Fascinating video - I learned so much - if I had not watched your training videos - my horse would have been in a snaffle forever. Thank you. Tabor City, NC.
Great video. I’m researching bits for my mare who’s 12. I do not show, but would like to teach her more advance movement this video was very helpful. Thank you.
My daughter and I have adopted the change bits every two or three rides adding in curb bits. She never thought she would ride her 28yo geldinng in a curb but I showed her onne of your videos to get a dressage horse moving correctly. Her horse is now breaking at the poll and lifting his shoulders. Thank you.
That was so great to learn about the port helping lift the shoulder and keep things straight. I know my horse has been ridden in a port but her front end feels like a d5 so I am going to start experimenting. I came from the hunter jumper world so I am used to a soft mouth but I learned a lot tonight. She moves well laterally but the shoulders are the pdoblem
Thank you for all of the information and knowledge! Is it possible to transition an older (15) year old mare from a snaffle to a shank just to show at local lower level shows? She is an old lesson horse and as far as I'm aware has only ever been ridden in a snaffle. I know that she may not ever show at a higher level than our local AQHA shows, but I've never personally seen anyone make the transition this late in life.
Hi Tim, I watch everything about bits I come across because bits have interested and confused me for years. And NO ONE ever talks about what bits actually do. They talk about where they hit the horse (pressure points etc) and how they typically progress from one to the next training-wise, and how a certain bit gives them "more control", but never what they actually do. So the idea that taller ports get you more shoulder lift really got my attention. How does it do that? Is it because the horse has to tip his nose down to avoid the top of the port hitting the upper palate, and in order to do that, he has to raise his neck first? Even if that's sorta right, it can't be the whole story because lifting the shoulder seems to be a right or left side thing, and if you're using a solid mouthpiece, Idk if it's possible to isolate a side. Anyway, any further explanation would be very much appreciated.
Yes that is the general idea how the lift with the port works. If you have seen me doing the counter bending that is lifting 1 shoulder at a time then lifting straight up with both reins lifts and rounds both sides of the back and shoulders. Most horses you can get that done with out the taller port but the taller port is and additional contact point that helps lift lazier or weaker horses.
I do competitive trail riding, and primarily ride my mare in an s-hack. How would you vary the no more than 3 rides in any one bit when using hackamores? Thank you in advance.
There are many ways and which you do depends on your horse. You can vary the diameter and material on the nose, the diameter of the curb, the length and type of shank, and the shank to purchase ratio.
Good morning This is a video people should save and refer back too training their horse. Creating scaring by using the wrong or same bit won't give the response the riders want nor good for the horse. Do you have any options on that wall without bits? We wouldn't wear the same shoes everyday. Feel better and thanks for sharing.
I loved the explanation, now I understand more about bits. Which bits do you recommend for barrel horses.? I am using three piece mouth bits for training
Hi Tim! I have recently aquired a 10yo APHA gelding. He has not been used in a couple of years so I am tuning him up. Will be riding in a d ring for a while first. My issue is, he has a very wide jaw. The snaffle works fine because it is not obstructed by his jaw. But when I have tried shank bits, they are a little tight at the purchase and cause the shank to swivel out. What do you suggest for finding the correct size bit for him?
Thanks for the informative video. Question, when starting a new horse, just broke, and starting to introduce the snaffle bit, what do you use after 3 days of riding given that you don't ride a horse 3 days with the same bit? What other snaffle bits do you use for a just started horse?
Fascinating video - I learned so much - if I had not watched your training videos - my horse would have been in a snaffle forever. Thank you. Tabor City, NC.
Great video. I’m researching bits for my mare who’s 12. I do not show, but would like to teach her more advance movement this video was very helpful. Thank you.
My daughter and I have adopted the change bits every two or three rides adding in curb bits. She never thought she would ride her 28yo geldinng in a curb but I showed her onne of your videos to get a dressage horse moving correctly. Her horse is now breaking at the poll and lifting his shoulders. Thank you.
This was EXACTLY what I desired to see and hear! How ea bit effects the shoulders etc! Wonderful video!
