Double broken bit size

[Patagonian.girl]

Hi,

New here. I hope yoy can help me with this !

I think my young arabian charge will benefit witv a double broken bit. The usual thick tongue and low palete conformation on the tiny mouth of the Arab horses. But I am unsure about the correct size to order it. The measurement from size to size of his mouth is 4 3/4" but if I messure puting a rope on his mouth, due to the curvature of the thick tongue the measurement is 5 1/4". Manufactors keep telling me the size is measured the same way all bits are measured. BUT I figure a double broken bit follows the curvature of the tongue, so surely when laying flat on a table itts measure from hole to hole on a loose ring would be longer that the same side to side measure when it is on the mouth. I hope I am making myself clear, should draw it really…
So, should I order his true size 4 3/4" or the size I think a double broken bit is correct for him , 5 1/4"?

I am contemplanting buying a HS bit for him. I can not order the incorrect size!

thank you

[sonata]

I have used a 43/4 on my part arabs, so I think you should be safe with that size. I would not go any larger

[Highflyer]

Smartpak has free shipping/ returns so I’d get it from there if you’re worried. But I haven’t found that the French links fit differently and would go with your regular size.

[Jackie_Cochran]

I would go with your horse’s mouth size.

Many, many decades ago I wanted to try a Dr. Bristol snaffle. My local tack store got one in on trade and I bought it at the used price. It was 5 1/2" wide, my horse had a 5" mouth.

My normally placid horse who cheerfully accepted the bit turned into a head-flinging, gaping, inverting wild horse, totally unhappy with this bit.

I never put a bit that was too wide in his mouth again. He was SO EMPHATIC about his displeasure, and this horse just tended to shrug things off normally.

[hoopoe]

i have used both conventional french link and ones with roller bushing and ported mouth relief

and they are all measured the same way . flat on a table a relief bit is masured ( sized) straight across corner to corner

You do not measure the curve of your horses mouth nor the bit

go with 4 3/4

[Patagonian.girl]

Thank you for your repplies.

I am afraid there are no easy returns from down under here.

I will go with his 4 3/4 size.

[Jackie_Cochran]

If, when using the 4 3/4 bit, you think it might be a little bit too tight, the easy, quick solution is to lengthen the cheek pieces a little bit. The mouth tends to narrow the nearer to the muzzle. (This is assuming that you have wrinkles at the corners of the horse’s mouth.)

Most of the old riding masters recommended that the snaffle just touch the corners of the mouth, with no wrinkles. Fashions have changed, but for most horses you really do not need the wrinkles at the corner of the mouth.

[Guilherme]

You do a WAG, a SWAG, or you can measure.

Here is one way to measure. I’m sure Google can lead you to others.

https://www.doversaddlery.com/how-to-measure-for-a-bit/a/489/

G.