| Bitting a horse can be one of the toughest things an | | | | extremely high, on hot sunny days, a metal bit can |
| owner has to do with their horse, and not all animals | | | | likewise become extremely warm and burn a horse's |
| appreciate the task. Most of us know at least one | | | | mouth like a leather car seat would burn your |
| horse that can't wear a bit, and listed below are some | | | | backside. Take some consideration and think of this |
| of the many reasons for one to consider the | | | | while you are bitting your horse. |
| nontraditional horse bits available today. | | | | Training methods aside, if you choose not to bit your |
| Making sure a horse's bit fits properly is the first step in | | | | horse with a metal bit, there are tons of products out |
| bitting horses. Horse bits should not crease the | | | | there designed to work better with the horse than just |
| corner of the horse's mouth, and no part of the bar | | | | a hunk of steel laid across its tongue. Mechanical |
| should be visible outside the mouth when the bit is | | | | hackamores are somewhat severe in my opinion and |
| fitted correctly. The horse should salivate well as it is | | | | some of the bitless systems work better than |
| ridden and the bit should not be dry or painful in the | | | | others. My rules pertaining to these systems include |
| animal's mouth. Getting it in the horse should be | | | | good control, affordable price, a simplistic design, a fail |
| something it was trained to do as a youngster, the | | | | proof, durable, outdoor material, and a good reliable |
| horse shouldn't throw its head or bite out of fear. If | | | | company name. These are pretty good guidelines to |
| your horse does, you will either have to find another | | | | follow and keeping them in mind will save you a ton of |
| alternative to the metal bit or retrain it to better accept | | | | hassle and confusion later on. The system should |
| the bit. If you are riding in a metal bit, take care to | | | | also release easily, some of them bunch up and while |
| warm the bit on very cold days as no horse | | | | they tighten with ease, they don't let up very easily. |
| appreciates holding a metal bit that is going to stick to | | | | That will be a problem if you are out riding and have to |
| their warm wet tongue. IF the temperature is | | | | stop, only to have equipment problems on the trail. |