Bit Horse
What is a good gaming bit for a non gaming horse?
I have a Show Horse that I occasionally game on just for fun. She is around 13 years old and is pretty much finished but I want to know what a good bit would be to game with because I don't want to use my Show Bit. Thanks in advance.
she has a pretty soft mouth. i would not want to use anything harsh or hard. if i were to use a regular loose Ring Snaffle could i use bit guards to prevent it from pulling through her mouth? are bit guards legal?
Mmmmm, depends, what's she in right now and how hard or soft is her mouth? Probably a snaffle or something similar, don't use a curb. The way bit is pulled in gaming is really too harsh for a curb period, it yanks their jaw to the side and that's not what it's for. Unless you only neck rein on games? If you only neck rein a jointed curb could be what you need.
Bit guards would be excellent in fact they are ideal as long as they are comfortable for her, most gymkhana competitions will let you use bit guards, bit guard status will be labeled as "optional" tho judges are allowed to reasonably ask anybody to remove a piece of equipment that they believe is harmful to the horse, i strongly doubt they will consider bit guards bad. In fact they will help the horse very much because as a result of the way gaming horses have the reins used (swung out and around and pulled in one direction vs. back to cue a turn or bend) bit guards will prevent serious damage on the horses mouth, im impressed you thoguth of it most people i have to recomend things like this. bit guards would definitely be a good idea and i would recomend a rubber "Happy Mouth" style Snaffle Bit which they will allow as well. the combination will make your mare much more comfortable since you sadi she's got a gentler mouth.
ANother thing to think about is if you are gaming, you should be working lead changes consistently as well as bending exercises and ground poles to improve balance and decrease the risk of her slipping on a turn.
when a horse stops thinking about their feet is when gaming gets dangerous.
Hope that helped. Anything else?
Another edit:
For pony girl, hackamores and bitless bridles are a good idea on gamers yes, much less stress and you don't have to worry about their mouths but certain hackamores are good for certain things, a mechanical hackamore for instance is a bad idea on a gamer, mechanical hackamores are good for light riding or the occasional jumping but for direct reining at high speed, not the best choice. rope bitless bridles tend to slip and slide on the horses face, also not the best choice for more than light riding. a Side Pull is an excellent choice for a bitless gamer, but that requires a whole new bridle and trying out several different new bridles to find a good fit is much more expensive and less precise than getting a new bit.
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