What kind of bits are there?

There are a huge number of types of bits. Which bit is suitable for your horse depends on your horse's mouth. The bit lies in the toothless part of the horse's mouth and can give pressure at different points. Your horse's mouth is very sensitive, so a suitable bit is very important. 

Different bit rings 
This blog is about the most common bit rings, there are many more! 

Loose Ring
The rings of a loose ring bit are loose and movable. Most horses accept this bit well due to the positioning of the layers and tongue. Because of the loose rings, your aid comes in indirectly. 

D-Ring
A D-ring bit is a bit with fixed rings in the shape of a D. The difference between a eggbutt and a D-ring is that the side of a D-ring is larger than that of a eggbut, which makes the bit even more stable in the mouth and gives more restriction. 

Eggbutt
The eggbutt has fixed rings and is therefore stable in the corner of your horse's mouth. As the rings cannot move independently of each other, your aid works directly. It is often used for young horses. 

Cheek bit
A cheek bit has scissors on the sides. These scissors ensure that the bit lies more quietly and steadily in the mouth than a loose ring or a eggbutt. The advantage of a cheek bit is that it puts more lateral pressure on the horse's head, making it easier to steer. A cheek bit does have a sharper effect than a loose ring or eggbutt.

Weymouth 
A weymouth is used together with a bradoon. The weymouth is positioned lower in the mouth than the snaffle, but make sure they do not hang against each other. The curb chain that is attached to it should be fastened loosely. From level Z dressage it is allowed to ride with a double bridle. A weymouth works with a lever. The length of the cheeks determines the strength of the leverage effect. The shorter the cheeks, the more direct the contact with the horse's mouth and its impact. This reduces the leverage, which makes it unsuitable for riders with a sensitive hand.  

Bradoon 
The bradoon is used together with a weymouth. The bradoon lies in the same place as your normal snaffle. The size of the bit therefore remains the same as your normal bit. It is advisable to use the same bit you normally use as a bradoon. As your horse is already used to this, the change to a double bridle will feel more familiar. Do take a good look at the thickness of the bradoon, as there is more in the mouth and therefore less space.  

Different mouthpieces 
A mouthpiece is the part of the bit that lies in the mouth. 

Double jointed bit 
The most commonly used mouthpiece among dressage riders is the double-jointed bit. The mouthpiece consists of three parts. The middle part of the mouthpiece lies on the tongue, so a double-jointed bit gives more pressure on the tongue than a single-jointed bit, otherwise the pressure is evenly distributed on the tongue, corners of the mouth and the layers.

Single jointed bit 
A single-jointed bit has one pivot point in the middle. This bit gives more pressure on the sides of the tongue, mouth and lips. A single-jointed bit also has a pinching effect on the tongue which not every horse likes, it squeezes the tongue when pressure is applied. 

Straight bit 
A straight bit has no hinge points. The mouthpiece can be straight or follow the shape of the tongue (straight with port). It acts mainly on the corners of the mouth and the tongue, and less on the layers. Because the mouthpiece is straight, the tongue and layers are not pinched together and it cannot puncture the palate either. The advantage of a straight bit is that it lies quietly in the mouth. Horses that are often restless in the contact can benefit from this.  However, with a straight bit you can work in more strongly with the hand, keep this in mind.

Myler bit
Myler bits are designed according to a specific system, centred on the horse and based on the anatomical shape of the horse's mouth. This has led to a design of a curved and arched mouthpiece that gives the horse a more comfortable freedom for his tongue and thereby stimulates saliva formation. The Myler bits allow independent side aids which can be clearer for your horse.

The correct size of the bit 
The size and thickness of the bit is also very important. A bit that is too small can cause wounds in the corners of the mouth, but a bit that is too long will also cause discomfort. If your bit sticks out about half to one centimetre on each side, you have the right length measurement. The table below gives a guideline for the correct bit size. Please note that every horse is different so of course it may vary. 

You can determine the thickness of the bit by seeing how much space there is in the mouth. Put your index and middle fingers together and place them at the level of the bit across the tongue. Depending on how much pressure you feel, choose the thickness of the mouthpiece: 
- A lot of pressure, so little space in the mouth: thin mouthpiece of about 14 mm. 
- Little pressure, so enough space in the mouth: thick mouthpiece of about 16 mm.