I hope you all had a good holiday and received some nice horsy presents.  

 One essential piece of tack which attaches to the bridle is a bit.  In the old days, there was a small selection of bits which were made from stainless steel or nickel a cheaper metal.  Today, like everything else we buy, TVs, DVD players, sneakers, skies, clothing, etc. change with the advancement in technology . . . and so with these technological advancements the horse world moves on too.

 Equestrian products today have a wider selection and are made mostly by machine instead of by hand.  Most products have made taking care of horses easier, prolongs their life and helps our wallet as cheaper materials are used although in some cases I prefer the old hand made products.  

 One product which has evolved is the bit. Today there are a variety of bits on the market and not just by type but by material and design too.  Some have copper and nickel as well as stainless steel, others are designed to fit in the mouth better and there are a variety brand names too.  The three main types of bits are the snaffle, the curb-bit and the Pelham. The most popular is the snaffle. The bit together with the bridle acts on the lips and corners of the mouth, the bars of the mouth, the tongue, roof of the mouth, the nose, the chin groove and the poll.

 It's extremely important that you get the right bit for your horse and the right size. Consideration must be taken into account the experience of the rider too. A mild bit with an experienced rider with good hands might make Magic go very well but with a less experienced rider or a rider with poor hands a different type of bit would be required. 

 Of course discipline should also be taken into account. I like to ride my horses in a loose ring French link snaffle which is very mild.  One of my horses has a hollow loose ring snaffle, but if I was riding a cross country round on my horse Milly I use a copper roller snaffle bit which doesn't allow her to take hold of the bit and run away with me! 

 Unfortunately a lot of people bit their horses because either when they bought the horse a particular bit came with the horse or 'Fred' at the barn said ooooh you should try 'im in an xxxx bit or there is a fashion where several people have a particular type of bit so they are copied to be with the barn "in crowd".  

 On the whole people need to give more thought into what bit they use because in reality the bit is a two way communication between horse and rider. We therefore need to find a happy medium in order to achieve effective communication. The mouth is sensitive and if you yank and pull it's uncomfortable therefore it's important to school/train your horses properly, have the horses mouth and teeth checked regularly at least once a year, if not twice, and finally never use a rusty bit.

 Please make sure you have the right bit for your horse, the thinner the bit the more severe it is. The longer the shank the more severe it is. There are a variety of bits for sale in stores and catalogues, some are mild bits and some are severe, make sure you know the difference. I hate seeing those twisted snaffles and really thin bits there are no need for them. 

 One last thing check that you have the right size bit too, a bit that's too small will pinch the corners of the horses mouth and one that's too big with hang down in the mouth and the horse will get his tongue over the bit.  The right bit will make all the difference to your riding and your horse.

 Happy New Year.