Can anyone tell me about Swales bits?

[katieB]

A friend of mine has just bought a horse that is ridden in a Swales bit. Ive never heard of these before so was wondering if someone could tell me a little more about them. Also, is the sizing a little strange? My friends new horse is only a dainty thing but she has been told it takes a 6" Swales bit :confused:

[Mehitabel]

http://www.neueschulebits.com/acatalog/spweb.jpg

is a picture. it needs to be wider because the 'snaffle' rings are on the inside, so they squeeze in when any contact is taken.

[katieB]

Cheers. So they squeeze the sides of the horses mouth? Hmmm, dont like the sound of that. Whats so good about them? (or why do people use them?)

[Mehitabel]

they are very severe - the squeezing is the point of the bit.

[Styric]

I thought it was considered a driving bit and the reins are not attatched at all to the rings? That's where the cheekpieces go, with the reins on the ring on the shank.

I've seen standardbreds in it.

[Mehitabel]

the driving bit is a wilson snaffle, styric. a fair few people show in the swales, although it may well be a driving bit as well.

[Styric]

Ah, just looked closer. If it has the ring on the bottom, it's used more for riding. The driving bit is identical, it just looks like it has liverpool shanks.

My bad :)

[Mehitabel]

that's interesting - i didn't know there was a driving version.

[Styric]

http://www.rideanddrive.co.uk/bitsuk/bits/swales1.jpg

There you go :)