Horse Bits Explained: Types, Mouthpieces, and How to Choose the Right One
Horse bits are one of the most personal pieces of tack you'll buy. The mouthpiece sits on the bars of your horse's mouth, against the tongue, and beneath the palate — and the wrong shape, size, or action can turn a willing horse into a tense, head-tossing nightmare. Get it right and the conversation between hand and mouth becomes effortless. This guide walks through the main bit families, how mouthpieces work, what cheekpieces actually do, and the practical questions to ask before you buy your next bit.
Why Horse Bits Matter More Than Most Riders Realise
A bit is not a brake. It's a communication tool — and like any communication tool, it works best when both parties understand it. The bit applies pressure to the tongue, the bars (the gap between the incisors and molars where the bit rests), the lips, and depending on the design, the poll, the chin groove, and the roof of the mouth. How that pressure is distributed determines how the horse feels the rein aid.
Bits that are too harsh produce resistance, gaping mouths, and tension through the neck and back. Bits that are too mild can leave a strong horse running through the bridle, particularly out hacking or jumping. The goal is the lightest bit your horse responds to honestly — not the harshest one available "just in case."
The Five Main Bit Families
Most bits you'll encounter fall into one of five families. Each acts on the horse differently.
Snaffle Bits
The snaffle is the most widely used family of horse bits in South Africa and worldwide. A snaffle applies direct pressure to the corners of the mouth, the tongue, and the bars, with no leverage. The action stops where the rein pressure stops.
Single-jointed snaffles fold in the middle, which can create a "nutcracker" effect on horses with low palates — the joint pokes upward into the roof of the mouth when both reins pull simultaneously. Double-jointed snaffles (often called French link or elliptical link depending on the centre piece) sit flatter on the tongue and many horses go more comfortably in them. Mullen mouth (curved bar) and straight bar snaffles distribute pressure evenly across the tongue and are considered the mildest options.
Cheekpiece variations matter too. A loose-ring snaffle moves freely, encouraging mouthing and salivation but offering less lateral steering. An eggbutt sits steady in the mouth and is a sound choice for young horses learning to accept the contact. D-rings and full-cheek snaffles add lateral guidance, useful for green horses or those that drift.
Pelham Bits
A Pelham combines snaffle and curb action in a single mouthpiece using two reins. The top rein attaches to the snaffle ring and acts on the corners of the mouth. The bottom rein attaches to the lower shank and produces leverage, applying pressure to the poll and the chin groove via a curb chain. Pelhams are popular in showjumping and polo because they give the rider both subtle and strong options without the complexity of a double bridle. Rein connectors (rolled and ring type) let you ride a Pelham with a single rein, although you lose the independent control.
Kimblewick Bits
Sometimes spelled Kimberwick, this is a single-rein bit that produces mild leverage and poll pressure without the complexity of two reins. The slot in the upper cheek allows the rein to slide depending on hand height — held low for more leverage, high for a snaffle-like effect. Kimblewicks are often used as a step up from a snaffle for ponies and strong horses that need a touch more respect for the brake without going into proper double-bridle territory.
Gag Bits
Gag bits use rope, leather, or rounded cheekpieces that run from the bridle cheekpiece, through holes in the bit ring, down to the rein. When the rein is engaged, the bit slides upward in the horse's mouth, lifting the head and applying poll pressure. Gags are common in showjumping, polo, and on strong cross-country horses. The Dutch gag (or bubble bit) has multiple ring options — you choose how much leverage to dial in by which ring you attach the rein to. Used with two reins it gives precise, adjustable control; used with a single rein on the bottom ring, it's a strong bit that needs educated hands.
Curb Bits
The curb is a leverage bit with a single, often ported mouthpiece and a chin chain. It's used in Western riding, in advanced dressage as part of a double bridle (paired with a thinner snaffle called a bradoon), and in some traditional working setups. Curbs require an educated hand because the leverage multiplies any rein pressure significantly.
