A bit used in equestrian activities is a piece of metal or
similar synthetic material that is placed in the mouth of a horse
and allows a rider to control the animal. It is held on a horse's
head by means of a bridle and has reins attached for use by the
rider.
The first bits were made of rope, bone, horn, or hard wood. Metal
bits came into use between 1300 and 1200 BC, originally made of
bronze. Stainless steel is the most popular material used today,
although copper and "sweet" iron (cold rolled steel) are
incorporated into some bits to encourage salivation in the mouth of
the horse and hence a softer mouth. Other materials such as rubber
or plastic are also used, sometimes in combination with metals.
Throughout history, the need for control of horses in warfare drove
extensive innovation in bit design, producing a variety of
prototypes and styles over the centuries, from Ancient Greece into
modern day use.
Design and terminology
A bit consists of two basic components, the bit mouthpiece that goes
inside the horse's mouth, and the bit rings of a snaffle or shanks
of a curb bit, to which the bridle and reins attach.
All bits act with some combination of pressure and leverage, often
in conjunction with pressure applied by other parts of the bridle
such as the curb chain on the chin, cavesson on the jaw and face, or
pressure on the poll from the headstall. Particular mouthpieces
do not make a bit a snaffle or a curb. It is the sidepieces and the
leverage these rings or shanks use to act on a horse's mouth that
determines if a bit is in the curb or snaffle family, and has a
great impact on the severity of the mouthpiece.
Often, bits with single- or double-jointed mouthpieces are
incorrectly referred to as snaffles. Likewise, a ported mouthpiece
on a bit with direct pressure from a bit ring, such as the
kimberwicke is not a curb.
The mouthpiece of a horse's bit is the first factor most people
think of when assessing the severity and action of the bit.
Therefore, it should be carefully considered when choosing a bit for
a horse. Many mouthpieces are not allowed in certain competitions.
Bit mouthpieces may be single jointed, double-jointed, "mullen" (a
straight bar), or have an arched port in the center of varying
height, with or without joints. They may also be smooth, roughened
or of twisted wire or metal.
Effects
TThe mouthpiece of the bit does not rest on the teeth of the horse,
but rather rests on the gums or "bars" of the horse's mouth in an
interdental space behind the front incisors and in front of the back
molars. When a horse is said to "grab the bit in its teeth" they
actually mean that the horse tenses its lips and mouth against the
bit to ignore the rider's commands (although some horses may
actually learn to get the bit between their molars).
Bits are designed to work by pressure, not pain. Depending on the
style of bit, pressure can be brought to bear on the bars, tongue,
and roof of the mouth, as well as the lips, chin groove and poll.
Bits offer varying degrees of control and communication between
rider and horse depending upon their design and on the skill of the
rider. It is important that the style of bit is appropriate to the
horse's needs and is fitted properly for it to function properly and
be as comfortable as possible for the horse./p>
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