using a Dexter ring bit

[Angelica]

My daughter just got a thoroughbred that has been off the track for quite a few years now. The guy who showed him to us was riding him using a Dexter ring bit. He seemed to be OK with it. My daughter is just going to use the horse for trail riding . Does anyone have an opinion on her using this bit or should she use another kind? Any information at all on anything will be greatly appreciated.

Thank You in Advance

angelica

[TJ]

My daughter just got a thoroughbred that has been off the track for quite a few years now. The guy who showed him to us was riding him using a Dexter ring bit. He seemed to be OK with it. My daughter is just going to use the horse for trail riding . Does anyone have an opinion on her using this bit or should she use another kind? Any information at all on anything will be greatly appreciated.

Thank You in Advance

angelica

Hi Angelica,
Did your daughter try riding this horse with the ring bit when the guy showed him to you? In most cases a ring bit is used on strong, hard to handle horses. It aids the rider in pulling up a strong horse as well as aids in controlling/steering him. If this horse is still being riden in one there may be a reason why. Yet if your daughter tried him and he's OK, steers well, easy to handle and pulls up kindly, I would try him with a less severe, lighter bit and see how he goes (like a fixed ring eggbutt snaffle). TJ

[ratherrapid]

I am other than a trail rider, and maybe trail rider could help us out with this q, but, i'd think you'd use a western style bit for trail riding. A change of bits might require some initial extra precautions when mounting the horse!

Ring bits, as above posted, tend to be more severe, less comfortable, than regular snaffle bits, and would seem redundant for trail riding.

English snaffles are designed for control and performance instead of pleasant riding. e.g. presumably in a trail ride u'd be using a lose rein quite a bit, and that would cause the snaffle bit to fall down on the horse's tongue and probably cause pressure on the tongue over a lengthy trail ride.

I'd be unworried about a Dexter, whatever that is, and be concerned about a bit that is "comfortable" for the horse, and also whether the potential TB trailriding horse is a suitable trailrider--some TBs are, others less so, i.e. be careful till u get to know ur horse where prior rider, for reasons unknown, was using a more severe, control type of bit!

[wymanda]

What a load of rot!!!! If the bridle is adjusted properly the bit will not "fall down on the horses tongue". Ring bits are used, to my mind, excessively here in Australia. Try a French Link Snaffle and a drop noseband. The bit has a double joint and sits flat in the mouth rather than an ordinary snaffle which can put pressure on the roof of the mouth.

I am other than a trail rider, and maybe trail rider could help us out with this q, but, i'd think you'd use a western style bit for trail riding. A change of bits might require some initial extra precautions when mounting the horse!

Ring bits, as above posted, tend to be more severe, less comfortable, than regular snaffle bits, and would seem redundant for trail riding.

English snaffles are designed for control and performance instead of pleasant riding. e.g. presumably in a trail ride u'd be using a lose rein quite a bit, and that would cause the snaffle bit to fall down on the horse's tongue and probably cause pressure on the tongue over a lengthy trail ride.

I'd be unworried about a Dexter, whatever that is, and be concerned about a bit that is "comfortable" for the horse, and also whether the potential TB trailriding horse is a suitable trailrider--some TBs are, others less so, i.e. be careful till u get to know ur horse where prior rider, for reasons unknown, was using a more severe, control type of bit!

[TJ]

What a load of rot!!!! If the bridle is adjusted properly the bit will not "fall down on the horses tongue". Ring bits are used, to my mind, excessively here in Australia. Try a French Link Snaffle and a drop noseband. The bit has a double joint and sits flat in the mouth rather than an ordinary snaffle which can put pressure on the roof of the mouth.

I am other than a trail rider, and maybe trail rider could help us out with this q, but, i'd think you'd use a western style bit for trail riding. A change of bits might require some initial extra precautions when mounting the horse!

Ring bits, as above posted, tend to be more severe, less comfortable, than regular snaffle bits, and would seem redundant for trail riding.

