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| You have your horse and all your tack except your bit. Which one do you use? A bit is a piece of metal or other material that goes in a horses mouth that allows a rider to control their horse. Basically bits either use leverage or pressure to work. This is how the rider communicates with the horse. Just because you have a large horse doesn't mean you need a harsh bit. Your horse's mouth is extremely sensitive, with gums between his front and back teeth the usual place for the bit. Called the bars, these "empty" spots are alive with nerve endings, as well as the tongue, inner checks, lips and palate. Choosing the right bit for your horse is important. A snaffle bit uses direct pressure to the tongue and the corners of the mouth without any leverage. Snaffle bits most commonly have a single jointed mouthpiece and act with a nutcracker effect on the bars, tongue and occasionally roof of the mouth. However, any bit that operates only on direct pressure is a "snaffle" bit, regardless of mouthpiece. When purchasing a bit, consider its width. A wider mouthpiece covers a larger contact area and diminished the pressure. The narrower the mouthpiece, the sharper the pressure on the horses mouth. A straight bit puts more pressure on the horse's tongue and less on the bars. Some bits are curved, with grooves or hinges, which go easier on the tongue but increase pressure on the bars. A curb bit usually has a pressure ratio of three to one: if you put five pounds of pressure on the reins, your horse will feel 15 pounds of pressure in his mouth. Curb bits aren't used for providing directional signals, but for braking. Instead of putting pressure on one side or the other, the curb bit puts pressure between the chin and the bars. Riders should be using their seat and legs for alot of control and not relying on their bits. Before you get ready to bit up your horse, pick your bit acording to what you plan on doing with your horse. Do your homework to decide which one will work best for you and you mount.
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