Western Tom Thumb: This bit combines the simple, single-jointed mouthpiece of a snaffle with the shanks and chin strap of a curb bit. The idea is to maintain the basic nutcracker action of a snaffle, yet introduce the leverage...
Your trail riding partners think it’d be a fabulous idea to gallop to that big oak tree in the distance. But you get a sinking feeling in your stomach. You’re certain that you’ll still be flying at a dead...
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...
For a fast and safe run, it’s imperative that your barrel horse change leads between the first and second barrel. "It’s actually scary for a horse to turn on the wrong lead because he’s in a position where he...
