Bits?

[HappyHorse13]

How does the double-jointed loose ring snaffle work, and is it harsh? Just wondering, I don't know much about bits...I'm searching but the Internet is being pffftttt!

[alliekk]

That is a very popular and productive training bit that many trainers prefer to use because it doesn't give mixed cues. If you are training a horse or have a horse with a sensitive mouth that I would recommend using this bit. If you are into something that requires a little bit more control like jumping then I'm not too sure that this bit is the correct one unless you have a horse that knows what he is doing and can do it without having an attitude issue. I hope this helps!!
~ALLIE~

[HappyHorse13]

It does thank-you!!!

[Casper2002]

this snaffle bit does almost the exact same thing as a regular snaffle bit, except the french linked snaffle is usually more expensive.

[Fells_4_ever]

i agree with casper, a lot of people opt for a french link over a normal thinking its less harsh but they're the same they just work in different ways.

[bethfornow]

Speaking of bits......

Is a double twisted wire snaffle harsher than a single twisted wire? and has any one ever seen or knows where to buy a twisted wire shank that is broken in the middle? My old barn had one and i loved it but can't find one any where. My trainer said she got it from QH congress a couple years age but dosn't remember which vendor.

Thanks :p

[alliekk]

Any twisted wire bit is pretty harsh, maybe a bit too much for some horses like those with sensitive mouths. the reason it is so harsh is because the bars are thinner, allowing them to push down in a more concentrated area of the mouth/gums. another reason is when the wires are twisted like that it kind of makes the bars feel like they are slightly studded, giving the horse more reason to give to the bit. twisted wire bits are illegal in 4-H solely because they are too harsh. Sure 4-H will allow a rider to use a bit with a ridiculously high port, but there is an age limit to wearing a snaffle (twisted wire is most common in a snaffle) which means that you are putting a harsh bit on a young horse. bad combination for his future.
If you are still trying to find a twisted wire snaffle, go on ebay! its probably the only place you can look when you cant find something...

[Skip_n_Hide]

Ouchies! Don't like sound of that!

[bethfornow]

thankz, i knew twisted wire bits were harsher than smooth bits but i didn't know why. My horse is 13 and is a western pleasure/ all arround horse so he is usually ridden in a shank but i do use a twisted wire snaffle for precision and intense training. Believe me, my old dog knows all the tricks so it's nice to have a little bit of leverage (ie the twisted wire) sometimes.

thanks for the info! :p

[silverleprichuan]

A double jointed bit is as soft if not softer than a plain loose ring. My mare goes in a copper oval mouth loose ring snaffle... I don't think you can get softer than that.

[Haley]

It's a great bit for a horse with a sensitive mouth. It's a good bet, but you need a responsive horse.

[bethfornow]

LOL I would trade my left foot for a horse with a soft mouth!!! You dont know how lucky you are Silver! :)

[silverleprichuan]

LOL I would trade my left foot for a horse with a soft mouth!!! You dont know how lucky you are Silver! :)


Lol I am very lucky but it took a long time to get her there. She was completely unstoppable when I got her and it took 1.5 years of flying around the ring at 10000 mph before she learned to soften and listen to my aids.

[bethfornow]

Looking at her pics (she is georgous by the way) she looks like she is still a little head strong but such is the way with eventors right. :p

I had a TB/ quarter horse in for training once that would absolutly take the bit from you on the off side of an obstacle. :rolleyes:

Codoos again on having such a light touch. :)

[silverleprichuan]

Looking at her pics (she is georgous by the way) she looks like she is still a little head strong but such is the way with eventors right. :p

I had a TB/ quarter horse in for training once that would absolutly take the bit from you on the off side of an obstacle. :rolleyes:

Codoos again on having such a light touch. :)


Lol thank you very much. If she had her way she'd go tackle the prelim course with or without me, but that is what makes her a good event horse. It's a daily struggle not to get hard when she gets head-strong and I definitely have my weak moment where I give in a pull but we've come a long way. I just remember that it will be worth it in the end if I stay soft and don't fight.
I truly believe those tb/quarter 's are the perfect horses in so many ways. Combine raw power with intellegence and agility... they are truly "wow" horses. I would love to see more appendix's out in the show world.

[bethfornow]

Dido on that but only a select few have the nice round hind end to match that massive head and shoulder. For an eventer I'll take an arabian/quarter any day. Some come out lookin a little funny but I've yet to see a horse that will focus and work for you as well as that cross. Not to mention have the stamina to lenghty eventing and cross country corses.

[DarkChylde]

My personal favorite is a mullen mouth, or french training snaffle as was pictured earlier. I too had a hard-mouthed, unresponsive, distant horse, and after retraining him he is now the adored babysitter of my five-year old, and she rides in a side-pull! But it took retraining from the basics, I used 'natural' horsemanship techniques and it took time and LOTS of patience, but he was worth it. I would suggest bit guards to prevent the slippage thru the mouth thing...
Just my 2 cents!

[Ruby Rider]

Speaking of bits......

Is a double twisted wire snaffle harsher than a single twisted wire? and has any one ever seen or knows where to buy a twisted wire shank that is broken in the middle? My old barn had one and i loved it but can't find one any where. My trainer said she got it from QH congress a couple years age but dosn't remember which vendor.

Thanks :p


welll i train mules and horses and i just usea regular full cheek snaflle it and on the mule ( sense we arn't that exsperiencesdin training mules ) we got a steve edwards tape and the only buit he recomends is the dubble twisted wire snaffle because the mules can't figure it out and .... but anyways we have one and we found it at a barn sale ... so i would look at thoose and or go on e-bay or somthing tit was really hard for my and my dad to find one for 5dollars because i couldve gotten on for 60 but i prefer 5dollar...lol
well you : )

[bethfornow]

I have a double twisted wire snaffle that i use for bending, precision and tuning but I was looking for a twisted wire shank. Well, actually more of a twisted bar since it is the thickness of a bar instead of a wire. Sorry if I am confusing. :D

[bethfornow]

So another question:

Any one ever tried any of the Mylar bits?? I saw them in a tack store yesterday and was wondering if they are worth the price??????

Any one got any opinions on these bits???

[silverleprichuan]

So another question:

Any one ever tried any of the Mylar bits?? I saw them in a tack store yesterday and was wondering if they are worth the price??????

Any one got any opinions on these bits???


Horses tend to love them or hate them. If I remember correctly they have a program where you can try them out for $2 a day. A weeks worth of riding should give you a good idea of whether or not it will work for you. If so, ebay often has gently used ones for sale at $15 to $20 off.

[bethfornow]

LOL. once again, silver to the rescue. :D

Thanks