How Do Bridle Bits Work?

Riding a horse involves more than just climbing up on its back and hoping for the best. As a rider, you have to be able to communicate with your horse. The bridle on the horse's head connects the bit in its mouth to the reins that go in your hand, allowing you to steer your mount. Without the bridle and the bit, many riders would find themselves completely at the mercy of the horse's whims.

  1. The Bit

    • A bit is a piece of metal that goes in the horse's mouth. The bit lays across the horse's mouth against a section of the gum where the horse does not have any teeth. There are a wide variety of different types of bits that are designed for different purposes or riding disciplines. Bits range from the very mild (snaffles) to the very severe (twisted wire). If used improperly, a bit can create a number of problems and cause a horse to develop severe behavioral issues.

    How Bits Work

    • Horses are trained to respond to the pressure created when the bit is pulled on. If the rider pulls on the left rein, pressure is applied to the left side of the horse's mouth and the horse knows to turn left. If pressure is applied to the right side of the bit, the horse learns to turn right. When pressure is applied to both sides, the horse learns to stop. The horse moves in response to the pressure created by the bit in order to alleviate the pressure created by the rider pulling on it. A bit should not ever cause your horse pain. Furthermore, it is generally a good idea to ride your horse with the least-severe bit possible.

    Types of Bits

    • There are literally hundreds of different types of bit and variations on different types of bits. The cheek pieces can be round or D-shaped and may feature a shank of varying lengths. Mouth pieces can be fat, thin, jointed or straight. Some mouth pieces contain rollers. Metals such as iron, steel and copper are used to make bits. Finding the right bit involves combining the characteristics you need in the bit with the characteristics your horse prefers in a bit. Some horses will worry with a bit and chew on it if they do not like it or like playing with some of the components, especially rollers. A too-severe bit may cause a horse to respond negatively to cues or a very mild bit might be ignored by a horse whose mouth is not particularly sensitive.

    Using a Bit

    • Rider skill plays a large part in how well a bit works for a particular horse. A rider with rough, harsh hands or who tends to lean on the reins for balance can make even a mild bit severe in the horse's mouth. A rider who is well skilled at keeping their hands smooth and delivering light, effective commands with the reins can use a harsh bit without negative side effects or causing the horse unnecessary discomfort. Behavioral problems can very rarely be fixed simply by switching bits, though some behaviors may be exacerbated by a bad choice in bits. It is generally a good idea to try out a variety of bits to figure out what bit works best for your horse.