Telling how thick the bit should be?

[Em 1]

Hew came with a snaffle and a pelham both of which are quite thin. He doesn't seem to be 100% happy in these bits. Instinct tells me a thicker bit might be more comfortable for him but how do I tell how thick a bit he needs?

[Just.Jump]

Get him a regular, standard sized bit first, and go from there. It's always best to go back to square one. Most horses don't have terribly shallow mouths, and putting a thin bit in those mouths isn't needed because thin bits have alot more 'bite' than a regular one. Go to a standard snaffle bit, because all tack stores have a variety. The thickest ones I think, are eggbutts, but they do tend to narrow down alot in the center.

This is an example of an unacceptable bit (If you really wanted to, you could probably cut open the horses tongue with one of these)
http://www.bitsnmore.com/images/catalog/reinsman_bits_web_read/R109b.jpg

This is the best example of the 'right' thickness, excluding eggbutts.
http://www.naturalhorsesupply.com/images/bit5.jpg

[chev]

First step is to have a look in his mouth and see how much room he's got. Far easier and more effective than just trying various thicknesses.

First off, with his mouth shut, lift his lips at the side and look at his teeth. Does his tongue poke out between his teeth (In the spaces between them, that is)? The more of his tongue there is squeezing out between them the thicker a tongue he has - so a thick mouthpiece is more likely to put pressure on and even pinch, if it's jointed. If his tongue lies inside the teeth, a thicker mouthpiece will usually be more comfortable. A thick tongue is usually happier with a French link or ported mouthpiece - they lessen the amount of pressure onthe tongue, and in the case of ported mouthpieces, afford more room.

Next, slide your hand in the side of his mouth and have a feel of his palate - see how much room there is between his tongue and the roof of his mouth. Even if he has a slim tongue, if he also has a low palate, that would mean that a thick mouthpiece will again be more uncomfortable. But if he does have a low palate, that will also have a bearing on the type of mouthpiece he'll find comfortable; a single jointed mouthpiece will often rise up and bang the roof of the mouth in horses with a low palate. In that type of mouth, a French link or unjointed mouthpiece is usually best.

Have a play with his mouth too - see how he reacts to pressure on the bars of teh mouth. Some horses really dislike pressure on the bars of their mouths - if that's the case, then you need to look at bits that reduce pressure there - a hanging cheek or Baucher is good for that.

So; thick tongue & low palate - try French link, mullen mouth, and a thinner mouthpiece.

Thin tongue & high palate - single joints, French links and unjointed bits, and maybe a thicker mouthpiece too. Possible hanging cheek if he doesn't like pressure on the bars of his mouth.

Thin tongue & low palate - Hanging cheeks, French links, mullen mouths.

Thick tongue & high palate - single joints, ported mouthpieces, French Links.

This is by no means infallible - there will always be horses who like the last bit you'd think they would - but it's a good guide and usually the best place to start with bitting.

Very often, mouth conformation goes hand in hand with breeds - TBs often have high palates and thin tongues - lots love single jointed snaffles. Natives tend to have thicker tongues, although often that goes with a fairly high palate - they often go well in ported bits and French links. Cobs rarely have a lot of room - thick tongues and low palates. They're often happiest in a thin mouthpiece.

[Em 1]

Thank you so much for all that info Chev. We had a good look at his mouth tonight and discovered that he has a thick tongue and low palate which means that the very high ported pelham he came with must have been really painful for him :( Also his jointed snaffle may well be pinching so we are going with the French link option and see how he goes in that. Thanks again for your help - hopefully he will be a happier neddy now :)

By the way, how many 'wrinkles' should there be at the sides of the bit? I've been told three different things so far and am now very muddled!!

[chev]

The wrinkles thing is difficult to answer - to be honest I don't fit a bit with wrinkles at all now. We were always taught one or two but I've found that as long as the bit is up against the corners of the mouth and not hanging too low, that it just needs to fit snuggly to be comfortable and effective.

If the cheekpieces bow outwards, or the bit is banging on his teeth anywhere, then it's too low. But if when you stand in front of him and pull down on both bit rings it's still up against his lips it's really too tight. As long as it doesn't slide around his mouth and is fairly still, I'd forget about wrinkles altogether.

[Tootsie4U]

If the horse is steady in his ridden work (meaning he hasn't just been started), put the bit in his mouth very loosely on the bridle. He'll pick it up and hold it in his mouth where he likes it best. Then just do up the buckles to where the slack comes out of the bridle. When finished, double check to make sure he hasn't gotten it so low his tongue flaps over.

[Em 1]

Thank you both for the help. It makes so much more sense to fit the bit by 'feel' rather than by a 'rule'. Tootsie4U, your method sounds really sensible and much kinder to the horse. As of tomorrow Hew will fit his bit not me!! :D

[Scarlett 001]

Roughly what is a standard, normal-sized bit thickness (in inches)? Just curious what is considered average in the world of bits.

[Just.Jump]

I don;t like to see more than one wrinkle myself, but any looser than that and my riding mare is no lnger comfortable. Whether she doesn't like holding the bit herself or the bridle just has too much of a difference, I'm not sure, but she makes it very clear when the bit is too low.