What type of bit do you use?!?!

southdakotaroper · 01-24-2006, 05:48 PM

What type of bit do you use for the following?

barrel racing:
pole bending:
roping:
ranch work:
reining:
Cutting:
Other:

please list the bit and what you use it for. under other list what (ex. dressage, jumping, team penning, etc.)

Thanks

Chrismelvin · 01-24-2006, 06:04 PM

Believe it or not, with an experienced horse, I used a hackamore for barrels, keyhole, and pole bending.
Snaffle for the horse I have now, she is green broke and that is what they started her with.

C

southdakotaroper · 01-24-2006, 06:22 PM

I use a hackamore on some of my horses too! be careful though if you use a mechanical hackamore though. It caused one of my horses to start rearing and I have really soft hands!

I use a lot of tom-thumb bits!

Range · 01-24-2006, 07:20 PM

Snaffle or no bit for all! Actually, my guy is green in all subjects, so the snaffle works. I try to use body cues the majority of the time.

southdakotaroper · 01-24-2006, 08:18 PM

that's good. I was riding my 3 year old this fall with a bosal and the leather holding the ring for the reins on broke! We were loping so I had no way to stop him! luckily I had him trained for when I swing my leg over he stops. That's just what he did I swung my leg and he did a sliding stop and parked it!!
I'm glad I taught him that though!

southdakotaroper · 01-24-2006, 08:19 PM

I have a question...how do you put your picture under your name?!?!

Valkyrie · 01-24-2006, 08:29 PM

Hi there! Don't know about the bit questions, but here's how you post an avatar (the image under your name) ....

http://forum.horsetopia.com/viewtopic.php?t=963

southdakotaroper · 01-24-2006, 08:48 PM

Thanks Valkyrie!
How do you size it down?
Kassandra
southdakotaroper!

pasomystic · 01-24-2006, 10:32 PM

If I can't herd cattle down off the mountains, game, rein, trail ride, parade, CTR and do first level dressage without a bit, my horse isn't fully trained. I ride in an all leather side-pull--and often just in a halter. I expect my horse to listen to my body language and my verbal commands, not a bit. Works for me.

MeAndMyHorses · 01-25-2006, 02:17 AM

I have an AQHA and I have always ridden him in a bosal..he is a heeling horse...he loves being ridden in his bosal and get s mad at me if I put a bit in his mouth LOL.

Gottahavehorses · 01-25-2006, 07:11 AM

I use a full cheek snaffle with Shanook, low port walking horse bit for Gabe and started Sam with a training snaffle.

southdakotaroper · 01-25-2006, 07:24 AM

Thats cool! I've never done dressage or even rode english...

I have though chased horses on one of my mares bareback with just a lead rope around her neck!

ToveroMom · 01-25-2006, 10:06 AM

I have a very mild reining bit with a broken mouthpiece and a flat copper roller that I use on about all my senior horses. they all seem to like it
For showing I have a medium port curb that is fancied up a bit on the shanks.
Start them in a snaffle then ride them and show them in a bosal till they are 6.

BarrelGirl · 01-25-2006, 11:48 AM

For barrels and poles, I like to ride in a hackamore, also. I get the horse listening to my cues by using a snaffle bit, but I prefer to run them in a Jim Warner hackamore. That way they can tell the difference between 'run' (hackamore) and 'slow work' (snaffle). It's worked for me so far.

mandelyn82 · 01-25-2006, 12:06 PM

Tom Thumb for trails/western stuff, and a French O ring Dressage for English... on the same horse. Putzing round the arena was bareback with just a rope halter and a lead.

A J · 01-25-2006, 01:44 PM

On my dressage horse, a french link O-ring. For my future WP prospect Arabian, just a plain snaffle. I will eventually move him into a bosal for show (hopefully) until he's older. On some finished western horses I ride I use a type of broken reining bit with a copper mouthpiece - it has shorter shanks, so I also have used it as a transition bit. Kimberwick for HUS if my horse gets a little excited in the ring.

TheUpNorthCowgirl · 01-25-2006, 02:31 PM

I use a Tom Thumb for almost everything. When I contest I use a Wonder Bit or a Tom Thumb.

Rebecca · 01-25-2006, 02:43 PM

We use a Tom Thumb for Sorting, Penning, and trail riding.

eieio · 01-25-2006, 02:50 PM

I mostly use plain large dee ring snaffle and bosals. On my stallion we use a snaffle at home and a broken MicMar bit for more flexion, (when he does cow work around some amorous ladies). Everything elese rides in a plain snaffle for everything. If you cannot do it a snaffle you have skipped a step!

ToveroMom · 01-25-2006, 03:50 PM

Well,I can't show mine in a snaffle,no steps skipped though. I do advance my older horses into a curb.
Some folks just prefer a curb-no problem there.

01-24-2006, 05:48 PM
southdakotaroper Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South Dakota Posts: 46	What type of bit do you use?!?! What type of bit do you use for the following? barrel racing: pole bending: roping: ranch work: reining: Cutting: Other: please list the bit and what you use it for. under other list what (ex. dressage, jumping, team penning, etc.) Thanks

01-24-2006, 06:04 PM
Chrismelvin Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Eastern iowa Posts: 57	BITS Believe it or not, with an experienced horse, I used a hackamore for barrels, keyhole, and pole bending. Snaffle for the horse I have now, she is green broke and that is what they started her with. C __________________ Be careful what you wish for!!

