Starting out is never easy and for young horses it can be difficult to accept bit. One horse will chew and champ on the bit while the other might be extremely sensitive towards it. There’s a variety of things to keep in mind when choosing a bit. We will discuss a few bits from Sprenger’s basic collection to help you make the right choice.
Get the basics right
Bits come in many shapes and sizes, but with horses in training it is vital to start at the beginning. A healthy and well-trained horse is a commendable goal, but when choosing a bit it is not just the horse’s level of aptitude that you need to take into account, it is also important to look at your own level of riding.
Young horses aren’t used to having a bit in their mouth. As such it can be difficult for your horse to accept bit; even if you have the perfect bit, if your horse doesn’t accept the bit it loses its effect. The
Sprenger KK Ultra bit is available as loose ring snaffle or egg-butt snaffle and is unique in the sense that it has a middle piece that is turned forward in a 45-degree angle. This feature ensures an even pressure distribution as well as little pressure on the tongue and the edges of the mouth, additionally the bit won’t press against the horse’s palate. As a result this bit is ideal to start out with. Aids will reach your horse more effectively thanks to the turning of the bit.
Salivation
Sufficient salivation and foaming is another aspect which is vital in accepting the bit. It might result in discomfort, if your horse lacks sufficient salivation. In order to improve salivation and foaming you might choose for the use of different materials such as
Sensogan.
Sensogan is an alloy made of a combination of copper, manganese and zinc. Copper ensures slight oxidation which gives the bit a sweet flavour. The sweetness will stimulate your horse to chew on the bit. A pure copper bit would be way too soft; generally bits have a high percentage of copper which is then mixed with aluminum, however the aluminum will contradict the oxidation. By adding manganese and zinc the oxidation will be more constant throughout the training even after using the bit for a longer period of time.
Soft contact
The loose ring snaffle can be useful for horses that tend to be stubborn in the mouth, as the loose rings move around. However, some horses are sensitive for this and by choosing for an egg-butt snaffle instead you can remove some of these nervous reactions. The egg-butt snaffle also gives extra support to the check as it fits closer to the mouth than a loose ring snaffle. Additionally the
Sprenger Dynamic RS is shaped anatomically, which ensures the bit stays in place resulting in the horse going on the bit in a softer manner.
Tongue troubles
A double-jointed mouthpiece works wonders for many horses, but in some cases it brings tongue troubles such as grabbing hold on the bit or throwing the tongue over the bit. The solution to this problem is the Sprenger Turnado. This jointed mouthpiece has a connection that is turned in a 45-degree angle. This angle allows the bit to roll of the tongue and corrects the way the horse moves its tongue. The
Turnado is easily recognizable by its middle piece which has been roughened up.
JRS is an international wholesaler of several high quality equestrian brands in the Benelux. Equestrianism is a sport which is developing at high speed and JRS seeks to encourage these changes. Its goal is to share knowledge and guarantee quality by maintaining a connection between manufacturer and horse and rider stores. Check out www.jrsport.nl for more information.