ABOUT BITS  ©
by Alan Plewis

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FITTING   -  BIT MATERIALS  -  BASIC BIT DESIGNS  -  LOOSE RING BITS  -  EGG BUTT BITS

FULL CHEEK BITS   -  DEE RING BITS  -  PELHAM BITS  -  KIMBERWICKE BITS  -  GAG BITS

BIT ABBREVIATIONS USED

FITTING BITS
        Adjust the bit so that when the rider pulls on the reins in a straight line toward his or her elbows, while in a normal riding position, the cheek pieces of the bridle do not flex out from the side of the horse’s face. This may or may not create several wrinkles in the edges of the horse’s lips. A horse with thin lips should have the bit held firmly against the lip, but if this horse has several wrinkles the bit is probably too high in the mouth and the horse will not work comfortably. A fleshy lipped horse, on the other hand, might have two or even three wrinkles at the corners of the lips with the bit adjusted properly.
        Once the bit is adjusted, as described above, pull the bit to one side of the mouth (not hard), at this point there should be the width of your index finger between the edge of the lip and the side of the bit. On a pony this space should be the width of a child’s finger; on a 17 hand horse, this space should be the width of a man’s finger. Allow a little more room for loose ring bits so that the lips are not as apt to get caught in the ring holes. Bradoon bits require more width as well. If the bit is too small the horse’s lips will be uncomfortable. With too large a jointed bit there will be an increased nut cracker effect on the bars of the horse’s mouth (the jaw bone and gums between the molars and the incisors). A bit that is too large will also tend to press the cheeks into the molars causing the horse discomfort. There is also more chance of the bit being too low and the horse then being able to put his tongue over the bit, or the middle of the joint will press into the roof of the horse’s mouth causing him to resist any rein pressure. With straight or mullen mouth bits the bit will slide back and forth, too much if it is too big, possibly causing the horse discomfort.
        A bit should suit the horse’s mouth. A fine headed horse will normally find a thick bit uncomfortable, since there is not enough space for this type of bit in his mouth. Horses with thin jaw bones will find straight bits or jointed bits with straight mouth pieces less comfortable than bits that wrap around the bars a little more, French link or other double jointed bits or bits with curved mouth pieces. Many thoroughbred horses have narrow jaw bones. Many Arab, and therefore, many thoroughbred horses also have a low hard palate. These horses are more sensitive to the fit of the bit.
        The material or the feeling created when the bit is placed in the horse’s mouth will make a big difference to the resulting acceptance or resistance. A cold bit should be warmed before being put into the horse’s mouth. Plastic bits such as Nathe or Happy Mouth or other similar plastic bits are not cold for the horse’s mouth;  these bits are offered in several shapes that conform well to many horses' mouths.

BIT MATERIALS   Return to the top of this page
Steel with nickel plating Cold to touch, poor durability (plating peels, cheap ones have poor joints).
Stainless Steel Cold to touch, very durable, mid priced
Never Rust nickel + brass Cool to touch, not very durable, horses like taste, high priced.
Kangaroo Metal nickel + copper Cool to touch, durable, horses like taste, very high priced.
German Silver 40-60% copper + zinc + nickel Cool to touch, med.durable, most horses like taste, med to high price.
Coco Steel 88% copper - no nickel Cool to touch, med.durable, most horses like taste, med.high price. ( other similar bits 85% - 90% copper )
Aurigan 85% copper - no nickel Cool to touch, med.durable, most horses like taste, med.high price. ( other similar bits 85% - 90% copper )
Cyprium 90% copper - no nickel Cool to touch, med.durable, most horses like taste, med.high price. ( other similar bits 85% - 90% copper )
Happy Mouth plastic with S.S. core Apple flavoured, warm to touch, low durability, horses accept well, medium price.
Plastic various designs Warm to touch, low durability, horses accept well, med to high priced.
Rubber over S.S. or N.P. steel Warm to touch, very low durability, some horses accept well, usually thick so some find uncomfortable, many horses get chewy with rubber, low to high priced.
Leather thick rolled hide Warm to touch, very low durability, most horses like, forms to mouth well, used to start horses or regain spoiled mouths, medium priced, usually made to order.
Latex covered bits turn any bit into a rubber bit with latex wrap. Warm to touch, very low durability, most horses like, forms to mouth well, as thin or thick as you make, medium priced.
Multi Metal usually copper & stainless steel, most common is cherry roller bit. Cool to touch, copper not very durable. Many horses relax and work well in these bits. Some bits with copper links or half moons or rollers in the middle have curved mouth pieces; cherry roller bits usually have straight mouth halves that bother horses with narrow bars. There are some bits that have copper strips or dots forged right into the mouth piece of stainless steel bits, medium priced.

