Choose the Best Horse Bit

Using a bit when riding your horse can offer communication, control, and help convey any aids you give your horse. Bits come in many different designs ranging from mild to strong, each with a specific purpose while offering different levels of control or training features when used and fitted properly. Riding with the wrong bit can not only cause behavioral problems but also cause discomfort to your horse. Check out How to Measure for a Horse Bit for more information on fitting and measuring a bit properly.

When it comes to choosing the right horse bit for your horse and level of training, you will always find what you are looking for at Schneiders Saddlery. All of our English and Western Bits come in different sizes from pony to draft horse bits! You can shop horse bits by brand, choosing from a range of high-quality bits from the top brands. You can find the best type of bits for training at home, pleasure, trail riding, or the show ring along with all of the curb straps and bit accessories you may need.

Frequently Asked Questions About Horse Bits

What are horse bits?

A horse bit is used so that a rider can communicate with a horse through their mouth. A horse bit is usually made from metal or synthetic material and goes into a horse’s mouth. It connects to a bridle or headstall with reins attached on either side of the cheek piece.

What are the different types of horse bits?

Horse bits come in many different types, materials, and shapes, depending on if they are English horse bits or Western horse bits. The majority of bits for horses are made from stainless steel with a variety of cheek-piece and mouth-piece shapes. Some bits will have copper, sweet iron, rubber, or flexible plastic overlays built in for horses that may be sensitive or need something that offers better acceptance of the mouthpiece.

Do horses really need bits?

Most riders would say every horse needs some type of horse bit for a rider to properly communicate, train, and control or steer your horse. However, some horses that are more mild-mannered or well-trained can be ridden in a bitless bridles. A horse that is well trained to use other aids such as leg, seat, and voice commands, may not need an actual horse bit in their mouth.

Western vs. English horse bits?

The main difference between Western horse bits and English horse bits is that most Western bits have longer shanks on the cheek pieces or an O-ring style cheek, often with some sort of etched design to them. English bits tend to have smooth metal cheeks with the most popular styles being D-ring snaffle bits, loose-ring snaffles, or eggbutt snaffles. English bits need the horse to be controlled from either side of the bit with the reins, whereas Western bits may have a straight mouth-piece due to most riders only using one hand or neck-reining for their commands.