Mastering Bit Selection for Effective Horse Training

In this blog article we will discuss the aspects of how bits work to help you decide which bit is best for your horse. This includes the pressure points and how each point effects the movement of your horse.

Understanding the 7 Pressure Points:

Before delving into the nuances of bit selection, let’s explore the horse’s anatomy and how different bits interact with various pressure points. A horse’s mouth comprises seven critical pressure points: the corners of the mouth, the bars, the tongue, the roof of the mouth (palate), the nose, the chin, and the poll. Each of these pressure points serves as a channel for communication between rider and horse. Let’s delve deeper into these pressure points and explore their significance in communication between rider and horse. As I go through each of these points and generally what they do, each point influences the other. They may primarily encourage one movement, but each point also influences all other movements. A point that is primarily lateral head movement will also influence how the shoulders move because all of these parts are connected into a malleable body.

1. Corners of the Mouth: Lateral Movement of the Horse’s Head

The corners of the mouth are key players in lateral movements. Bit contact on the corners of the mouth direct the horse’s attention and bending the horse’s head to point it left or right.

2. Bars: Vertical Movement of the Horse’s Head

Next we’ll talk about the bars – the area between the horse’s incisors and molars where the bit rests. There are no teeth in this area. This pressure point influences vertical movements of the head. When pressure is exerted on the bars, it triggers the horse to break at the poll and bring its chin in toward its chest, facilitating actions like bending, collection, and elevation.

3. Tongue: Fine-Tuning the Response

The tongue, a sensitive and versatile area, serves as a point of fine-tuning the horse’s response. Gentle pressure here can prompt delicate shifts in movement, encouraging the horse to be supple and responsive to nuanced cues.

4. Palate: Elevating the Frame and Shoulders

The roof of the mouth, called the palate, is a pressure point of considerable importance. Engaging this area can elicit elevation in the horse’s shoulders, encouraging it to carry itself with the shoulders more round and the front end more elevated which also helps to engage the back end.

5. Nose: Influencing Direction

Gear such as hackamores and bosals primarily use contact on the nose. These should be carefully adjusted as incorrectly adjusted can impair the horse’s breathing. Pressures here can guide the horse’s head, encouraging a lateral and vertical bending of the head. This pressure point is particularly useful when the horse is young and experiencing a changing mouth and adult teeth coming in.

6. Chin: Fulcrum of the Lever

The chin acts as the fulcrum for leverage bits. As the fulcrum, center of rotation of a lever, the chin is the center of rotation of a leverage bit. Contact here is what determines when and how the contact to all of the other leverage points are applied. This pressure point plays a significant role in connecting all of the other points of contact.

7. Poll: Point on the horse’s Head That Controls the Horse’s Body

Just behind the horse’s ears is the poll, a pressure point on the horse’s head that gives you the most control of the horse’s body. Cues here can influence the horse’s shoulders, neck, and ribs. The poll and the pallet work closely together for roundness, collection, and engagement of the horse’s body.

Understanding Pressure Points For Molding the Horse:

The Snaffle Bit: Starting with Softness

The journey begins with the snaffle bit, a simple bit for introducing a young horse to riding. A snaffle is used to soften a horse’s face and for pointing his nose in a direction and introduction to the basics of collection. A snaffle is good for basic introduction but is very limited in helping to control a horse’s body. A D-ring snaffle, with a tapered mouthpiece, and single joint, serves as my initial training bit. It’s essential for teaching the basics of flexion and yielding to pressure. However, the snaffle bit is not limited to young horses. A snaffle is used to teach any horse basic head control. In most western performance classes horses up to five years old can compete in snaffle bit.

The Transition: The Leverage Bit

As a horse progresses in training, transitioning to a leverage bit becomes necessary to develop specific skills. Leverage bits, characterized by a chin strap or chain which acts as the fulcrum for the leverage, offer much more intricate control of the horse’s whole body. Contrary to popular belief, the primary purpose of a leverage bit isn’t to enhance stopping power; instead, it’s about refining communication and encouraging collection and roundness in the body.
A basic leverage bit with a moderate port serves as a stepping stone, allowing the horse to build strength in the shoulders, back, and hindquarters. The angle at which the shank rotates before the curb chain engages gives the bit some of the qualities of a snaffle before the leverage engages to the body control from the other pressure points.

Using the 7 Pressure Points To Get Desired Movements.

As a seasoned horse trainer deeply rooted in disciplines like working cow horse, reining, and ranch riding, I’ve learned that the art of bit selection is a multifaceted endeavor. It’s not about finding the fanciest or harshest bit; it’s about choosing the right tool to create good communication between rider and horse. Every bit will contact one or several of these 7 pressure points. With the knowledge of the 7 pressure points you can look closely at any bit and visualize where and how the bit will engage contact and match that contact with where the horse needs help to better use his body to do the job you want him to do.

Customization for Individual Needs

While certain bits serve as general templates, the art of bit selection involves customization to meet individual horse needs. The transition from a low port bit to a taller port bit can greatly influence shoulder lift and engagement. Different mouthpiece shapes, roller components, and curb chain adjustments all contribute to a unique feel in the horse’s mouth.
Regularly rotating between similar bits helps keep a horse’s mouth responsive and avoids the development of calluses or hardness. Just as different exercise variations target distinct muscle groups, different bits engage specific pressure points, enhancing the horse’s responsiveness and understanding and always keeping the horse’s mouth soft and responsive.

Mastering the Communication: A Continuous Journey

As a horse trainer dedicated to excellence in performance, my bit selection is guided by the needs of the discipline and the individual horse. The evolution from snaffle to leverage bits is an artful progression that aligns with a horse’s growth and training. A skilled horseman becomes a master of communication, deftly maneuvering through bits to orchestrate fluid and harmonious movement.

Bit selection is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor; it’s a dynamic process that evolves as horse and rider refine their partnership. With a keen understanding of pressure points, a commitment to customization, and an unwavering dedication to the horse’s well-being, we navigate the intricate dance of equestrian communication. So, whether you’re riding in a snaffle, transitioning to a leverage bit, or selecting a unique piece of equipment, remember that each choice carries the power to enhance your equine bond and elevate your horsemanship journey or destroy it if used harshly.

If you would like to go deeper into how to use your hands with these bits and using your legs to get the control I’m talking about here, then you will probably find this blog on How Different Rein and Leg Cues Effect Movement very interesting. In my video, My Bits and My Bitting Program, I talk in depth and show you about all of the bits that I use in my training program and why I use certain bits for certain things.

If you found this blog article helpful you might try my other Horse Training Blogs. All of the valuable information I have learned through 25+ years of horse training and showing I share with you to help you to improve your equestrian knowledge. Thank You.