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The Use, Action and Appearance of Bits and Bridles Explained
Descriptions of the mechanisms and uses of English snaffles, Western bits, and English curb bits, side pulls and hackamores used in horseback riding.
All About Mechanical Hackamores
What is a mechanical hackamore? How does a mechanical hackamore work? Is a mechanical hackamore right for your horse? Learn all about mechanical hackamores.
What is A Bosal?
What is a bosal? Find out how bosals are used with horses, how they work and if a bosal is right for your horse. Learn all about bosals.
How to Fit Your Horse’s Bit
How to choose a bit of the right size for your horse. Here is advice for finding a bit that fits your horse. Tips for deciding what size bit to use.
Chooosing a Bit
Learn how to choose a safe, comfortable bit for your horse that will give you effective control while riding or driving.
How to Measure the Mouthpiece of a Bit
Learn how to measure a bit so that it is comfortable for your horse and works effectively. How to measure snaffle and curb bits.
What is a Port?
Learn about ports on bits for horses. Learn why ports are used on English and western style bits.
Learn the Parts of the Curb Bit
Learn the parts of the curb bit. This tutorial describes the parts of the curb bit with pictures.
Learn the Parts of the Snaffle Bit
Learn the parts of the snaffle bit. This tutorial describes the parts of the snaffle bit with pictures.
Side Pulls
This article explains the uses of sidepull bridles, fitting a sidepull and how sidepulls work.
Types of Horse Bit Mouthpieces
Learn about different types of horse bit mouth pieces. Find out what mullen mouths, French links, wire mouthpieces, chain mouths, keys, ports, spades and crickets and rollers are. Find out all about different types of horse bit mouthpieces.
Materials Used to Make Horse Bits
Learn about the different metal, rubber and plastic materials that horse bits can be made of. Learn why bits are made of different materials and what they look like.
Curb or Snaffle Bit Quiz
Have you explored the different bits depicted in the Bits and Bridles Explained category? Then this quick quiz should be a snap. Simply identify the bits shown in each question. Good luck!
Antique Full Cheek Snaffle Driving Bit
Learn the uses and action of an Antique Full Cheek Snaffle Driving Bit. Find a photo and description of an Antique Full Cheek Snaffle Driving Bit horse bit.
Straight Bar Driving Snaffle Explained
Learn the uses and action of the Straight Bar Driving Snaffle bit. Find a photo and description of the Straight Bar Driving Snaffle bit.
Buxton Driving Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the Buxton Bit. Find a photo and description of the Buxton Driving Bit.
D-Ring Snaffle Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the D-Ring snaffle bit. Find a photo and description of this commonly used English snaffle horse bit.
D-Ring Snaffle Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the Butterfly Driving Bit. Find a photo and description of the Butterfly Driving Bit.
Wilson Driving Snaffle Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the Wilson Driving Snaffle bit. Find a photo and description of the Wilson Driving Snaffle horse bit.
D-Ring Snaffle Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the D-Ring snaffle bit. Find a photo and description of this commonly used English snaffle horse bit.
English Eggbutt Snaffle Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the Eggbutt Snaffle bit. Find a photo and description of this commonly used English snaffle bit.
English Loose Ring Snaffle Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the English Loose Ring snaffle bit. Find a photo and description of this commonly used English snaffle bit.
English Full Cheek Snaffle Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the English Full Check Snaffle. Find a photo and description of this commonly used English snaffle bit.
English Pelham Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the Pelham bit. Find a photo and description of this commonly used English snaffle and curb bit combination.
Half Spoon or Half Cheek Snaffle Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the Half Spoon or Half Cheek Snaffle Bit . Find a photo and description of this commonly used driving snaffle horse bit.
Kimberwick and Uxeter Kimberwick Explained
Learn the uses and action of the Kimberwick or Kimblewick bit. Find a photo and description of this commonly used English leverage bit.
Liverpool Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the Liverpool bit. Find a photo and description of this commonly used Liverpool horse bit.
The Quarter Moon D-ring Snaffle Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of The Quarter Moon D-ring Snaffle Bit . Find a photo and description of this snaffle show horse bit.
Western Correction Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the Western Correction Bit. Find a photo and description of this specialized western training bit.
English Riding Bits
There are hundreds of different types of Western riding bits with many subtle variations and strange names. Most are derivatives of a few basic bits that remain popular amongst Western horseback riders. Here are six of the most common Western riding bits you'll see.
Driving Horse Bits
Here are examples of the most common driving horses bits. Learn about driving bits.
Western Grazing Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the Western grazing bit. Find a photo and description of this commonly used Western curb horse bit.
Western Pelham Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the Western pelham bit. Find a photo and description of this commonly used Western Pelham bit.
Western Pelham Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the Western pelham bit. Find a photo and description of this commonly used Western Pelham bit.
Western S-Shank Curb Bit Explained
Learn the uses and action of the Western S-Shank Curb bit. Find a photo and description of this commonly used Western curb horse bit.
The Difference Between English and Western Snaffles
You might hear a Western leverage (curb) bit called a 'snaffle'. Learn the difference in terminology between what English and Western riders may call a snaffle bit.
Can I Ride My Horse Bitless?
Does your horse need a bit when you ride it? Can you ride your horse in a bitless bridle? This article answers your question, can I ride my horse in a bitless bridle.
English Riding Bits
There are hundreds of different types of English riding bits with many subtle variations and strange names. Most are derivatives of a few basic bits that remain popular amongst English horseback riders. Here are six of the most common English riding bits you'll see.
Bits for Young Horses
What is the bests first bit for a young horse? Here are some ideas for choosing the best bit to start a young horse. Choose a bit to begin training a young horse.
How to Clean a Bit
Learn how to clean a horse bit. Find out how to clean and polish your horse's bit. Clean sweet iron, stainless steel, copper and silver bits.
How To Bridle Your Horse Step-by-Step
Learn how to put a bridle on a horse with this pictorial that demonstrates the steps.
English Riding Bits
There are hundreds of different types of English riding bits with many subtle variations and strange names. Most are derivatives of a few basic bits that remain popular amongst English horseback riders. Here are six of the most common English riding bits you'll see.
Driving Horse Bits
Here are examples of the most common driving horses bits. Learn about driving bits.
Learn the Parts of the Curb Bit
Learn the parts of the curb bit. This tutorial describes the parts of the curb bit with pictures.
Horse Bit Materials
Learn about the different metal, rubber and plastic materials that horse bits can be made of. Learn why bits are made of different materials and what they look like.
Types of Horse Bit Mouthpieces
Learn about different types of horse bit mouth pieces. Find out what mullen mouths, French links, wire mouthpieces, chain mouths, keys, ports, spades and crickets and rollers are. Find out all about different types of horse bit mouthpieces.
How to Measure the Mouthpiece of a Bit
Learn how to measure a bit so that it is comfortable for your horse and works effectively. How to measure snaffle and curb bits.
English Riding Bits
There are hundreds of different types of Western riding bits with many subtle variations and strange names. Most are derivatives of a few basic bits that remain popular amongst Western horseback riders. Here are six of the most common Western riding bits you'll see.