BASIC BIT DESIGNS
Loose ring - Egg butt - Full cheek - Dee Ring - Pelham - Kimberwicke - Happy Mouth - Gag - 3 Ring gag -  Bit options

LOOSE RING Return to the top of this page
Loose ring bits move more in the mouth thanFeb02_01 1.jpg (35433 bytes) bits with fixed sides such as egg butt, dee ring or full cheek bits. These bits have rings (usually round) from about 2" to about 5" in diameter. Most popular are about 2 1/2" to 3"rings. They vary from about 10mm thick to about 23mm thick, most popular about 15mm. Bradoon bits are usually loose ring but may also be egg butt. Most Companies only make loose ring bits in 5" or larger mouth sizes. The loose ring bit is very popular for starting young horses. The action of the bit is mild and its design allows a little movement in the horse’s mouth. Many are available with solid or hollow mouth pieces. Some riders use rubber bit guards with these bits. In this case the bit should be about 1/4" or 1cm wider in the mouthpiece. Most loose ring bits are jointed mouth but some mullen mouth bits are available. Pictured here is a Stubben Loose Ring hollow mouth  # 1542.
**S.S.   N.R.   G.S.  RUB   KRM  CYP   N.P.   Cpr  Fr.  Dr.  Wtr  Tw
(See below for explanation of abbreviations here)   

EGG BUTT BITS Return to the top of this page
These bits have egg shaped ends to each mouth half. The rings can either be thin and round or slightly wider and flat. Most egg butt bits have rings about 3" across. They vary in thickness from about 10mm to about 23mm. Popular styles such as the one shown here are available in mouth sizes from 3" to 6 1/2". Most egg butts have solid mouth pieces; however, there are some hollow mouth versions available. The egg butt bit is probably the most popular riding school bit, since it is fairly mild to the horse’s mouth. Pictured here, is a flat ring egg butt  # 1560. Jan26_04 10.jpg (185235 bytes)
** S.S. NR G.S. RUB KRM CYP CPR Fr. Dr. Rlr Wtr Tw Cs

FULL CHEEK BITS Return to the top of this page      
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These bits have straight slightly tapered cheeks extending up and down from the ends of the mouthpiece. This design keeps the bit steady in the mouth of the horse and applies some side pressure to assist in steering. Care should be taken with young horses since this side pressure may scare the horse a little. Some riders use rubber bit guards to make the young horse more comfortable. Well designed bits will have slight bends near the top to keep the top of the cheek piece from pressing on the side of the horse’s face. These bits are designed to be used with short leather keepers that hold the bit in place with the top cheek piece held to the bridle cheek piece. With the keepers in place these bits can be adjusted a little lower in the horse’s mouth. Most horses seem to prefer this adjustment. Some horses respond better without the keepers. These horses would probably be better  with some other bit such as a dee bit. Unsecured cheek pieces can catch on handlers clothing if not careful. Again these bits are available in sizes 3" to 6" and in thickness of from 10mm to about 21mm. Some are available in hollow mouth versions but solid mouths are much more popular. Pictured above, is a full cheek mini egg butt  # 1613.
**S.S. G.S. NR KRM CYP N.P. RUB Fr. Dr. Rlr Chry Pt Wtr CPR Tw Cs Tri

DEE RING BITS Return to the top of this page      
Dee bits are similar in function to full cheek bits, in that they apply some side pressure in steering and are relatively steady in the horse’s mouth. The "D" shaped rings on the cheek pieces are usually about 3" across. The cheek pieces themselves may have different shapes which can affect the comfort of the horse. Thickness, size, solid or hollow availability is similar to the full cheek bit. Large ringed ( 5" ) dee bits are sometimes called racing dees and usually have a thin mouth piece. Pictured at right is a Dee bit #1673. Jan26_04 14.jpg (197141 bytes)
**S.S. G.S. NR KRM CYP N.P. RUB Fr. Dr. Rlr Chry Pt Wtr CPR Tw Cs
Note: loose ring, full cheek, loose ring gags and dee bits are sometimes used with rubber guards to protect the sides of the horse’s mouth. If this is the case, the bit selected should be about 1/4" or 1cm larger to allow for the thickness of the rubber guard. These guards are put on after being soaked in hot water for a few minutes. A pair of thick laces or straps fed through the center of the guard - one to hold and one to stretch - will make the job much easier.

