Over the past couple of years I’ve become very interested in bits. I’ve raised some colts and bought some older seasoned horses for my kids, each horse has its own bit and tie down. If I’ve learned one thing these past few years, it’s there is no one size fits all when it comes to bits.
I’ve got some three year old colts that I’ve been riding alot this summer. One colt is ready for a bit with a twisted wire mouth piece and a little short shank. The other colt is still in an O ring snaffle. He’s really flexing at the poll and works off his hind end really good. The filly I’ve been riding is a little farther along and she’s making a nice barrel horse. She is working good in the little twisted wire mouth piece bit.
We’ve got an older horse that’s broke to death, about all the bit is for is to run the jerk line when we calf rope on him. He scores good and you can spin him in a circle with a halter on. If we were just trail riding him I’d ride him in a bosal.
Another older horse we’ve got tends to get a little lazy when it comes to side passing and bending around your leg. We team rope, run barrels, and tie down on this horse. I’ve got a couple of different chain gag bits we use on him. This particular horse the length of his tie down makes a huge difference in how he works, an inch too long or short makes a big difference.
Over the years I’ve got to where I make most of my own tie down nose bands. I’ve got a few made from old nylon team ropes. I’ve made some from the smaller piggin strings too. The only tie down nose bands I’ve bought are made from leather.
When it comes to the tie down straps I’m really set in my ways. I like a tie down strap that has brass Conway buckles and a brass snap. The brass doesn’t corrode like the silver looking ones do. I also like a good strap of braided nylon. Some people use leather tie down straps, I won’t. I had a tie down strap break and it kept me from winning a big rodeo one night.
Each of my horses has their own bit and tie down. I like to get things adjusted just right. This way each time I get on that horse I know his bridle and tie down are adjusted to the proper length. It makes training on one a lot easier, I don’t have to remember how this horse or that horse likes something to be set up.