English snaffles are designed for control and performance instead of pleasant riding. e.g. presumably in a trail ride u'd be using a lose rein quite a bit, and that would cause the snaffle bit to fall down on the horse's tongue and probably cause pressure on the tongue over a lengthy trail ride.

I'd be unworried about a Dexter, whatever that is, and be concerned about a bit that is "comfortable" for the horse, and also whether the potential TB trailriding horse is a suitable trailrider--some TBs are, others less so, i.e. be careful till u get to know ur horse where prior rider, for reasons unknown, was using a more severe, control type of bit!

Hi Wy,
I didn't want to say that:>) The fact remains this horse is wearing a ring bit and there may be an underlying reason why....which we will never know as the original poster has never responded so we could help her and make sense of the situation. He will be used as a trail horse, if the ring bit isn't necessary the eggbutt snaffle would be sufficient (it is a standard training bit....doesn't put undue pressure on the roof of the mouth)....a sure-win could be applied to the bit to keep the bit in place if needed, rather than a nose band which would be more than a trail horse would need....comfort is key. TJ

[Matchemforever]

You never know until you try.

Any type of bit can be used for trail riding. As indicated, a properly adjusted snaffle isn't going to cause any kind of problem.

I bought a horse that was being ridden in a shanked, western gag snaffle with a chain-link type mouthpiece with running reins. Totally unnecessary except for the previous owner's fear of him shying again- over something quite understandable when I finally got the rest of the story.

That horse went from then on, both in the ring and on the trails, in a medium thickness, regular old plain, loose ring snaffle No flash or drop either. Only ran through the bit once when scared. Well, they are going to do that with any bit if they are frightened enough and you just have to learn to sit and get control back.

Loose reins, neck reining on trail rides, no problem.

This fellow may need some retraining to learn how to respond to the bit properly.

[Crystal]

feel the horse out in the ring first and see what works well for horse and rider.

[ratherrapid]

[quote="wymanda"]What a load of rot!!!! If the bridle is adjusted properly the bit will not "fall down on the horses tongue". Ring bits are used, to my mind, excessively here in Australia. Try a French Link Snaffle and a drop noseband. The bit has a double joint and sits flat in the mouth rather than an ordinary snaffle which can put pressure on the roof of the mouth.

ummmm

i am always wanting to learn more about bits. would u explain

1. what a bridle has to do with bit adjustment. position and pressure of bit controlled by reins--English? How could one "adjust" the bridle except to make it tighter and pinch the lips? I only race ride. would like to know.

2. French Link--i'd thought this a severe bit used for difficult horses because it increases tongue pressure and should be used with great caution.

Possibly did you meant the new very expensive linked comfort snaffles? i use these and really like them for comfort and control, although i'd use something else for long trail rides.

[kimberley mine]

i am always wanting to learn more about bits. possibly you'd explain

1. what a bridle has to do with bit adjustment. position and pressure of bit controlled by reins--English? How could one "adjust" the bridle except to make it tighter and pinch the lips? I only race ride, so, would really like to know.

2. French Link--i'd thought this a severe bit used for difficult horses because it increases tongue pressure and should be used with great caution.

Possibly did you meant the new very expensive linked comfort snaffles? i use these and really like them for comfort and control, although doubt i'd be trail riding with them.

Answering your questions, in order...

1. The headstall of the bridle should have a buckle on either side of the horse's head where you can lengthen or shorten the headstall. If you lengthen or shorten it, the bit will sit either higher or lower in the horse's mouth. That's the basics.

How riding affects the bit placement depends on the bit itself, the noseband being used, the reins being used, and whether or not any other aids like draw reins or running martingales are used. If you have a gag bridle, the headstall is connected directly to the reins through the bit. Think polo bridle. So every time the rider raises her hands, the bit lifts a bit in the horse's mouth and curb pressure is increased. This is 100% the reason why gag bridles aren't legal for dressage--the whole point of dressage is for the horse to come down onto the bit, not to lift the bit into the horse!

