6 minute read
A Bit of Knowledge
A Bit of Knowledge
At Let’s Rope, our commitment to our community and readership has inspired us to provide practical, comprehensive content. We hope this article helps you visualize the relationship between your horse and most bits in your tack room. These are simply our observations for you to draw your own conclusions from.
Here you can see a shanked snaffle bit with loose reins (no pressure applied). The second image is that same bit with the bit engaged.
No Pressure
Pressure
Notice when pressure is applied horse begins to open it’s jaw.
Standard Snaffle Mouthpiece 5 1/4” wide
*Horse used in this demonstration is 3 years old.SouthTexasTack.com
Here you can see a short shank chain bit with loose reins (no pressure applied). The second image is that same bit with the bit engaged.
No Pressure
Pressure
Notice when pressure is applied horse begins to open it’s jaw.
Standard Chain Mouthpiece 5 1/2” wide
Here you can see a Dog Bone bit with copper rollers with loose reins (no pressure applied). The second image is that same bit with the bit engaged.
No Pressure
Pressure
The horse seems comfortable with this mouthpiece in, and as a result, the jaw remains closed.
Standard Dogbone with Rollers Mouthpiece 5 1/4” wide
No Pressure
This line in the x-ray indicates the soft palate, in this case this mouthpiece with no pressure is resting on the soft palate.
Pressure
The horse seems comfortable with this mouthpiece in, and as a result, the jaw remains closed.
Standard Ported Chain Mouthpiece 5 1/2” wide
No Pressure
Pressure
Notice when pressure is applied horse begins to open its jaw slightly.
Standard Correction Mouthpiece 5 1/4” wide
No Pressure
Pressure
The horse seems comfortable with this mouthpiece in, and as a result, the jaw remains closed.
Standard Medium Port Mouthpiece 5 1/2” wide
Our goal with this study is to create awareness about what you cannot see in your horses mouth while they are performing with the bit or bits of your choice. The bits we used in this study can be found in most every ropers tack room. Additionally the horses used are 3 and 5 years old. The 3 yr. old was pictured with bits more commonly used on a younger developing horse. The 5 yr. old was pictured with bits more commonly used with a more developed broke horse. Points of interest are, tongue pressure and soft palate pressure. Feel free to draw your own conclusions from our visual clinical study. Let’s Rope.com is committed to continuously creating awareness on important topics relating to equine sports.
We would like to Thank Dr. Kurt Heite of Brazos Valley Equine Hospital for their facilities and managing our study.
