LEARNING ABOUT BITS
(discussed on the MuleskinnersPorch at Yahoo)
Categories:
Bit non leverage
Bit leverage
Hackamore also known as a bosal, no leverage, no bit
Mechanical Hackamore leverage device, but no bit
Bits: non leverage
this includes snaffles, straight bars (non broken), & chains (don't go 'eeewwwww' as some chains are really gentle). the side rings of the snaffle indicates the basic name, ie eggbutt, d ring, loose ring, etc.
what goes in the mouth denotes the severity, ie big round cylinder pieces, down to the narrow twisted wire pieces. most snaffles are in 2 pieces w/one joint in the middle. some snaffles are in 3 pieces, & the center piece may be a copper barrel, a dog bone, etc.
three piece is typically less severe than 2 pieces, & they operate a bit differently. some center pieces are an arched port.
mouthpiece.... big & round vs narrow.... big (fat) around is softer on the horse, the thinner the metal is, the more harsh. think of the difference 'tween the girth of your thumb vs the girth of your pinky finger.
these bits are the ones w/curb chains, hence the general term 'curb bits'. they operate on an entirely different principle, leverage. pull back, pressure is applied on the bars of the jaw, or the tongue, the chin under the mouth, or all three.
same about thick vs thin applies here, along w/ higher ports -> more severe; lower ports -> less severe.
the curb bit can be a broken mouth piece (see all of the above under bits no leverage), or a solid mouthpiece. solid mouth pieces can be from a gentle arch, to a severe Spanish high port. (port center of the bit)
as to the leverage, the longer the shank (bars running from the corner of the animal's mouth down & attached to the reins) the more leverage you have. more leverage you have, the more you have to be careful about abusing it, & creating pain.
tidbit (applied to both of the above mentioned bits):
- mouthpiece width must fit the horses mouth &
- copper & sweet iron help lubricate a mouth.
- a lubricated mouth (salivation) is a softer mouth. much more comfy on the animal to have spit, fluid, for that bit to move in than a dry mouth.
- you can find sweet iron bits w/copper inlay, copper barrels, copper rings around dog bones.... the choices are pert near endless.
- steel mouth pieces do not enhance salivation.
- the mouth pieces that 'roll forward' (you can see it when you balance a bit in your hand as to how it will hang in the mouth) are typically more comfy to an equine vs one that is perpendicular.
Hackamore: non leverage, also known as a bosal
again, depending on some items this can be severe or soft, including (just like a bit) how you use them.
think rope around the nose, attached to a headstall, & reins attached to the 'knob' underneath. i don't know the correct term for that knob... *sigh*
the bosal works strictly off the pressure on the nose, no bit involved.
some are a thin rope, some fatter ropes (think thumb vs pinky finger again {editor’s note: thinner is more severe}), some have a wire running thru the rope, etc. i've seen some created out of bicycle chains (ouch).
it helps to really learn how to use a bosal from someone who knows -- or read books, watch tapes, etc. there is a bit of a trick to them.
Mechanical Hackamores: leverage - but no bit
this is my personal least favorite device, largely 'cause i've seen too many folks put one on a horse thinking they are 'saving' the horse the pain of a bit. then they put little susie up there, & let her jerk around thinking she's not hurting the animal. guess again....
other reason i don't like them is you can't teach a horse or mule the more artful properties of response to your hands.
you can purchase a mechanical hackamore w/ different degrees of severity, just like any of the other groups above. flat leather nose piece, down to small thin cords (ropes), or rounded leather. typically they have long shanks, & the longer the shank, the more leverage, the more application to the curb chain, which can lead to more severity.
i've seen these things made out of bicycle chains too. (big ouch)
the worst case scenario is a mechanical hackamore that literally shuts the horses wind off over the nasal passages. ie, he's gotta stop, or quit breathing.
last tidbit
when working w/ any of the leverage devices, make sure there is at least 2 fingers of room 'tween the chain & the horses chin / jaw when the horse’s head is relaxed on loose reins.
side note
since i added some unsolicited comments about the mechanical hackamore as being my least favorite....
i'll also add my most favorite is an eggbutt snaffle w/a thick sweet iron mouth piece in 3 pieces, dog bone in the center w/3 tiny copper wires making a circle around the bone. soft, gentle, & very communicative.
-- Kat ~
Carousel Quarter Horses
Poco Merlin, the Cornerstone of our Foundation
Vintage Stock, 'Foundation' at it's Finest!
additional comment:
I just wanted to add that the "long shank snaffle" (a misnomer, as it isnt a snaffle at all) and the mech hackamore exert a nutcracker type pressure on the horse. The broken mouth w/ long shanks bears pressure in a circle completely around the lower jaw.
Likewise, the mechanical hack crushes in a circle around the whole lower face--quite painful if manhandled. Many animals, upon first feeling this effect, will rear up and paw at their head.
A regular solid mouth curb is pressure only on tongue and chin.
Basically: distances from mouth to curb slot, length of shank, port/mullen/straight.... these all affect different pressure points and severity.
Take any bridle and stick your arm thru as an imaginary "mouth" (or nose in hackamore), hold the bit steady w/ your other hand. Have someone else carefully "pull the reins". You will get an idea of the pressure from this. But only a general idea.
-- Diane Burke
