“There are many types of bits for many different disciplines, but the severity of ALL bits lies in the hands holding them.” - Monty Roberts 

Have you ever browsed through your local tack store or scrolled through the endless pages of your favorite online tack site and thought to yourself, “How do I know which bit works for my horse?!”. There are so many types of bits available to us with very little descriptive information that it is easy to become overwhelmed; multiple cheek pieces and mouth pieces, attachments and gadgets, materials and, well, the list goes on. It can be difficult to choose which bit would be best for you and your horse that will help you accomplish your horsemanship goals- This guide is intended to provide you with a foundational knowledge of bits so that you can be educated in your journey of creating a harmonious relationship with your horse. Before we can talk about bits themselves, we must understand the anatomy of the horse’s head.

Understanding the Equine Skull 

Whatever it is we put on our horse, it interacts with them on a physical level, so it’s essential that we at least know an elementary concept of the equine skull and the numerous pressure points it has. The equine skull consists of:

• the mandible (lower jaw),
• maxilla (upper jaw and all the smaller bones associated with it, including the eye sockets and nasal bone),
• and the teeth.

We have to also consider the first cervical vertebrae, called the atlas (commonly referred to as the poll area of the horse, between the ears) as well as the tongue when discussing the most appropriate bit for your horse.
Within the head area are several pressure points that are affected in one way or another when a bit is used. To understand more about these pressure points in greater detail, head over to Understanding Pressure Points article. 

Listen to your horse

Each horse will react differently to each pressure point and have obvious preferences to which pressure they prefer to have over another. So it is important to listen to your horse, know the signs of pain/discomfort/relaxation, and know their behavior in order to find the bit that will provide the desired outcome. Theoretically, this desired outcome should be a relaxed and responsive horse, not a horse forced to endure a painful gadget because a rider or trainer doesn't put in the footwork at becoming a better horseman and understanding the preferences of the horse (allow me to step off of my soapbox now). Additionally, you should also consider that your horse’s preferences could change throughout their lives, depending on age, fitness, discipline, and skillset. Your skillset as a rider also plays an influence in how a bit can interact with the horse so it is advised to consult with your trainer or coach for an honest evaluation of where you’re at in your abilities. Keep in mind that the path of true horsemanship is never ending and there is always room for improvement in ourselves. 

What's in a bit, anyway? 

Let’s now jump into bit anatomy. The bit is composed of different parts: the cheek piece, which is what you see on the outside of the horse’s mouth, and the mouthpiece, which sits inside the horse’s mouth in the interdental space where there are no teeth. The exception to this is a hackamore, which does not interact with the horse’s mouth at all, but instead can influence the nasal bone and the poll, depending on the type of hackamore used- we address hackamores in it’s own blog, Hackamores: To Bit or Not to Bit. 

Bits come in a combination of different cheek and mouth pieces so it’s important to know how they function both individually and collectively.

Mouthpieces are crucial to understand as they can cause a lot of pain, damage, and stress to the horse if used in a way it is not intended for. Once you can understand the pressure points of the horse’s skull and the functions of a mouthpiece, you’ll be able to analyze each bit and apply how that might affect your horse. 

Common mouthpieces 

Single jointed snaffle bit  

The most common type of mouthpiece seen is the single jointed snaffle bit. This type of bit will put concentrated pressure on the palate of the horse when pressure to the reins are applied. Additional pressure points of this mouthpiece include the bars, tongue, and sides of the mouth when rein pressure is applied. Typically considered a mild bit, it is most commonly used throughout all disciplines. If you’re trying to figure out a new horse’s preferences, a single jointed snaffle is generally a safe place to start. However, we aren't fans of all copper snaffle bits for the reasons detailed in this post. 

Dog bone

Another very common mouthpiece is a French Link, also known as a Dog Bone. This is a double jointed bit that distributes pressure to the palate in 2 areas when pressure is applied to the reins, along with the additional pressure point of the bars, tongue, and sides of the mouth.

Dr. Bristol 

A mouthpiece that looks very similar to a French Link is a Dr. Bristol, but it functions differently. The middle piece in a Dr. Bristol is longer and flatter and is set at an angle, causing pressure points specifically to the tongue. So make sure you’re taking the time to analyze a bit before assuming its function. Again, these bits are considered mild and are used throughout most disciplines.

Mullen

A Mullen mouthpiece consists of no joints at all, and instead comes in a straight or slightly curved feature which would provide more pressure to the bars and the tongue of the mouth instead of the palate. This is a common bit in carriage horses but it is frequently seen across most disciplines. 

Wire

A Wire mouthpiece is exactly as it sounds - a thin twisted wire that is single jointed and applies more severe pressure to the palate, bars, and sides of the mouth. Anytime we have a smaller surface area we have increased pressure. A wire mouthpiece would be considered a severe bit and should only be used by riders with soft and intelligent hands and a horse that is well trained to go around lightly, otherwise major damage can occur to the horse. 

