I know nothing about bitting for racing TBs. What are some common bits used, and is it a matter of what the horse likes, or are bits chosen for a specific function?
Can someone help educate me or point me to a primer on racing bits? Just interested in learning.
When I was involved in racing (40 years ago) a simple D ring snaffle was the bit of choice. You never saw a flash. Tongue ties were common as were shadow rolls.
Found this website interesting:
D bits, ring bits (snaffle with a ring which also sits beside the bit- stops the bit from sliding through the mouth), snaffles of all sorts- eggbutt, loose ring, straight bars, single jointed, double jointed. James bits, straight bar or jointed (lower prong helps steering). Leather spoon bit (my favourate! Leather covered straight bar mullen mouth, with lower spoons on the lower jaw for steering). A few less common ones, Mexican sliders, snake bit (these are used for âproblemâ horses, horses who donât steer well under pressure- bolters. There is always a reason WHY these horses are bolting, and if this is not addressed, the horseâs career is probably over anyway.) Gag snaffles are sometimes used for morning exercise, but not for racing- some horses get encouraged to âtowâ the rider in morning exercise, and not all riders are strong enough to hold such a horse from running away without a gag snaffle to make âtowingâ not an option.
Bits with full cheeks are not seen in racing, the nightmare possibility of anything on the bit getting caught in the bars of the starting gate limit their use. Also, horses engaged in racing may be âroughâ with their head, and having anything that is going to damage or impale handlers or pony riders with points extending off the bit if the horse gets fractious with his head, makes these bits counterproductive.
Bits for race horses tend to be simple. The horses are usually young, and do not have the âfine tuningâ education in the mouth of a riding horse. They need to be soft mouthpieces that the horse is comfortable in, encouraging the horse to take a feel on the bit. The cues the riders give are simple, basic steering, and the occasional check back in speed. Not the complexity of the partnership of rider with a hunter, jumper or dressage riding horse.
Excellent information, thank you both!
I think I was noticing the ring bit in several photos and during the KD, thatâs what piqued my curiosity.
Ring bits are quite common in racing. Personally, Iâve never thought they bring much to the table. Other then the rider thinking it does, lol.
The explanation of how they work given in the link supplied by CCFarm isnât very good.
Iâm probably wrong (as usual) but Iâve never seen a European horse with a âtongue tieâ
They just place the bit further back. Shug McGaughey/Phippsâ Janneysâ horses never used one for racing.
What Iâm told anyhow.
I have never been involved with racing, but I have loved watching it for decades. Lately I have noticed many are now using flash nosebands, and wondered if they are replacing, at least to some extent, tongue ties? If not, is there some other purpose for them in racing?
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