CURB BITS
Curb bits apply pressure to the bars of the mouth, the chin and also to the poll. The pressure in these places is more likely to result in the horse putting his head down, and sometimes he will bring his nose in towards his chest. The rein attaches to a lever, called the shank. The longer the shank, the more leverage, and the more severe the bit – unless the shank curves backwards as it does in many western bits, taking away the leverage. The bridle cheekpiece of course connects to a different ring. The ratio of the length above the mouthpiece (called the purchase, or upper cheek bar) to the length of the shank below the mouthpiece also determines the amount of pressure that can be applied. A long shank and a short upper cheek will have a high ratio and be more severe.

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It is extremely important that these bits are fitted correctly and that the chain is fitted correctly. A tighter chain will make the bit work faster, but a too loose chain will allow the bit to roll over and can result in excessive pressure on the tongue, which is not desirable. I like to use a lip strap to stabilise the chain and prevent it from falling off and getting lost.

The curb is often matched with a snaffle bit with small rings (known as a bridoon) for the double bridle. This is the traditional bridle for high-level dressage. Personally, I support the change towards allowing snaffle bridles at all levels, but in the international arena the double bridle is compulsory. A skilled rider with an independent seat can use the two different bits for different effects.

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The most common mouthpiece is a port mouthpiece with a curved midsection to allow room for the tongue. The port may curve backwards or forwards. It will not hit the roof of the mouth unless it is very high (perhaps 5cm or so). A soft rubber mouthpiece will help the horse to take the bit forwards, but has to be matched with a bridoon made of the same material. A jointed curb bit is anathema, as the jointed mouthpiece completely limits or prevents the curb effect.

The Spanish snaffle (kimblewick) is the mildest curb. This can be very suitable for a pony with a small child who needs to be able to maximise the effect of their limited strength.

GAG BITS
Gag bits apply pressure to the poll and to the corner of the lips. The mouthpiece slides up either on a running rein or on the ring of the bit. This encourages the horse to put his head down. Gag bits tend to have good effect in slowing a horse but are not so good at turning the horse. I have used them to good effect with eventers and hunters. A gag bit can be set up with solid cheekpieces and a normal rein in addition to the running rein, so that it can act as a snaffle before the gag action kicks in. I prefer this set-up to a single rein as a skilled rider can choose when to use the snaffle action and when to apply pressure to the poll. Various mouthpieces are available, from flexible plastic, single and double joints, through to W mouthpieces. You can work out the severity of the mouthpiece just as for the snaffles.

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Dutch gags allow the mouthpiece to slide on the ring, having a limited gag effect. The rein attaches to a ring for stability. There may be leverage to make the effect stronger.

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Running gags give the opportunity for the most pressure to be applied to the poll. You can have a stopper on the running rein to prevent the mouthpiece getting too loose and low, or set to limit the amount of gag action. If the sliding gag rein is leather, it will slide more slowly than a thinner rope rein, so the leather will be less “sharp” than the rope.

COMBINATION BITS
Combination bits are modern bits that combine various strategies to apply and release pressure. They may incorporate hackamore elements to put pressure on the nose, as well as incorporating gag, snaffle or curb elements. Although these bits can look ugly, they are not always severe as the pressure is generally distributed across several parts of the head. This contrasts, for example, with a thin, single joint snaffle where all the pressure from the hand is applied to the horse’s lips.

Nosebands can also have an effect on the response to the bit, including hackamores and bosals and other bitless bridles, which use the noseband as the primary means to apply pressure to the head, but I am not going to go in to detail about these.

The best bit is the one that fits your horse and that your horse is comfortable with and responsive to. Sometimes you might want to use a sharper bit for specific training, or for competition. We always start with a fat KK bit and change if it seems helpful. Jumpers have free choice of bits, but even within the limitations of the dressage rules there is a lot of difference you can make with skillful bit choice. It is usually trial and error to find out what your horse is happy in. However, understanding the basic principles outlined here can help you choose.

The most important thing that determines the severity of a bit is the skill of the rider and how the rider uses their hands. The effectiveness of the bit as a training tool is in the timing of the release, either by giving, or simply relaxing the fingers. Of course, generally try to use the gentlest bit that is effective for your horse. 

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