Thank you so much. It's all about communication and keeping in touch with your horse.
That was so great to learn about the port helping lift the shoulder and keep things straight. I know my horse has been ridden in a port but her front end feels like a d5 so I am going to start experimenting. I came from the hunter jumper world so I am used to a soft mouth but I learned a lot tonight. She moves well laterally but the shoulders are the pdoblem
Thanks Tim, you’re do a great job on horses and on explaining how to train them, regards from Germany
Thank you. Great to hear from Germany!
Thanks Tim for sharing your experience with great comments.... cheers from Australia 😀
Thanks. Great to hear from Australia!
Thank you for all of the information and knowledge! Is it possible to transition an older (15) year old mare from a snaffle to a shank just to show at local lower level shows? She is an old lesson horse and as far as I'm aware has only ever been ridden in a snaffle. I know that she may not ever show at a higher level than our local AQHA shows, but I've never personally seen anyone make the transition this late in life.
Yes. Doing that will help her to use her body better which will be better for her.
Hi Tim, I watch everything about bits I come across because bits have interested and confused me for years. And NO ONE ever talks about what bits actually do. They talk about where they hit the horse (pressure points etc) and how they typically progress from one to the next training-wise, and how a certain bit gives them "more control", but never what they actually do. So the idea that taller ports get you more shoulder lift really got my attention. How does it do that? Is it because the horse has to tip his nose down to avoid the top of the port hitting the upper palate, and in order to do that, he has to raise his neck first? Even if that's sorta right, it can't be the whole story because lifting the shoulder seems to be a right or left side thing, and if you're using a solid mouthpiece, Idk if it's possible to isolate a side. Anyway, any further explanation would be very much appreciated.
Yes that is the general idea how the lift with the port works. If you have seen me doing the counter bending that is lifting 1 shoulder at a time then lifting straight up with both reins lifts and rounds both sides of the back and shoulders. Most horses you can get that done with out the taller port but the taller port is and additional contact point that helps lift lazier or weaker horses.
thanks, found your bits video very helpful for understanding descriptions, uses of different bits.
I do competitive trail riding, and primarily ride my mare in an s-hack. How would you vary the no more than 3 rides in any one bit when using hackamores?
Thank you in advance.
There are many ways and which you do depends on your horse. You can vary the diameter and material on the nose, the diameter of the curb, the length and type of shank, and the shank to purchase ratio.
Good morning
This is a video people should save and refer back too training their horse.
Creating scaring by using the wrong or same bit won't give the response the riders want nor good for the horse.
Do you have any options on that wall without bits?
We wouldn't wear the same shoes everyday.
Feel better and thanks for sharing.
Just curious on your opinion on the correction bits so many use nowadays. Noticed it’s not in your collection. Thanks.
I loved the explanation, now I understand more about bits. Which bits do you recommend for barrel horses.? I am using three piece mouth bits for training
The right bit for your horse is going to depend on how your horse needs you to help him with his body.
Hi Tim! I have recently aquired a 10yo APHA gelding. He has not been used in a couple of years so I am tuning him up. Will be riding in a d ring for a while first. My issue is, he has a very wide jaw. The snaffle works fine because it is not obstructed by his jaw. But when I have tried shank bits, they are a little tight at the purchase and cause the shank to swivel out. What do you suggest for finding the correct size bit for him?
That is a common problem with big horses. You should be able to find 5 1/2 inch wide bits without too much trouble.
Hi Tim! Thank you for sharing your insights about bits. Are there negatives about rust being on bits?
Sweet iron bits are supposedly to rust. Cleaning the rust off ruins the bit.
Thanks for the informative video. Question, when starting a new horse, just broke, and starting to introduce the snaffle bit, what do you use after 3 days of riding given that you don't ride a horse 3 days with the same bit? What other snaffle bits do you use for a just started horse?
I transition between a loose ring and a D ring and different size and shape mouth pieces.
Can’t find the Amazon links for the bits
They are in the video description
Ok, I've watched this video three times and still can't figure out the graphic over your shirt pocket. What is that?! 😂
The black is the bottom half of a sliding reining horse and the white is my name.