What Bit Is Best For My Horse?

If your horse can be ridden bit-less at home, then perhaps your brakes kind of get thrown out the window when he's anxious or nervous. In this case, use whatever bit gives you brakes without being too harsh, and introduce legs to him. It may not sink in because he's older, but it's worth a try. Just use your leg and seat, and if he doesn't respond, reinforce with rein. Perhaps you just have to get him focused on what you're asking. I know at times my horse takes leg as a speed command, but I simply keep my leg where I need it, and slow him down with the reins. Once he has come down to a nicer speed, I let go of the reins and if he speeds up again, just do the same thing again.

I'm sure you don't abuse your horse, and from how your question sounds, you just want to find the best thing to suit you AND your horse. Some people just think they are always right, and that everything everyone else does is wrong. But the truth is, these people are often the ones in the wrong. As long as you love your horse and treat him kindly, nothing else matters. Horse's want a leader, but not a cruel one :)

ADDED: When teaching to move off the leg, use NO reins, but be ready to use them. Your goal is to eventually be able to ride with no steering with a bridle, just your legs. Start with turns from the stop with no reins, and if he moves anywhere but the direction you ask him to, pull him to a stop and once he does, drop the reins immediately again. It may take a while, but riding without reins is so worth it :D

I think I know what you mean by no brakes, my horse was an ex-racer and when another horse ran past him (or we went for a canter or gallop on a trail ride) he would lock me out and charge off. I couldn't pull his head up to regain control.

I put a gag bit on him, but the bit part was a simple snaffle and I only used one set of reins. The bit was gentle enough to not worry him but if he decided to charge off I could get him back under control. Now, this is a horse that would flip over backwards with ANY type of shank in his mouth but I never had a problem with this bit.

I loved this bit because when he was a good boy (which was most of the time) the gag didn't bother him but he quickly knew about it if he tried to bolt. If you need a picture, tell me and I'll see if I can find one. I *think* it's called a Cheltenham Gag or something. I'll have to check.

EDIT: Yep, I just checked. It's called a Cheltenham or Eggbutt Gag. You can use two reins, but I found he went better with just the one.

I would just use a plain old snaffle on him and do LOTS of one rein stops. Every time he breaks into the trot and you don't ask him, one rein stop. This will make him nice and soft and knows that if he goes to first you are going to bring him back to a stop.

I don't see anything in your description leading me to believe you pull your horse's mouth to much, lol

Try a twisted snaffle. I wouldn't go too strong yet, only step it up if he needs it.

Also, try teaching your horse to respond to leg better. Get him in a halter & lead rope, and use the butt of a whip to push his side (where your leg would be if you were asking for a turn on the forehand). Start with a touch, but get stronger if he doesn't move sideways. Release immediately when he listens. Don't reward him for walking forward, only sideways. Once he's doing that fine, start teaching him turns on the forehand and leg yields under saddle. He may try to trot when you're teaching him to leg yield at the walk, but just let him know that's not what you want. Bring him back down, and still don't let go with that leg until he steps over. Release for even a little step sideways in the beginning. You can eventually start teaching him sidepasses too. Same thing, he may try to walk (just ask him to whoa), but keep that leg on until he steps over.

Google turn on the forehand, leg yield, and sidepass if you need any help with those. =)

Good luck! <3

holy cow. a bit is never ever ever ever a hand brake.

the real problem is that you ride with a heavy hand, by pulling on his sensitive mouth wth force. that's totally wrong. it's also bad for his poor mouth.

no bit on earth is meant to be used as a hand brake.

that said, what you need to do....if you really care about your horse....is to stick with a snaffle bit and educate yourself about how to ride.....using your seat and legs and your fingers (how to use pressure by only closing your fingers on the reins and never pulling or yanking).....

to teach him what you want.

it's pretty lazy to just expect a bit to do the work for you. the whole point of horsemanship is to actually learn and gain in skill level. if that's too much work, then maybe horses aren't for you.