PELHAM BITS Return to the top of this page
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These bits put pressure on the mouth, the jaw and the poll to influence the horse. Usually two reins are used, although young riders or beginners may use a converter (or splitter ) that joins the upper and lower bit rings to allow one rein to be used. The upper rein ( snaffle rein ) puts pressure on the corners of the mouth and the bars of the mouth. The lower rein applies leverage on the lower side of the jaw as well as on the poll. Most riders separate the reins with one or two fingers in between, the upper rein is usually placed on the outside of the little finger, or at least below the curb rein, so that most of the influence is on the snaffle part of the bit. If a horse requires much of the curb rein, it should have its teeth checked by a competent equine dental veterinarian or equine dental practitioner. If the teeth are fine on this horse, then either another bit, retraining or other solutions are recommended. (Checking the horse’s back and saddle fit would certainly be wise.) Pelham bits can be straight mouthed or mullen mouthed (slight curve across mouthpiece). Some straight pelhams have a port or raised part in the middle of the mouth piece. This port changes pressure on the tongue and some horses find this more comfortable. Pelham bits are usually medium to thin in the mouth piece 10mm to about 14mm. Rubber or vulcanized rubber covered mouthpieces are usually 20mm to 22mm thick. Pelham bits usually have solid mouth pieces and vary in size from 4" to 5 3/4". The length of the cheek pieces will vary from 4" to 7" with 4" to 5" being most popular, since a small cheek piece appears to be less of a bit for show purposes. Pictured above is a rubber mouth Tom Thumb pelham  # 1768.
**S.S. G.S. NR KRM RUB Pt CPR

JOINTED PELHAM BITS Return to the top of this page
Jointed Pelham bits are the same as regular Pelham bits, however, with the nutcracker action they have a different pressure on the mouth and tongue. The shape of the horse’s tongue will affect the choice here with fleshy tongued horses and horses with narrow boned bars often preferring the jointed pelham to the regular one. The cheek pieces on jointed pelhams are usually 4" to 5" in length. Pictured at right is a jointed Tom Thumb pelham  #1761. Jan28_01 17.jpg (214760 bytes)
**S.S. G.S. NR KRM RUB Fr. CPR Tw Cs

KIMBERWICKE BITS Return to the top of this page

Jan28_01 13.jpg (208321 bytes)
are an adaptation of the pelham with either straight, straight with port, mullen or jointed mouth pieces. Usually they have 10mm to 12mm thick solid mouth pieces. Ring cheek pieces are usually about 2 1/2" across and may have slots in the rings (called Uxeter kimberwickes) to allow for two different rein positions rather than the regular sliding rein action. They are available in sizes from 4" - 6" mouth pieces. Pictured at right is an Uxeter kimberwicke with low port #1789

**S.S. NR RUB Rlr CPR Pt

HAPPY MOUTH BITS Return to the top of this page 
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are either mullen slightly flexible or jointed plastic. The jointed Happy Mouth bits are fairly hard plastic and serve the same purpose as the similar egg butt, full cheek, dee, pelham, elevator or 3 ring gag made of regular materials. These bits are more acceptable to the horse than regular bits, because they are warmer and more pleasant feeling ( apple tasting according to manufacturer ). The straight ( mullen ) Happy Mouth bits conform to many horses mouths and are highly recommended by many equine dental practitioners. The jointed versions are about 14mm thick; the straight versions are about 19mm at the lips of the mouth piece and about 12mm at the point where the bars would contact the mouth piece. The straight version is not quite as hard a plastic and should be checked regularly for teeth cuts that could be uncomfortable to the horse. The straight version has a stainless steel cable in the core which allows some flexibility and gives the bit the ability to mold to many horses mouths quite well. The jointed version has a stainless steel core. Although the manufacturer offers some models in other sizes, the North American distributors only stock 125mm ( 5" ) and 135mm ( 5 3/8" ) in most models. Pictured here is a Happy Mouth egg butt round ring  straight # 15985.
** S.S.

