Getting your horse on the bit is considered the Holy Grail of dressage. It may seem mysterious and hard to grasp, but the good news is anyone can learn what to do, and then do it!You have probably...
Rubber Snaffle: The effect of a snaffle bit’s action is made milder when the mouthpiece is encased in rubber. The thick rubber material can be either pliable or hard. Some rubber snaffles include a faint taste that’s pleasant to...
D-ring: This bit gets its name from the shape of the bit ring, which is shaped like the capital letter “D.” The design fixes the bit in the horse’s mouth, preventing it from rotating and also from being pulled...
Dr. Bristol: A double-jointed mouthpiece, similar to the French link, yet more severe. That’s because the centerpiece of the Dr. Bristol design is rectangular, thinner, and includes angular edges.The centerpiece is slightly offset from the other sections of...
French link: Like the Dr. Bristol snaffle, the French link features a three-piece mouthpiece. But the French link is the milder of the two bits. That’s because the centerpiece of the French link is shaped, smooth, and oval or...
Mullen mouth: Despite the non-jointed mouthpiece, a Mullen mouth snaffle is just that: a snaffle. When designed with a pair of simple bit rings, it utilizes direct rein pressure and not leverage, so in this configuration it is not...
Eggbutt Snaffle: This oddly named snaffle does indeed resemble the oval shape of an egg. Unlike a loose ring snaffle, the eggbutt will not rotate in a horse’s mouth; it’s fixed. Though mouthpieces may vary, the eggbutt is generally...
Riding a bad transition is like riding a pile driver. It’s bumpy and can cause you to lose your seat and your patience. You’ve seen your horse move smoothly from trot to canter and back to trot in the...
It may be tempting to run out and buy a horse the minute you find one, but rein yourself in and put the checkbook away for now. It’s a good idea to start your riding career at a reputable...