01-24-2006, 06:22 PM
southdakotaroper Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South Dakota Posts: 46	I use a hackamore on some of my horses too! be careful though if you use a mechanical hackamore though. It caused one of my horses to start rearing and I have really soft hands! I use a lot of tom-thumb bits!

01-24-2006, 07:20 PM
Range Kid Safe Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 6,739	bits Snaffle or no bit for all! Actually, my guy is green in all subjects, so the snaffle works. I try to use body cues the majority of the time. __________________ "Be careful what you wish for, because you just might get it all... you just might get it all, and then some you don't want." Chris Daughtery

01-24-2006, 08:18 PM
southdakotaroper Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South Dakota Posts: 46	that's good. I was riding my 3 year old this fall with a bosal and the leather holding the ring for the reins on broke! We were loping so I had no way to stop him! luckily I had him trained for when I swing my leg over he stops. That's just what he did I swung my leg and he did a sliding stop and parked it!! I'm glad I taught him that though!

01-24-2006, 08:19 PM
southdakotaroper Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South Dakota Posts: 46	I have a question...how do you put your picture under your name?!?!

01-24-2006, 08:29 PM
Valkyrie Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Nova Scotia, Canada Posts: 864	Hi there! Don't know about the bit questions, but here's how you post an avatar (the image under your name) .... http://forum.horsetopia.com/viewtopic.php?t=963 __________________ \"The Horse. Here is nobility without conceit, friendship without envy, Beauty without vanity. A willing servant, yet no slave\" - Ronald Duncan

01-24-2006, 08:48 PM
southdakotaroper Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South Dakota Posts: 46	Thanks Valkyrie! How do you size it down? Kassandra southdakotaroper!

01-24-2006, 10:32 PM
pasomystic Coming two Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,935	If I can't herd cattle down off the mountains, game, rein, trail ride, parade, CTR and do first level dressage without a bit, my horse isn't fully trained. I ride in an all leather side-pull--and often just in a halter. I expect my horse to listen to my body language and my verbal commands, not a bit. Works for me. __________________ We don't see things as they are. We see things as we are.

01-25-2006, 02:17 AM
MeAndMyHorses Halter broke Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Kennewick, Washington Posts: 103	I have an AQHA and I have always ridden him in a bosal..he is a heeling horse...he loves being ridden in his bosal and get s mad at me if I put a bit in his mouth LOL.

01-25-2006, 07:11 AM
Gottahavehorses Weanling Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Northeast TN Posts: 315	I use a full cheek snaffle with Shanook, low port walking horse bit for Gabe and started Sam with a training snaffle.

01-25-2006, 07:24 AM
southdakotaroper Newborn Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: South Dakota Posts: 46	Thats cool! I've never done dressage or even rode english... I have though chased horses on one of my mares bareback with just a lead rope around her neck!

01-25-2006, 10:06 AM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	I have a very mild reining bit with a broken mouthpiece and a flat copper roller that I use on about all my senior horses. they all seem to like it For showing I have a medium port curb that is fancied up a bit on the shanks. Start them in a snaffle then ride them and show them in a bosal till they are 6. __________________

01-25-2006, 11:48 AM
BarrelGirl Started Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 2,042	For barrels and poles, I like to ride in a hackamore, also. I get the horse listening to my cues by using a snaffle bit, but I prefer to run them in a Jim Warner hackamore. That way they can tell the difference between 'run' (hackamore) and 'slow work' (snaffle). It's worked for me so far.

01-25-2006, 12:06 PM
mandelyn82 Started Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 2,320	Tom Thumb for trails/western stuff, and a French O ring Dressage for English... on the same horse. Putzing round the arena was bareback with just a rope halter and a lead. __________________ "The more people I meet the more I love my German Shepherd"

01-25-2006, 01:44 PM
A J Greenbroke Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Vallejo, CA Posts: 3,856	On my dressage horse, a french link O-ring. For my future WP prospect Arabian, just a plain snaffle. I will eventually move him into a bosal for show (hopefully) until he's older. On some finished western horses I ride I use a type of broken reining bit with a copper mouthpiece - it has shorter shanks, so I also have used it as a transition bit. Kimberwick for HUS if my horse gets a little excited in the ring. __________________ Try not, do or do not. There is no try.

01-25-2006, 02:31 PM
TheUpNorthCowgirl Long Yearling Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Upper Michigan Posts: 1,354	I use a Tom Thumb for almost everything. When I contest I use a Wonder Bit or a Tom Thumb. __________________ The horse has so docile a nature, that he would rather do right than wrong, if he can only be taught to distinguish one from the other."

01-25-2006, 02:43 PM
Rebecca Greenbroke Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: East Texas Posts: 3,196	We use a Tom Thumb for Sorting, Penning, and trail riding.

01-25-2006, 02:50 PM
eieio Greenbroke Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: South Carolina Posts: 3,138	I mostly use plain large dee ring snaffle and bosals. On my stallion we use a snaffle at home and a broken MicMar bit for more flexion, (when he does cow work around some amorous ladies). Everything elese rides in a plain snaffle for everything. If you cannot do it a snaffle you have skipped a step! __________________ There is no such thing as a always or never in the horse world. Say that one time and some horse some where will prove you wrong!.

01-25-2006, 03:50 PM
ToveroMom Pasture Pet Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cleveland TX Posts: 17,059	Well,I can't show mine in a snaffle,no steps skipped though. I do advance my older horses into a curb. Some folks just prefer a curb-no problem there. __________________