Horse Bits

Find the right bit for your horse

There are several types of horse bits, all shaped differently and used for different purposes. It's important to know the difference between horse bits because using the wrong one will be not only ineffective but also frustrating for both you and your horse.

Western Horse Bits

Most Western riders use a curb bit or a hackamore. A basic curb bit looks like a metal H: two lengths of metal (called "cheeks") are connected by a metal bar, which is mostly straight with an abrupt U-shaped curve in the middle (this bar is called the "mouth" and the curve is called a "port"). The cheeks stay outside the horse's mouth, while the mouth goes inside, between the horse's jaws. Curb bits provide good leverage, so a rider needs only a light touch to get the message across.

A hackamore doesn't actually use an in-mouth bit. Two cheeks are connected well below the horse's mouth by a solid bar called a "hobble" and around the top of the horse's nose by a soft noseband. Some horses, particularly those with tooth or mouth issues, prefer a hackamore.

Snaffle Bits

Snaffle bits are used in Western riding, as well, but are more prominent in English riding. They are fairly simple: two large rings on either side of the bit hold two short metal pieces, which are loosely connected in the middle. The metal pieces fit inside a horse's mouth, while the rings sit against the outside of the horse's cheeks.

Snaffle bits transfer pressure on an almost 1-to-1 ratio (1 pound of pressure on the reins equals 1 pound of pressure in the mouth), which makes them ideal for horse training. (A curb bit might be too intense for a horse that is still learning.)

Walking Horse Bits

Walking horses (horse breeds known for their unique gait) sometimes use bits with shanks (the part of the cheek that runs below the horse's mouth) up to 8 inches long. The purpose of the longer shank is to keep the horse's head up and its nose down, which is necessary for them to perform their gaits correctly.

Draft Horse Bits

Bits for draft horses usually aren't as intricate as those for riding horses; they're mostly made for size and strength, which are important to horses that pull things. There are myriad styles of cheek pieces and variations on the basic snaffle and curb bits, each offering different benefits for the driver and the horses.