Dressage legal bits

[Janette]

Why are some bits 'legal', yet others are not?

I would like to try a dressage test and it will be my first. Star is going well in a 'magic snaffle', is this bit legal, and how do I find out? Does it matter at entry level?

Sorry - dopey questions:rolleyes:

[Wally]

Not a dopey question in the least, but not one I can answer as I don't frequent the British dressage rule boards.

They are nearly as silly as the Icelandic bit rules, they say any snaffle with no more than two joints, so you'd think you'd be safe in a French link snaffle with cheeks.....NOT SO, cheeks are not allowed, or wern't when I competed last. Nowt so daft and baffling as rules.

[shaka]

They are illegal if they cause the horse to go into a false outline and because you should be working with your horse and not need a strong bit to control them.

[Yann]

I'm guessing it's because it's deemed that some non plain snaffle bits are seen as giving an artificial advantage in modifying a horse's way of going (as opposed to sawing on their mouths with an eggbut).

[Wally]

Yann, do I detect an air of the cynical mind at work there?:D ;)

[Janette]

so what about a 'magic snaffle'? Basically its a straight bar snaffle, with a port in the middle

[Yann]

If that's all it is then I'd guess it was legal?

Perhaps Wally...;)

[Lgd]

You can see the permitted bits on line at www.britishdressage.co.uk

Click on the library link and then go to the 2004 rule book - there are pictures and descriptions of permitted bits.

[Yann]

On the other hand no ported mouths in the rulebook, so maybe not.

[Janette]

Wonder why no ported bits.

But - seeing as how I won't be doing affiliated........................????

Will it be ok to use my bit?

[DITZ]

I'm pretty sure that for unaffliliated you'd be OK. I mean they're not going to see the port inside his mouth are they and it is just a snaffle.

[Yann]

You can use a ported weymouth but not a ported snaffle, and use a double but not a pelham... probably a good reason somewhere but as Wally said, nowt so daft as rules.

[Gemma16]

I was thinking about this too. What if you had a horse with a great flair for dressage but its mouth couldn't house two bits? Would you just not be able to progress above medium?

[galadriel]

Originally posted by Gemma16
What if you had a horse with a great flair for dressage but its mouth couldn't house two bits? Would you just not be able to progress above medium?

All I can think is that you'd have to get two extremely thin bits. At that point in a horse's training, hopefully you'll be using such subtle aids that a thin bit wouldn't be too severe.

[Janette]

Very good question.

[Janette]

Very good question.

[liz--y]

`would you be able to get away with a ruby pelham :D

u can in showing :D :D :D