Busting the most common bitting myths

Hands up if you remember the days when virtually all horses and ponies were ridden in an eggbutt snaffle? Maybe the ‘strong’ horses and ponies went in a Pelham for hunting and jumping, or you would pop a flash on to stop a horse who opened their mouth or crossed their jaw? There are now so many different mouthpiece and cheek piece designs from brands founded all over the world and, thankfully, we understand better than ever before the action they can have on a horse’s wellbeing. Most horse owners know that simply forcing the horse’s mouth shut or using a more severe design isn’t the answer to bitting issues. We’re proud to help people navigate the options and try different designs until they find the perfect bit. We’re also keen to challenge some commonly held beliefs around bit design and fitting. The equestrian industry can be guilty of ‘doing what we’ve always done’ and not challenging tradition. That’s why we’re on a mission at The Horse Bit Bank, busting the most common bitting myths so that our followers and customers can make informed choices.

Myth one: you want to see two-wrinkles in the corner of a horse’s mouth

This is a classic bit-fitting tip that we’ve probably all been told at one time or another - that you’ll see two wrinkles in the corner of a horse’s mouth when the bit fits perfectly. Sadly, this isn’t the case, as the wrinkles will entirely depend on the horse’s mouth and lip confirmation. If a horse has chunky lips, trying to get two wrinkles in them may mean the bit is very high. Conversely, if they have thin lips, two wrinkles aren’t an indicator that the bit is high enough - the chances are it’s too low.

Instead, gently open their mouth or slip your fingers in and check you can fit two fingers between the mouthpiece and the premolars. Then check the bit isn’t too close to the canine teeth - it shouldn’t touch either, especially when the contact is taken. When you get the placement on the bars just right, you might see that there are no wrinkles at all, or just one…, and maybe two! But make sure you don’t rely on seeing those wrinkles…

Myth two: the curb bit will be gentler if you leave the chain very loose

This is definitely a myth, because if the chain is too loose - or not there at all - the leverage action of the bit won't have a ‘stop’ point. That can cause discomfort at best, and at worst could damage the horse’s teeth or mouth. To check the curb is adjusted correctly, use the 45-degree rule. This means that when you take up a contact with the reins, the curb chain should have an action (and stop the bit rotating further) when the shank reaches a 45-degree angle from the line of the horse’s mouth. A tight curb is just as problematic, as it means there’s pressure on the chin groove and the bars whenever it’s fitted - not just when the rider is applying aids with the curb rein.

Myth three: you should be able to see 1 cm of the bit on each side of the mouth

This simply isn’t true. In reality, you fit a fixed ring bit and loose-ring bit slightly differently when it comes to their width.
A fixed ring bit should fit snugly with the rings lying close to the corners without any space. That way it can’t slide back and forth in the mouth which can in turn cause bruising to the corners and damage the palate and bars. If it’s too narrow it can press on their mouth and lips, making them sore.

A loose-ring bit needs more space, but you should only be able to see around 5mm on either side and no more. That’s both to prevent the rings from pinching the corners of the mouth when they move and to allow the rings to move freely. Again, too much space could allow the bit to slide through the mouth and cause damage, while too little space and you will risk pinching your horse. If you need any help with bit sizing, we’re here to offer free advice.

Myth four: baucher bits create leverage on the horse's poll

There’s a common misconception that the shank of a baucher bit means it will exert leverage and therefore pressure on the poll, but this isn’t the case. The shank sits above the mouthpiece not below it, so there isn’t any leverage when the contact is taken on the reins. Instead, the bit actually lifts a little in the mouth and there’s a tiny amount of slack in the cheekpieces. If there was any poll pressure from the design of the bridle, it can be eased when using a baucher.

Myth five: Simple designs are always gentle

We mentioned this briefly in the introduction, but we couldn’t write a blog busting the most common bitting myths and not mention this. A single-jointed snaffle has a nutcracker effect on the tongue which can be severe in the wrong hands. In addition, the ‘point’ that’s made when a rider takes a strong contact can hit the palate (the roof of the horse’s mouth) if the horse has a small mouth or very chunky tongue. Similarly, a straight mouth bit looks quite innocuous, but it can exert a lot of direct pressure on the horse’s tongue in the wrong hands. It’s handy to remember it this way - the bit needs to suit the horse, and any bit in harsh hands can and will hurt the horse’s mouth.

Myth six: fixed ring bits have a stronger action than loose-ring bits

The answer is not necessarily…it slightly depends what stage of their ridden education the horse is at or how experienced the rider is. If that sounds a little bit confusing, here’s what we mean. Fixed ring bits can actually be kinder than loose rings, because they stay more stable and still in the horse’s mouth. That allows the horse to trust the bit more and they relax and accept the contact. But when the bit is very still and stable, the rein aids will be much more direct and noticeable, which can be less forgiving for the horse. A loose ring bit will flex a little in their mouth, making the hand more forgiving. But in turn, the loose ring bit can be unstable in their mouth. That's why it’s important to try both and see which works best.


We hope we’ve enjoyed busting the most common bitting myths and learning more about bitting in general! If you would like to make sure you hear about new bit designs and our top offer, make sure you sign up to our newsletter and keep an eye on our social media feeds. We also update our blog with the latest research and brand information, so it’s worth checking in each month to see what we’ve uploaded..