Wearing a running martingale or using draw reins will similarly affect placement of the bit in the mouth. A running martingale changes the effect of the bit in the mouth, exerting heavy downward pressure on the head. Draw reins add a pulley-like effect to the rider's hands, influencing how the bit rides and how much pressure is felt by the horse.

2. A french link snaffle is one of the mildest bits out there. It looks like this:





It applies direct pressure to the tongue, cheeks, and bars, but because of the design only "goes" on the side of the face where pressure is applied. No nutcracker effect. In most of the ones I've seen, the outside links are smooth and rounded (not flat or twist) and the pressure is very even.

If I'm just hacking along, this is the kind of bit I'd like to be riding in. If you have a new rider with awkward hands, this is also a good bit to be riding in, since the chance of doing serious damage to the horse's mouth is comparatively low. You may find some that are quite expensive, but the one I have on a plain cavesson bridle cost about $40 for a nice, simple stainless steel bit.

[kimberley mine]

I am other than a trail rider, and maybe trail rider could help us out with this q, but, i'd think you'd use a western style bit for trail riding. A change of bits might require some initial extra precautions when mounting the horse!

A good bit that suits the horse is a good bit that suits the horse, regardless of where the horse is ridden. I've ridden all kinds of happy trail horses in all kinds of bits--plain jane snaffles, simple ported curbs, kimberwicks, tom thumbs, even a halter with lead ropes clipped to either side. It has to FIT and it has to be used by a rider who understands the bit and what it's doing, and it has to be a bit that works well with the horse (e.g. a horse with a small mouth and fat tongue will not want the same kind of bit as a horse with a big mouth and small tongue)....but otherwise, if you have good control and the horse is happy, doesn't matter whether it's english or western.

That said, there ARE some situations where you would want a slightly stronger bit out in the field than in the arena. Hunting comes to mind...if you have a hot horse who wants to go, go, go, and you need to have a stronger bit than if you're plugging around at home, so be it.

[ratherrapid]

nice rendition! consider: 4th post down

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index ... 125AA2stjJ

[Tucumcari]

To the OP. SOME people use a ring bit as a default bit. I persoanlly tend to think of a D bit as a useless hunk of junk.. my opinion. And as per my opnion, I prefer to have horses train in the ring bit.
As to the question of what this means to your new trail horse, the former equipment is likely irrelevant to your situation. You won't be feeding the horse or training the horse even remotely simillarly to the way it was trained and fed as a race horse. Turn out and less feed (grain) can and do really help the OTTB mind to settle in their new lives.
I personally would just go to the least bit you can get away with very comfortably. You could easily put the horse in a D bit and be just fine. IF you were to switch to something that has shanks (aka leverage) keep in mind that the shank bits work off of the horse's bars and not mainly off of the corner of it's mouth. As most race horses have never had a bit (other than the occasional elevator bit), it is wise to procede kind of cautiously and with very soft hands as you introduce a piece of equipment that utilizes a different type and location of pressure.
Enjoy the new "ride" and let us know how it goes!!!

[wymanda]

[quote="ratherrapid
2. French Link--i'd thought this a severe bit used for difficult horses because it increases tongue pressure and should be used with great caution..[/quote]

What you are referring to is known as a Dr Bristol and looks similar to a French Link but has an oval piece in the centre rather than the "dogs bone" in the french link.

[madelyn]

Actually the French link is somewhere between the mullen mouth, or Centaur, snaffle and the single jointed snaffle, the three gentlest bits on the market. Anything with a shank or an indirect rein position (elevator, gag, etc.) is more severe. The dexter ring provides a bit more in the way of steering control - so does the full cheek or fulmer snaffle.

Good discussion here
http://www.pedigreequery.com/forum/view ... 92&start=0

Regarding this horse, you could ask the owner WHY he uses the Dexter - could be he is a trackie at heart and that is what the horse wore racing and he hasn't tried him with anything else.