki]

Abbey none, Kiwi 99% of the time none but for jumping when he is feeling manic and for hunting and XC I use a Sweet Iron Copper Mouth Tom Thumb (god that's a mouthful :lol:)

xxx

[vels mum]

Away to look up Tom Thumb bits...ive never heard of those?????

[daytona]

Becky just has a plain old snaffle and goes fine in it whether its hunting or just normal day to day.

[black crow]

Rowan; Mullen half cheek for driving bridle, standard Eggbutt snaffle for other

Scottie; Loose ring racing bit

Spud; Happy mouth lozenge filet baucher

[ness]

I use a loose ring snaffle for Kissie for hacking. But if we are going off road to canter in the open or gallop or for jumping I use a Dutch gag, jsut on the first ring, for more brakes!

[CityLights]

i tend to stick with snaffles, sometimes a pelham or a dutch gag but generally snaffles

Ollie was in a NS angled forward single joint but he didnt much like it so my boss has put a NS with a link in it not sure which one and he goes much better in it, im not a fan of single jointed bits anyway to be honest

[Catg]

Generally I use a french link eggbutt snaffle but I also have a loose ring single jointed snaffle and also a single jointed hanging cheek snaffle. I tend to rotate them as he goes better when I chop and change now and then. Like you VM I just stick with snaffles as they're the kindest and I really don't feel that he needs anything more that that. Sometimes when he gets strong and tries to jog with me I just circle him tightly three times and walk on again, then circle him tightly the other way three times again if he doesn't get the hint. A stronger bit would just wind him up but circling gives him a consequence for his actions and he's then rewarded with a long rein once he calms down.

Also have a mullen mouth pelham and a mullen mouth rugby pelham for showing.

Cat x

[Zeitgeist Mom]

I've always ridden in snaffles. Don't like loose ring as I worry they may pinch the skin, I like eggbutts.

[Kelza]

Sultan has a hanging cheek snaffle, but it's like a piece of cotton wool in his mouth, doesn't take a blind bit of notice of it! lol I learned that if he wants to go he will and when he wants to stop he will! Eventually! lol

[lilholley]

Usually bitless but I use a french link, loose ring copper and sweet iron snaffle for dressage :D

[Burnie]

Tilly is in a french link, hanging cheek for schooling, showing and quiet hacks.

Waterford Neue Schule Universal for fast work.

[bimba]

Mac has a french link for everything other than hunting when I use a dutch gag with 2 reins or a double bridle as I need more brakes! TJ has an in-hand snaffle.

[casper_cb]

Oscar had a KK French Link for everything, so Dressage/XC/SJ/Hacking etc.
Basil has an Egbutt snaffle for flat and hacking, if he jumps again it will be in a Combination Myler, he's not at all stong, he just prefers the hackamore effect, but I can't go bitless for dressage.
Prince is in a fixed cheek french link for everything.
John was in and hopefull come new year will be back using the same bridle as Prince, only 4 holes down all round!
And Otis goes in a loose ring snaffle for flat and a Waterford for everything else with a bib martingale.

[cyberchick]

Strong bits for people that can't ride. Interesting .....lol :)

William has a myler comfort snaffle for flat work, vulcanite pelham with double reins for show jumping and a Myler combination for xc or fast work or just when he's being a ***. For anyone that would like to ride him in a snaffle for these things then please feel free lol.

[Bek B]

Ollie has a loose ring french link snaffle. He seems to go well in it, doesn't back off it of lean on it. At the moment we only do flatwork and hacking.

I've only really had experience of snaffles (only ridden on horse in a pelham).

I wouldn't dismiss another type of bit if a horse required it, but I'd have to understand eactly how it worked in order to be confident and happy about using it.

[Lobelia Overhill]

Don had a Dutch gag which I hated, he was very stiff in his neck and wouldn't listen to my hands at all, if I tried to take up a contact he'd get quite upset, and if I asked him for an outline he'd over bend and jink his head to one side, so I put him in an eggbutt French link snaffle - and he's much better in it, I can get and keep a contact, all right he ignores me when I ask for outline, but he's stopped over bending and jinking his head and he pays more attention to my hands. With the Dutch gag I had to keep my hands completely still the whole time - I don't do that any more.

I also have [but haven't used] a happy mouth straight bar, and an NS loose ring "starter".

[loubylou]

I ride Uva in a KK Loose ring lozenge, she likes it and seems to go well in it. Its the bit she came with!

[Lorraine]

Apache - myler comfort snaffle normally - dutch gag for jumping, double bridle for showing.
Tibbs - myler comfort snaffle, myler pelham for showing.
Angel - myler comfort snaffle for everything
Poppet - french link for everything

[Roan Mare]

We generally use a sweet ireon, loose ring snaffle with a copper lozenge but occassionally use a pelham.

She's fine in her snaffle but at some shows you are expected to use a pelham for M&M classes.

[My Crazy Clan]

I use plain eggbutt snaffles but have changed magic because the eggbutt doesn't sit right in his mouth, I'm not sure what the bit is called will get a photo soon.
I won't use loose ring bits, the amount of times I've seen them pinch the horses, its not got to be nice for them. I also don't like the straight bars or the ones with huge rubber bits, talk about giving the horse something to chew on.

[fougere]

When I broke Bracken in I started with a Sweet mouth eggbut, but I felt it could be severe for riding as it has such a thin mouthpiece. So once he was used to something in his mouth I moved onto a fulmer snaffle with short cheeks, but he didn't like it.
So for the past 8 years he's been in a Hollowmouth eggbutt snaffle. It has a very thick mouthpiece, but is lightweight because it's hollow.
I don't like loose ring snaffles as I worry about pinching the side of the mouth and I hate fighting with the rubber ring thingys.