GAG BITS Return to the top of this page 
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These bits are usually jointed and offer similar action on the horse’s mouth to regular loose ring or egg butt snaffles. In addition   they put pressure on the poll. A special cheek piece is used that slides through the holes in the rings of the bit. By pulling on the reins the rider pulls the cheek piece through the bit putting pressure on the poll. It is important to release rein pressure more quickly and completely than with regular snaffle bits to ensure that the cheek pieces return to normal and do not keep pressure on the mouth when not needed. Some riders use two reins using the regular rein when the horse is behaving normally and severe pressure is not required. A second rein is also a safety rein since gags are used in extreme cases and reins sometimes break. Care should be taken with the condition of the cheek pieces and use of these bits; excessive pressure can pull the bit up high into the mouth of the horse causing damage to the horse’s mouth. Gag bits are available in loose ring and egg butt designs. Some with links in the middle (French, Dr. Bristol, rollers etc.). the thickness of the mouth piece is usually from 10mm to 13mm. Most gags are solid mouth. Sizes available are from 5" to 5 3/4" in most designs. Pictured here is an egg butt gag # 1712.
**S.S. NR KRM RUB Fr. Rlr CPR Tw Cs

3 RING GAG Return to the top of this page
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is also called a European elevator, or an American gag or an American elevator bit. Another name would be the continental gag bit. These bits operate similarly to a pelham without a curb. Some riders use two reins,  allowing the one rein to act like a normal snaffle rein. Depending on the ring chosen to attach the lower rein, the poll pressure can be severe. These bits are frowned upon by some experts. They contend that there are other bits that perform the same functions better and more safely than these bits. These bits are also made as
2 ring and 4 ring versions. The bit shown is normally called a 3 ring gag. (Some books call this bit a 4 ring European elevator bit, or a 4 ring gag). These bits are usually 12mm to 14mm thick and available in sizes 5" to 5 1/2". Some people use a slightly larger size on these since they usually have a loose ring at the end of the mouth piece. A larger size is needed if rubber bit guards are used. Pictured here is a 3-ring gag Happy mouth  # 17373
**S.S. G.S. Fr. CPR Cs
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** EXPLANATION OF ABBREVIATIONS FOR Options and Features Available from Bit Manufacturers
Most bits are available in different materials and with different links or joints. The following codes are used in our catalogue and are listed below each type of bit. This listing is an effort to give you an idea of what is available for each type of bit.
S.S. stainless steel, usually 18/8 weight ratio of steel and nickel
G.S. German silver, usually 50% to 60% copper + zinc + nickel
NR Never rust, brass and nickel blend
KRM Kangaroo metal, copper and nickel blend
CYP Cyprium 88% to 90% copper, no nickel
N.P. Nickel plated steel
RUB Rubber covered
Fr. French link
Dr. Dr. Bristol link
Rlr copper roller
Chry cherry roller
Pt port
Wtr waterford mouth piece
CPR copper mouth piece
Tw slow twist mouth piece
Cs corkscrew mouth piece
Tri triangle edged mouth piece  

This article is protected by copyright. Users of "ABOUT BITS" by Alan Plewis shall only be entitled to copy this article for their own personal use and may not republish or reproduce any part of this article, without the prior written permission of the author, or Foxhunter Farms Limited.
The following books are recommended:
2820 The Manual of Horsemanship by The British Horse Society
32894 Snaffles a comprehensive guide to snaffles by Carolyn Henderson
3200 Saddlery a history and outline of the equipment used in horsemanship by Elwyn Hartley Edwards
2896 Bits Their History, Use & Misuse. plus Practical Advice on the Most Effective Bits for Every Need. by Louis Taylor
2052 Bitting in Theory and in Practice by Elwyn Hartley Edwards
28641 U.S.P.C. Manual 1
28642 U.S.P.C. Manual 2
28643 U.S.P.C. Manual 3
2370 Horse Master’s Notebook by Mary Rose
For more complete information about bits see our Book Selection

 

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Contact Foxhunter:

alan@foxhunter.on.ca

4341 Stouffville Road, Stouffville, Ontario L4A 7X5

Toll Free (Canada & USA) 1-800-668-0304
Fax (905) 640-1609

 

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