What bits do you prefer for a long trail rides in unknown place?
Do you unstrap the bit during the break or you just take the whole bridle off?
Either plain old snaffle bits on western-type browband bridles. Leave rope halter on under bridle, or remove it and tether it and the lead rope to saddle for breaks.
or
Little S hackamores on same type of bridle…rope halter and lead tethered to saddle.
Depending on the training the horse has - a grazing bit works fine. the shanks are curved back which allows the horse to graze while bitted. (I use a jr cutter bit on my QH)
For longer than 10 minute breaks, rope halter and lead rope. Remove the headstall, hang it on the saddle horn;) . With a shanked bit, I use a sliding ear headstall - easy off and easy on - no throatlatch.
With a jointed mouthpiece, you SHOULD use a headstall with browband and throatlatch (keeps the mouthpiece more stable). That’s why it’s more complicated to remove.
Right now my MFT is going in a french link, full cheek bit with browband/throatlatch bridle. I keep a flat web halter on underneath the headstall. He needs about 50 more rides before I consider changing his bit.
Weaver makes a nice halter/bridle combo… the bit clips on and off… its a very attractive bridle.
I use a trail bridle, and for lunch stops (generally about 1/2 hour), I take the bit off and loosen the girth/cinch. If I need to lead or tie for a short time, I’ll remove the reins from the bit (they clip on) and put them under the chin on the halter part to lead with so I’m not leading him by his mouth/bit or tying to it.
Little S hackamore on my Arab.
Jim Warner 7" hackamore on my
16.2 somewhat hotter APHA.
I use a neck rope, too.
I have a chain bit (very comfy for my mare) and then have a rope halter under the headstall. I don’t need to remove the bit as it doesn’t interfere w her grazing at our breaks 
Plus usually our rides are followed w camping. I LOVE the rope halters w leads as you never have to take it off for the whole weekend and there is nothing to break!
I use what ever bit my horse is used to being rode in. some horses that is a Little S hackamore, some it’s a Tomthumb, some it’s a Correction bit. Just depends on the horse and what he responds to,
When I stop for breaks, I take the head stall off and hang it on the saddle horn, I put hobbles on the horse and let him graze while I eat lunch or take a break.
Just hobbles? With out tying him up?
I have a question. I ride my mare with a little english hackamore and have thought about a halter, but wouldn’t the noseband of the halter interfere with the hackamore.
The noseband of the halter should sit much higher up on the nose than the hackamore noseband, so they shouldn’t interfere. Just make sure that when you use a leverage hackamore (with shanks of any size) that the action of the reins doesn’t pull the hackamore up in such a way that it catches on the halter (noseband and/or cheekpiece). Usually that would only happen if the hackamore was too small (too snug around the nose and muzzle in general) or the halter to big, relatively speaking.
I stuff a little rope halter in my saddle or pommel bags many times. That might be a solution for some. Or the neck straps.
I stow a rope halter in the cantle bag, too, just like having less on their face. They wear their regular leather English bridles with snaffle bits. The halter is used at stops because I don’t want to take the chance of breaking the bridle or halter/bridle.
Be very careful when taking the bit off. Either remove it completely or clip both sides back where they belong, but with the bit hanging under the chin. DO NOT attach both clips to one side of the halter/bridle. The bent and hanging bit can swing around and smack the horse in the face if he spokes or moves too quickly.
Sure Just hobbles with out tying up. That’s what they are for. So your horse can move around and graze.
We do it during lunch breaks
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/Painted-Horse/2008/Granite%20Basin/100_0047.jpg
Or in camp, Highline during the night and hobble for an hour before and after the ride.
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/Painted-Horse/Horses-grazing.jpg
