Hippology Study Resources
If you are looking for some amazing equine anatomy charts, check out Wingspan Arts International.
This is a really good website from University of Missouri Extension, that gives the basics of equine breeding.
Check out this great site, Hippology: Studying the Horse.
This Orange County 4-H Club's webpage also offers a list of other sites to study Hippology.
The researched based learning network, Extension, offers many webinars and other wonderful Hippology resources.
This is a really good website from University of Missouri Extension, that gives the basics of equine breeding.
Check out this great site, Hippology: Studying the Horse.
This Orange County 4-H Club's webpage also offers a list of other sites to study Hippology.
The researched based learning network, Extension, offers many webinars and other wonderful Hippology resources.
Bits-A General Overview
There are many different types of bit. Choosing the right one for you and your horse can be difficult. That is why it is important to understand the function of bits before you buy.The purpose of a bit is to control and help balance the horse. Through the bit, a rider communicates with their hands to the horse's mouth. The bridle and the bit transfers the
rider's signals to the horse by putting pressure on the poll,nose, lower jaw, chin, bars of the mouth, corners of the mouth,the and roof of the mouth. If the rider pulls a lot or is to rough with their hands, the horse could
develop a "hard mouth". It doesnt mean the mouth has literally become hardened, it just means that the horse has become dull and unresponsive in his mouth. By selecting the correct bit, you can reduce the chance of injuring your horse's mouth.
Snaffle Bit
A snaffle bit consists of 2 rings and a mouth piece. There are many different types of snaffles. The rings and the mouth pieces can occur in almost any combonation. D-ring, O-Ring (aka Loose Ring), Eggbutt, Half-Cheek, and Full-Cheek are many of the types of "rings". You can get them with set attachments(for reins and headstall) and in different sizes. The mouth piece can have/be broken(in one or more places), solid, twisted, rollers/barrels, ports, etc. The bits can be made with different materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, etc. The common "snaffle" usually consists of O-rings or D-rings with a single broken mouth piece. With a snaffle, pressure is directly transfered from the reins to the bit because the snaffle has no shanks. Fitting correctly the bit should lay across the bars of the mouth and cause slight wrinkling at the corners of the mouth. If the bit is to long through the mouth, you will be able to see part of the mouth piece outside the mouth. This can be fixed by either buying a new bit or purchasing rubber or neoprene bit guards. If the mouth piece is to small it will pinch the horse's mouth, and the rings may seem like a part of them is in the mouth. The larger diameter the ring has, the less severe it is. The severity also depends on the type of mouth piece and the handler.
Curb it
A curb bit consists of 2 shanks and a mouth piece. There are many different types of curb bits. The shanks and the mouth pieces can occur in almost and combonation. The shanks give the bit leverage and can come in different lengths (5" and 7" being the most common) and styles. Some are straigt and some have a curve. The longer the shank is, the more severe the bit is. A straighter shank is more severe than a shank with a curve in it (they must be compared at same length)The mouth piece can have/be broken(in one or more places), solid, twisted, rollers/barrels, ports, etc. The bits can be made with different materials, such as copper,iron, aluminum, etc. A Port gives releif to the tongue (sized: low, medium, or high) and rollers can be entertaining for a horse with a busy mouth. Some ports have a "spade" or a roller attached to them. The most common "curb bit" usually consists of 5 inch shanks with a low to medium port. The other common "curb bit" is also know as a Tom Thumb, with a single break and usually 5 inch shanks.
Other Bits
The Pelham bit is made to have 2 sets of reins. The snaffle rein attaches at the mouth piece and the curb rein at the shank.The Weymouth (similar to the Pelham) and the Bradoon Snaffle (very thin loose ring snaffle) are put together into one headstall to create what is called the Full Bridle. The Full Bridle has 2 bits and 2 sets of reins. The difference from the Pelham is that the rider is able to use the 2 bits seperatly or together to get the desired movement. It is usually used in Saddleseat classes. The Kimberwick has a purchase (the part above the mouth piece), where the headstall attaches to the bit, instead of to the rings like a snaffle. It also has a curb chain and has different slots to attach the reins to allow the rider to change the leverage action of the bit. The Mechanical Hackamore consists of a noseband with shanks and a curb chain. This is not really a bit because it does not put pressure on the mouth. But some horses find it more favorable over a regular bit. It puts pressure on the nose, chin groove, and the poll. The Bosal Hackamore is usually made of a rawhide noseband thicker over the nose and thinner under the jaw. A mecate (horsehair rope) is attached to the heel knot of the bosal that can be used as closed reins as well as a lead rope if it is tied properly. The stiffer the bosal, the more severe it is.
