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What type of Bit2007-11-24 21:22:03

I ride a 13 year old American Quarter Horse Gelding. We mainly do dressage and a little bit of jumping. He is very well trained and doesn't spook or buck. Right now I ride him in a regular english bridle (and I use a Kimberwicke). I feel that the Kimberwicke is to harsh. I've tried riding him a plain snaffle but he opens his mouth to much. Does any one know of a better bit? Thanks!

Answers:

Well, if you are ever going to show dressage, a kimberwicke is not an acceptable bit so you will have to find something else he will go in. Is the kimberwicke jointed, ported or mullen mouth? He may not like the nutcracker action of the regular jointed snaffle bit (the break in the middle can poke many horses in the top of the mouth and cause discomfort - that may be why he opens his mouth). You can find quite a variety of double jointed (french link, which don't have the nutcracked effect, they lie flat over the tongue) or mullen mouth (straight) snaffles in most tack catalogs or stores. If you are doing dressage, I would recommend you find a french link or mullen mouth eggbutt or loose ring snaffle, and maybe try that in addition to a flash noseband to discourage him from opening his mouth.

Check out this site...they have just about any bit you can imagine at good prices

http://www.saddleshop.com/eng/engset.htm...

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A Kimberwicke in decent hands isn't a terribly harsh bit...probably less harsh than a lot of types of snaffles are. If he likes it, and goes well on it why change? There aren't many bits that work the way a Kimberwicke does, so changing over to a snaffle will involve re-training his mouth...a snaffle works on totally different areas of the mouth, and doesn't use any leverage, so the feel is completely different.