Signs You Have the Wrong English Bit

Have you noticed that your horse is flipping his head when you take up contact with the reins? Does he seem to open his mouth as a form of resistance? How about the position of his headset? Is your horse coiled up like a spring, with his chin on his chest? All of these may be symptoms that you are using the wrong English bit on your horse.

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While many frustrations under saddle are associated with training issues rather than problems with the bit, issues with tack can also make your horse difficult to ride. For example, a horse that literally tries to take the bit from your hands by flipping his head or rooting forward and down with his mouth probably needs a tougher bit. Don’t go too far to the opposite extreme, however. If you’ve been using a smooth snaffle, switch to one

Finally, a horse that avoids rein contact by arching his neck and pinning his chin nearly to his chest is said to be “behind the bit.” In most instances this is caused by a combination of a feisty horse, a rider using hand aids that are too strong and a much too severe bit. By returning to a milder bit and working on simple exercises on the flat, the horse should learn to accept the bit and the rider’s hands. If you investigate alternatives in bit choices, you’ll be on your way to more successful rides under saddle.

Rumor has it the author has enough bits to start a museum.

22 years ago

Cindy Hale

Cindy Hale’s life with horses has been filled with variety. As a child she rode western and learned to barrel race. Then she worked as a groom for a show barn, and was taught to harness and drive Welsh ponies. But once she’d taken her first lessons aboard American Saddlebreds she was hooked on English riding. Hunters and hunt seat equitation came next, and she spent decades competing in those divisions on the West Coast. Always seeking to improve her horsemanship, she rode in clinics conducted by world-class riders like George Morris, Kathy Kusner and Anne Kursinski. During that time, her family began raising Thoroughbred and warmblood sport horses, and Cindy experienced the thrills and challenges of training and showing the homebred greenies. Now retired from active competition, she’s a popular judge at local and county-rated open and hunter/jumper shows. She rides recreationally both English and western. Her Paint gelding, Wally, lives at home with her and her non-horsey husband, Ron.

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View Comments

Laura says:
March 2, 2007 at 7:57 am
i have been using the wrong bit for jumping and now that I chenged my bit my horse is 100% better.
Bridget says:
April 19, 2007 at 9:11 am
Huh, when we first got my TB he came with a french link snaffle and it worked erally well but then I started jumping him a bit more and he got really strong on the back end of the fence. So my trainer said to try him in a slow twist and it had no efect whatsoever, so we switched him again to a simple pehlem. I ride him in it every day and he listens to me much better while jumping. Funny though, he flipps his head after about 45 minutes of riding time. he'll do it at w/t/c. It seems to me that it is because he is bored with what we are doing b/c he never does it when we're jumping, only when we are flatting. He also does it in his stall, in the cross ties and just standing in the pasture. Is it a bit problem, a nervous/bored habit or maybe a tooth problem? Or maybe I just worry too much and nothing is wrong with him?
leslie says:
May 17, 2007 at 12:23 pm
Well written, easy to understand. My horse was fine with a simple jointed snaffle till she figured out she could run away with my grandaughter. Now she tries it with me...was looking for suggestions to help remedy this issue
stephanie salomone says:
October 12, 2007 at 11:49 pm
good artical. i would like to see an artical on trainning the green horse the proper hunter head set. we are having so much trouble with this.
Julie says:
January 5, 2008 at 6:40 pm
Don't let tack problems get between you and your horse. By Cindy Hale. I read this article with great interest then was shocked at the staement that a Dr. Bristol and a french link are one and the same. The two bits could not be further apart. A French link is a gentle bit and a Dr. Bristol is a much stronger bit. Please check text before things go to print?
Cat says:
May 13, 2008 at 2:04 pm
This is a great article... I would like to see something on getting your horse ready for jumping...
Jenn says:
June 4, 2009 at 4:18 pm
Good article and great points, what about sidepulls and hackamores?
Cindy Hale says:
November 13, 2009 at 10:38 am
Julie:
You are correct that typically a French link is milder in design than a Dr. Bristol. However, they both feature a center link that avoids hitting the palate of a horse's mouth, which was the reason for mentioning them together. I hope that clarifies any confusion.
Matt says:
March 10, 2010 at 9:35 pm
I only ride in snaffle bits and my horses are fine. I hate seeing horses with harsh bits in their mouths with riders that are rough on the horses mouth. Then they wonder why their horse is sour. But I do agree some horses need a slightly stronger bit.
Eliza says:
June 7, 2010 at 5:00 am
I have an eleven yr ol norweigian fjord. I want to ride her in english and saddle seat classes, but i cant find a bit that can get through to her. i have very soft aids and i hate kicking her and tugging on her to make her go. i currently ride her in a jointed kimberwick and a straight bar pelham. I have tryed other bits like a full cheek snaffle and some western curb bits. nothing seems to work. help!!!