There are many more types of bits, as this was just an overview. Hopefully this will help you learn more about the correct bit for you and your horse.
References:
National 4-H Council Publication: Horses and Horsemanship
www.mylerbitsusa.com
University of Minnesota Horsemanship and Horse Training Manual
Tom Thumbs are one of the most common types of bits used throughout the western world. But they are not as great as people believe they are. Read this article to see the trouble with Tom Thumbs.
rider's signals to the horse by putting pressure on the poll,nose, lower jaw, chin, bars of the mouth, corners of the mouth,the and roof of the mouth. If the rider pulls a lot or is to rough with their hands, the horse could
develop a "hard mouth". It doesnt mean the mouth has literally become hardened, it just means that the horse has become dull and unresponsive in his mouth. By selecting the correct bit, you can reduce the chance of injuring your horse's mouth.
Snaffle Bit
A snaffle bit consists of 2 rings and a mouth piece. There are many different types of snaffles. The rings and the mouth pieces can occur in almost any combonation. D-ring, O-Ring (aka Loose Ring), Eggbutt, Half-Cheek, and Full-Cheek are many of the types of "rings". You can get them with set attachments(for reins and headstall) and in different sizes. The mouth piece can have/be broken(in one or more places), solid, twisted, rollers/barrels, ports, etc. The bits can be made with different materials, such as copper, iron, aluminum, etc. The common "snaffle" usually consists of O-rings or D-rings with a single broken mouth piece. With a snaffle, pressure is directly transfered from the reins to the bit because the snaffle has no shanks. Fitting correctly the bit should lay across the bars of the mouth and cause slight wrinkling at the corners of the mouth. If the bit is to long through the mouth, you will be able to see part of the mouth piece outside the mouth. This can be fixed by either buying a new bit or purchasing rubber or neoprene bit guards. If the mouth piece is to small it will pinch the horse's mouth, and the rings may seem like a part of them is in the mouth. The larger diameter the ring has, the less severe it is. The severity also depends on the type of mouth piece and the handler.
Curb it
A curb bit consists of 2 shanks and a mouth piece. There are many different types of curb bits. The shanks and the mouth pieces can occur in almost and combonation. The shanks give the bit leverage and can come in different lengths (5" and 7" being the most common) and styles. Some are straigt and some have a curve. The longer the shank is, the more severe the bit is. A straighter shank is more severe than a shank with a curve in it (they must be compared at same length)The mouth piece can have/be broken(in one or more places), solid, twisted, rollers/barrels, ports, etc. The bits can be made with different materials, such as copper,iron, aluminum, etc. A Port gives releif to the tongue (sized: low, medium, or high) and rollers can be entertaining for a horse with a busy mouth. Some ports have a "spade" or a roller attached to them. The most common "curb bit" usually consists of 5 inch shanks with a low to medium port. The other common "curb bit" is also know as a Tom Thumb, with a single break and usually 5 inch shanks.
Other Bits
The Pelham bit is made to have 2 sets of reins. The snaffle rein attaches at the mouth piece and the curb rein at the shank.The Weymouth (similar to the Pelham) and the Bradoon Snaffle (very thin loose ring snaffle) are put together into one headstall to create what is called the Full Bridle. The Full Bridle has 2 bits and 2 sets of reins. The difference from the Pelham is that the rider is able to use the 2 bits seperatly or together to get the desired movement. It is usually used in Saddleseat classes. The Kimberwick has a purchase (the part above the mouth piece), where the headstall attaches to the bit, instead of to the rings like a snaffle. It also has a curb chain and has different slots to attach the reins to allow the rider to change the leverage action of the bit. The Mechanical Hackamore consists of a noseband with shanks and a curb chain. This is not really a bit because it does not put pressure on the mouth. But some horses find it more favorable over a regular bit. It puts pressure on the nose, chin groove, and the poll. The Bosal Hackamore is usually made of a rawhide noseband thicker over the nose and thinner under the jaw. A mecate (horsehair rope) is attached to the heel knot of the bosal that can be used as closed reins as well as a lead rope if it is tied properly. The stiffer the bosal, the more severe it is.
There are many more types of bits, as this was just an overview. Hopefully this will help you learn more about the correct bit for you and your horse.
References:
National 4-H Council Publication: Horses and Horsemanship
www.mylerbitsusa.com
University of Minnesota Horsemanship and Horse Training Manual
Tom Thumbs are one of the most common types of bits used throughout the western world. But they are not as great as people believe they are. Read this article to see the trouble with Tom Thumbs.