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  Discussion on How do you measure to determine type & size of bit for horse's mouth?
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Posted on Friday, Jun 9, 2000 - 1:09 pm:

I would like to purchase a french snaffle bit, but do not know how to measure my horse's mouth, both width and palate height.

She is a MFT, with a small head. She responds well to my cues, has never tried to run and is very willing.

However, when I purchased her the owner/trainer suggested I put her in a dbl twisted wire snaffle! I now know that is NOT a good bit for her or any horse.

She is very willing, and loves the trails, so I just want something she is comfortable in, and that fit her properly.

Thanks for your ideas and suggestions.

Sharon

Posted on Friday, Jun 9, 2000 - 7:37 pm:

Sharon,

Do you have any bits already? One way to "measure" is to put a bit on and evaluate how it fits, widthwise. If it looks tight, up against the horse's lips, a slightly larger size is in order. If it looks like there is lots of room on either side, then it may be too big. Then you can use a ruler to measure the width between checkpieces of your sample and go from there.

Another way is to put some string in your horse's mouth about where the bit would be and hold it taut on either side. Then carefully measure the distance on a ruler. If you choose a loose ring snaffle, you may want a quarter inch wider than say, an eggbutt, so as to not have the area that joins the ring and mouthpiece pinch a lip.

There is no palate height measurement, just a judgement as to whether it seems low and a French is a good idea.

For American horse breeds, I'd try a 5 inch bit and if it seemed to be too wide or narrow go up/down a quarter inch. Five inch is pretty common.

Posted on Friday, Jun 9, 2000 - 7:42 pm:

Oh, an after thought. A very thick or heavy bit mouth piece may be too extreme for her. While a thin mouth piece is more severe, if the horse has a small mouth that is rather filled up by tongue, a thick mouth piece can be irritating. And a weighty bit can bother a "lighter" horse. So, something in between would be better. Sort of like Goldilocks: not too hot, not too cold, etc. :O)

Cheers.

Posted on Friday, Jun 9, 2000 - 8:45 pm:

Most tack shops (and some mail-order magazines, including the one I just received from Libertyville Saddlery) have cardboard bit fitting devices. They kind of look like calipers when they're put together, and come with instructions as to how to measure the horse's mouth. From there you can determine what size bit you need.

A word of caution on fitting French Snaffles--make sure you have the bit high enough in their mouth. If it sits low, it will "V" and will seem narrower than it actually is. Go for the standard 1-2 wrinkles.

I haven't found any standard on bit size that works for my horses: I have a Hannoverian in a 4 3/4, and an Appy Pony in a 5 1/4. You just have to either go by a bit that you know fits (I would even take it with me so that I could side by side compare, especially since KK Bits, which I favor, come in millimeter sizes), guess and be prepared to make several trips to the tack shop, or do the measurements. In terms of thickness, you probably can't go wrong with the mid-thickness KK French Snaffle.

Posted on Friday, Jun 9, 2000 - 11:36 pm:

Christine and Gay,

Thank you for all the good information. I will put it to good use.

Sharon

Posted on Monday, Jun 12, 2000 - 10:56 am:

If you get a loose ring snaffle, you might want to get a set of bit guards to keep the horse's lips from getting pinched. These round, rubber things are stretched over the rings and rest between the horses lips and the rings. Hard to get on but once on... forever on. Works great!

Posted on Monday, Jun 12, 2000 - 3:23 pm:

I am having problems with the fit for a pony who is between 5 and 51/2. the 5 is too small, ie you can't fit a little finger in each side, the 5 1/2 is a bit big. at the meoment we are using the 51/2 with rubber guards. does anyone know of problems with a bit that is too big? too small obviously would pinch. claire @~}

Posted on Monday, Jun 12, 2000 - 11:45 pm:

To Nancy, if you do decide to go with the bit guards you might soak them in very warm water for a while. This will soften them and make them somewhat easier to stretch.

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 13, 2000 - 4:07 am:

My bit guards went on ok when soaked in hot water then i used hoofpicks to stretch them over. i have had to cut the guards to accomodte the very thick bars of the snaffle.

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 13, 2000 - 10:53 am:

Thanks, Kari and Claire. Good tips that I will try next time!

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 13, 2000 - 12:18 pm:

Sharon, You might also want to check out the series of bits by Myler (Toklat.) They're not the least expensive thing on the market but I recently switched a supposedly 'very hot' gelding over from a loose ring snaffle to a Myler bit with Dee rings and a Mullen barrel and he's so soft on the bit you'd swear he'd had years and years of dressage training! Myler also has loose rings and has some very good instructional material on not only the proper way to fit a bit but on choosing the proper type of bit for your special friend. The book is called "A Whole Bit Better" and the website is www.toklat.com. Good Luck!

Posted on Tuesday, Jun 13, 2000 - 3:37 pm:

Natalie,

Thanks for the information. I will order the book. There is a clinic coming to my area on June 24th & 25th, I plan on attending.

Sharon

Posted on Wednesday, Jun 14, 2000 - 11:27 am:

Sharon,

Great! I would be interested to hear how things turn out at/after the clinic. Hopefully you will find the perfect bit for both you and your mare.

Natalie
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