About the Bits We Stock

Eggbutt Snaffle

The eggbutt is a fixed cheek bit, this may be useful for horses that are unsure of the bit as it doesn’t move around too much in the mouth, it should encourage the pony to stretch into the contact. An eggbutt bit would be less suitable if your pony is prone to leaning on or taking hold of the bit.

Loose Ring Snaffle

The loose ring snaffles make a more mobile bit than an eggbutt or fixed cheek bit, which should encourage your pony to keep a relaxed jaw and mouth the bit. The loose ring may be useful if your pony leans on the bit, or takes a hold, as the bit is always movable so the pony cannot take hold as easily as they could with a fixed cheek. This bit is also useful for gaining contact as the movable mouthpiece enables the bit to fit the mouth, contour the tongues natural position and sit comfortably.

Beval

The Beval cheeks have two settings. Option 1 is the action of a loose ring baucher (poll pressure) and Option 2 is the action of a mild gag. The Beval is particularly popular with the show ponies, often used for lead rein and first ridden. It is not a severe bit although it offers a little more control and helps especially the child rider as it promotes outline, head carriage and responsiveness (it helps the child to bring the pony’s nose in). It is available with a small, neat bradoon ring and is perfectly acceptable on the show pony’s head.

Pelham

The Pelham bit is often used for ponies that prove too strong in a snaffle, the Pelham is a very popular bit. It uses a variety of pressures, which all in all seem to work together to prove a very useful bit. Basically the Pelham is an incorporation of the Weymouth and Bradoon, and should theoretically be used with two reins, the first rein is attached to the snaffle rein, and the second rein attached to the ring at the bottom of the shank, when the first rein is used the Pelham acts like a hanging cheek snaffle, putting slight pressure on the poll and various pressures in the mouth depending on the mouthpiece, when the second rein is brought into play, this increases the leverage and lip pressure, and also the curb chain comes into play, the greater the distance between the cheek slot and the mouthpiece the greater the poll pressure, the greater the length of shank the greater the amount of leverage. The curb chain should be fitted so that the curb chain tightens when the second rein is brought into play, but there must be a bit of give so not to tighten up straight away.