Bits for horses

There are a lot of different bits out there and it can get really overwhelming if you don't know exactly what you are looking for and what your horse needs. We'll go over the types of bits, the pieces of the bit, the uses, and best practices- including fit. It's not near as confusing if you know what to look for and understand how the bit works.

From copper to twisted and everything in between, our Horse Bits 101 will teach you everything you need to choose the right bit for your horse for every ride.

Choosing a bit for your horse is serious business, but it doesn't need to be stressful. Our guide helps you find the right mouthpiece.

There are basically only two kinds of bits — the snaffle (with no shanks) and the curb (with shanks). Plus, there’s the Pelham, which combines a snaffle and curb, but there are hundreds of different variations on these two basic types. A so-called double bridle, used by some English riders, polo players and other equestrian competitions like dressage, actually has two bits — a curb and a snaffle — in the horse’s mouth.

No one can say for sure when the first bit was invented, but they were likely to have been used thousands of years ago and made of rope, wood, and bone. Like a lot of historic inventions, the use of modern technology has meant that a bit is no longer just a bar. In fact, there are now hundreds of variations in various materials, to suit a plethora of riding styles and varying degrees of control.

Myth 1: Anything with a broken mouth piece is a snaffle. This is one of my biggest pet peeves. I walk into a tack shop or look at an...

This simple, go-to piece of horse-training tack has more going for it than you might know. Learn about proper use and different styles of snaffle bits for riding.