Ported 

A ported mouthpiece looks like an upside down “U” and applies more pressure to the palate while elevating pressure to the tongue. The height and severity of the port varies; the higher the port the more severe it is considered. This type of mouthpiece would be appropriate for horses who are sensitive to tongue pressure and prefer pressure to the palate. 

Rollers 

Rollers are areas of a mouth piece that can physically roll and encourage the horse to relax throughout its jaw. A clenched jaw is an unrelaxed horse, so a roller can be used to initiate movement of the horse’s tongue which ultimately leads to a relaxed jaw, which therefore can equal a relaxed horse. Rollers can be in ports, in joints, or in the actual mouthpiece itself. Typically these rollers are made of a sweet iron or copper material which helps encourage salivation. 

Twists

Twists are commonly seen in mouthpieces and they apply multiple pressure points to the tongue and corners of the mouth depending on how fast the twist is. The faster the twist the more pressure points there are. However a slow twist can be considered more severe than a fast twist depending on the smoothness of the twist itself- if the twist has abrupt angles that would be more severe than a fast twist that is smoother in its design. Again, take your time to analyze a bit in order to understand it’s intended function.

That’s a lot, right? Try to not get overwhelmed- there are more types of mouthpieces out there that are not mentioned here. The goal is for you to be able to understand the function of bits from a foundational level and then make your own conclusions about a mouthpiece going forward.  

Let’s slide into the cheek pieces.

Common cheek pieces 

Depending on how the headstall attaches to the cheek piece will determine if the bit is considered a “leverage” bit or not. A leverage bit means that pressure is applied to the poll of the horse when reins are pulled back on, encouraging the horse to bring it’s head down. If the headstall and reins do not attach to the bit through the same opening of the cheek piece, it is considered a leverage bit. The severity of the leverage depends on the distance between the headstall attachment and the rein attachment; the longer the distance, the more severe.

Full 

A Full cheek piece has wings that go both up and down the mouthpiece alongside the horse’s mouth and its function is to simply keep the bit from running through the horse’s mouth. This function can also come in a cheek piece called a Half Cheek, which has wings only on the bottom. You’ll typically see a full or half cheek in English disciplines.  The headstall and reins would attach in the same area, making this a non-leverage cheekpiece. 

Loose ring

A Loose Ring cheek piece allows the mouthpiece to move through the cheek piece independently from the reins and headstall. This is commonly seen in younger horses or horses new to training. This is a great cheek piece to begin with if you are unsure of how your horse will respond to bits. Keep in mind, though, that this bit allows for a lot of movement between the reins, cheekpiece, and mouthpiece, which can make some horses opposed to this type of bit. If that is the case, a D ring cheek piece would be the next one to try. A D ring cheek piece has a fixed attachment to the mouthpiece and provides a more consistent feel for the horse. An Eggbutt cheek piece looks similar to a D ring but has more muted and rounded features. Overall both the Loose Ring and D Ring are considered very mild cheek pieces and would not be leverage bits due to there being no influence on the poll. 

Shank

A shank mouthpiece provides fixed attachments for the headstall and the reins without a direct contact with the mouthpiece. The lower part of the cheek piece extends down past where the mouthpiece is, which creates pressure to the horse’s poll when the reins are active. The longer the shank, the more pressure on the poll, and the more severe it is considered. 

Phelem

Similar looking but very different from the shank, is the Phelem cheek piece, which requires two sets of reins, most commonly seen in Dressage. This cheek piece allows the rider to isolate  targeted pressure in either the mouth or the poll separately, and is considered a leverage bit since the lower part of the cheek piece activates pressure to the poll when the reins are used.

Gag 

Last, but by no means least, we have Gag cheek pieces. This is considered a leverage bit but is instead meant to bring the horse’s head up as opposed to down. There is a rope that runs through the cheek piece and attaches to the headstall and the reins, making it so that the bit is brought up or down in the horse’s mouth and does not interact with the poll at all. You’ll see this bit most commonly in Jumpers and Cross Country as horses need to bring their heads up in order to gauge the height of the fences they are jumping. This allows a rider to tell the horse to bring its head up when being presented to a fence.

Don't get overwhelmed! 

Again, try not to get overwhelmed with all of the types of bits available. Consult with your trainer or coach, discuss it with your horse friends, take time to analyze a bit’s purpose, and always be in the pursuit of becoming an educated and knowledgeable member of the equine world. 

Our biggest responsibility when asking a horse to do something for us, whether it be trail riding, roping, reining, ranch work, jumping, cross county, liberty, etc., is to have a thorough knowledge of what we are using and how it interacts with the horse. A curious mindset and a commitment to the journey of  human-equine harmony will bring us closer to our goals. Always question and be asking trainers and professionals why they use what they use, be willing to try several different types of mouth and cheek pieces to determine what will work best for your horse and be able to recognize when a change needs to be made as you both progress (or sometimes, digress) in your journey together.