Mouthpiece Materials and What They Do
The metal — or non-metal — your bit is made of changes how the horse responds to it.
Stainless steel is the modern standard. Durable, taste-neutral, easy to clean, and doesn't rust. Most riders default to stainless and have no reason to change.
Sweet iron oxidises in the horse's mouth and produces a slightly sweet, metallic taste that encourages salivation. A wet, soft mouth is a relaxed mouth, and many horses go better in sweet iron than they do in stainless.
Copper inlays or copper-mix mouthpieces work similarly to sweet iron — they encourage chewing and salivation. Useful for horses that go behind the bit or with dry, tense mouths.
Rubber and "happy mouth" composite bits are gentle, flexible, and warm to the touch. They suit young horses being started, sensitive horses, and horses recovering from a hard-handed previous rider. They wear out faster than metal and need checking for cracks regularly.
How to Size a Horse Bit Correctly
A bit that's too narrow pinches the lips against the teeth. A bit that's too wide slides side-to-side, hits the molars, and gives muddled signals. Both cause discomfort and resistance.
To measure: place a length of clean dowel or a wooden spoon across the horse's mouth where the bit would sit, mark where it exits each corner of the lips, and measure the distance. Add roughly 6 mm (¼ inch) on each side for clearance — so a 12 cm mouth typically takes a 12.5 cm bit. South African shops measure in centimetres or inches; cob horses commonly take 11.5–12.5 cm, full-size horses 12.5–13.5 cm, and warmbloods or larger horses 13.5 cm and up.
Check fit on the horse: with the bit at the correct height (one to two soft wrinkles in the corner of the lips), you should see about 6 mm of bit ring showing on each side. If the cheekpieces are tight against the lips, the bit is too narrow. If you can pull it sideways and see more than 12 mm clear, it's too wide.
Discipline Matters — Pick a Bit That Suits the Job
A dressage horse needs a bit that allows fine, steady contact — usually a soft snaffle or, at higher levels, a double bridle. The range of permitted bits is set by the discipline's governing body, so check current rules before buying for competition.
A showjumper or eventer often wants a bit with a bit more "say" — a Pelham, Dutch gag, or three-ring elevator can keep a strong horse rateable between fences without locking the mouth. Many top jumpers school in a snaffle and only step up the bit at competitions.
Endurance and trail riders prioritise comfort over hours of riding. A double-jointed eggbutt snaffle, a Mullen mouth, or a synthetic-mouthed bit is common because the horse needs to drink, eat, and breathe freely without bit interference. Browse endurance and trail saddles to pair the right saddle with a bit setup that supports long days out.
Common Bit Mistakes
The most common mistake is buying a stronger bit when the real problem is fit, training, or rider hands. If your horse has started leaning, pulling, or tossing his head, check the obvious before changing bits: are the teeth in good shape, does the bridle fit and is the noseband not too tight, and have your own hands gone hard? A new bit won't fix any of those.
The second is leaving a bit on too long when it isn't working. Horses tell you within a few rides whether they accept a bit. If your horse is still resisting after two weeks of consistent riding, change something — go softer, go double-jointed, change material. Watch for constant chewing, gaping the mouth, head-tossing, going behind the bit, raw lip corners, or one-sided resistance. Any of these warrants a check — sometimes the answer is a different bit, sometimes it's a dental visit or a bridle adjustment.
Get the Right Bit for Your Horse from Solo Saddlers
Choosing a bit is part science, part feel. We've ridden in everything from straight-bar snaffles to American gags across endurance, jumping, polo, and racing — and we know how much of a difference the right mouthpiece makes. Solo Saddlers stocks over 75 horse bits in stainless steel, sweet iron, copper, and rubber, in every cheekpiece configuration that matters, alongside a full range of bridles to match. If you're stuck between two options, get in touch — we'd rather help you choose right the first time than have you guess. For more on tack fit, our girth size chart guide covers the same principle for saddle fit, and the British Horse Society publishes useful general guidance on welfare-conscious bitting if you want a deeper read.
