Double-jointed bit

A lot of fuss is made over what bit a horse wears. Is this justified?

Early cast iron double-jointed bit (pre-cursor to Sprenger's KK Ultra?!), Irish National Stud Museum, Co. Kildare, Ireland

I would love to be able to direct you to the ‘perfect’ bit for your horse, however – as we all know – like the ‘perfect man’, the ‘perfect job’, the ‘perfect day’… the ‘perfect bit’ does not exist… indeed everything is a mixture of ingredients, like a well-made cake – leave out the egg and you get a different cake! What I am trying to say here is that with the ‘BEST’ bit in the world, a lower-skilled rider will not produce the best responses in the horse – he will not dance, look and BE light, or he might seem to be ‘hard to stop’.

It is not the bit, after all, that makes the horse’s mouth, but the hands and skills attached to that bit. In fact, to achieve marvellous results, horses may not even require a bit at all – rope halters, bitless bridles can be equally as effective.  Why? Because so much depends on the training involved. A ‘kind’  and ’simple’ snaffle can be cruel in the hands of a strong, unrelenting rider, yet a horse may be solely (and beautifully) ridden on a curb by a skilled master.

Herm Sprenger KK Ultra

This is not to say, of course, that choice of  bit, bridle or hackamore is not important. Thankfully there is now a move toward a more equine-centric approach to the manufacture of some modern bits – for example the KK Ultra bit by Herm Sprenger (Germany).

Sprenger KK Ultra snaffle

The KK is a double-jointed bit that Sprenger designed taking measurements of 70 horses’ mouths, and adjusting the angles of the joints. Additionally, a (supposedly)  metal preferred by horses (trade-name Aurigen) is used.  I think the scientific approach is to be applauded, and can say that I have used the KK double jointed bit for more that 20 years, finding it to be (almost without exception), a bit loved by a huge variety of horses. This link gives more on the development of the KK Sprenger Ultra.

Toklat Myler Comfort Snaffle

SOME (note – I am saying some here), of the Mylers, also fit the criteria of improved fit, in that they are shaped more appropriately to the horses mouth – the curve of Myler’s ‘Comfort Snaffle’ avoids the nutcracker action of the traditional single-jointed snaffle.  However – I have heard some salesperson rhetoric around the ported mouthpieces and find that they may not as kind as suggested – the port is typically way narrower than the horse’s tongue – therefore creating 2 pressure points on the tongue, instead of alleviating tongue pressure points as they suggest.  Copper inlays, aiding salivation (a good thing) make the bit illegal for dressage (rules are that the mouth-piece must be of a single metal). This does not detract from the bit’s use on some horses in training – you can always change for the competition to meet their rules.

I have seen some nice improvements in horses that have changed to the Comfort Mylers – but do beware that the ‘before’ and ‘after’ pictures can also be produced from correct training (i.e. correct application of scientific learning theory – release of pressure at the appropriate time, and other skilled techniques).

Salesman rhetoric

I think it is important not to simply ‘buy’ a salesperson’s talk, that a specific bit will fix a problem, but instead truely listen, absorb and assess what they are saying – I mean – go home and look in your horse’s mouth – how thick and wide is his tongue, how narrow his jaw, how low his soft palate, compared to the bit on offer?  Does it make sense?

Pat Parelli also advocates the use of alternative metals for bits in aiding of salivation. To those from an English background, a change away from stainless steel may be a bit ‘out there’, but doesn’t mean it is to be ignored, perhaps explored!

In a nutshell – the road to the perfect bit:

• Bit – Shape – is it shaped to fit the anatomy of your horse’s mouth? Style – single-jointed, double jointed, shanks, no shanks, no joints, ‘arms’ such as in a Fulmer snaffle aids the bit from being pulled through the mouth on youngsters (as used by the Spanish Riding School), and definitely a helpful bit; Material – rubber, metal type e.g. including copper or aurigen.
• Rider – skill, experience, appropriateness of rider to the horse being ridden.
• Training system - how, why, what? Are there deficits or confusions in the horses training that present as mouth problems?
• Training level of the horse.
• Tooth care – no matter what bit is used, the horse must have his teeth attended to regularly (at least annually, perhaps every 6 months up to 5 years of age). This can eliminate molar hooks, ulcers, deal with problem wolf teeth, all of which can affect the horse in either a bit or a bitless bridle.

Share with us your experiences with finding the right bit for your horse by commenting.

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