Rules on bit usage in showing in Western classes?

Speaking for AQHA , FQHR shows, a bosal or ring snaffle may be used on any horse up to the age of 6. When they are 6 years old, they have to have a shank bit. This shank bit can be broken mouth or curb, but must have shanks and be ridden one handed. Under the age of 6 your horse may be ridden with a ring snaffle or bosal and be ridden two handed. Any age horse may be ridden with a shank bit ie: good broke 4 year old for example.

English classes are different, they all ride 2 handed, no matter the age, its just the discipline of riding english. Western considers horses under 6 to be "junior" or still in training mode, so they allow snaffles, until it they reach the age where they should know what they are doing and can be ridden with neck rein pressure,and not be guided by mouth pressure, hence single handed, shank bit riding.

Sorry Barrel babe but in AQHA the age for a snaffle bit is 5 and under. You can show in any western class using 2 hands as long as you have a snaffle bit (smooth mouth piece only no twisted wire bits) or bosal and your horse is 5 or under. This also goes for smaller local shows. There are also alot of bits that are considered illegal for use with AQHA.. That is why before going in the ring at many AQHA shows including congress they have a judge that does a bit check before you go into the ring or after the class is over and you are lined up in the middle the judges will ask you to dismount one at a time and drop your horses bit to make sure you are not showing in something that is not allowed. Since there are so many different bits it is best to get onto the AQHA web site and request a rule book and you can look up rules on bits.

You are on the right track. Each governing body has slightly differnet rules about legal bits, so must be checked. In general 4 (or 5 in some circles) year olds and younger may be shown in snaffle or bosal, older horses must be shown in a curbed bit. It is also a training issue, like when you go up the levels in dressage, higher levels require a full bridle, and disallow a snaffle only. A senior horse is supposed to be ready for a curbed bit.

You already have good answers, but I just have a comment. In western, classes that allow a snaffle bit, they have to also allow the use of two two handed reining. Because in western horsemanship the snaffle is considered a training bit, and is designed to be used with one rein engaged at a time, it is not considered the appropriate bit for one handed neck reining. Classes allowing the snaffle bit are considered to be training level. A leverage bit is designed to be used with both reins engaged simultaneously, and on a looser rein, and is the appropriate bit for a finished, neck reined horse largely for that reason. In English riding, the curb is combined with the snaffle, either by virtue of a pelham or the double bridle, and contact is maintained through the snaffle reins, while the curb is only engaged as needed for elevation and positioning. Many pursuits in English horsemanship don't require the curb bit function, and can be performed with the direct contact a snaffle allows.

Add....The pelham is not not legal in the dressage showring, but may be used in training before the double bridle is introduced.

Under 4 years of age you can use a direct bit, such as a snaffle or even a bosal if you wish

Over 4 years of age, you must use a shank bit.

The headset required by western classes like pleasure and trail does not allow for you to have direct contact with the horses mouth--cues must be subtle and given with loose rein and a low headset.

However you are correct in telling them to talk to their judge--or at least look at the association rules, every division is different, they all require different things but there are some general guidelines such as no mechanical hackamores, no bosals (most of the time over 4), most require a shank bit, no direct contact--loose rein.

Good Luck with your research...hope I could help

BB

The reason direct bits can be used in English rather than Western is because in many cases the English horses are more high-strung than Western horses. Also, due to the fact that English classes include jumping and dressage, the riders need more control.