Hi, I’m from the hunter jumper world but I’m always looking for new ideas - I saw a Houghton bit and was wondering how it sits and the theory behind it? when would you use it? benefits? drawbacks?
http://www.bigdweb.com/HAUGHTON-BIT-SS/productinfo/965/
Ok this just seems wrong to me, and maybe its because its rainy and I am already a little grumpy but…
IF you don’t know how the bit works, then maybe you shouldn’t be using it. Especially on a show horse.
Haughton’s are useful bits on the track for stronger horses that try to move their jaw around a lot to avoid being rated well. (Or at least the ones I used with it) I would no more put this bit on any of my eventers or jumpers than go to Charlie Sheen and ask for marital advice.
Just saying…
~Emily
We’ve used it for horses that want to lug in or bear out for no physical reason. Sometimes horses just want to exit stage left to go back to the barn before the race is over, or take a hop over the inner rail for a dip in the infield lake.
Hey Jenger,
How warm does those infield lakes get up there??? I imagine Canadian infields are cool-cold year round…
Brrrrrrrrrrrrr :lol:
~Em
1 Like
Does the whole thing go in the mouth?? So only the rings would be visable. Or does the rectangular part act sort of like a curb chain?
I’ve never seen one before.
LBR
One of my horses trained in one in the track for the exact reason jengersnap said. He galloped all over the place.
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-sf2p/v339/132/3/687060047/n687060047_3961556_2509.jpg
See here:
The “cage” is fixed and goes behind the lower jaw and keeps the jaw straighter so those tricky buggers can’t evade the contact by slipping their jaw around.
~Emily
Thanx!
LBR
Thanx MBM & XCG!
Why is it leather covered? Does that make the mouth piece softer, or encourage salavation?
LBR
[QUOTE=Xctrygirl;5518114]
Ok this just seems wrong to me, and maybe its because its rainy and I am already a little grumpy but…
IF you don’t know how the bit works, then maybe you shouldn’t be using it. Especially on a show horse.
Haughton’s are useful bits on the track for stronger horses that try to move their jaw around a lot to avoid being rated well. (Or at least the ones I used with it) I would no more put this bit on any of my eventers or jumpers than go to Charlie Sheen and ask for marital advice.
Just saying…
~Emily[/QUOTE]
I hope your day gets better, Emily, because from this reply to a simple question, it must really suck. For a second, I thought I was on a snarky board;)
[QUOTE=Xctrygirl;5518299]
Hey Jenger,
How warm does those infield lakes get up there??? I imagine Canadian infields are cool-cold year round…
Brrrrrrrrrrrrr :lol:
~Em[/QUOTE]
Funny you should ask. Puss n Boots is our famous one for doing it up here at Fort Erie. He has a local stakes named for him, and the winning jock (often the trainer as well) jumps in the lake after the race in his honor 
http://www.internationalhorseracingdigest.com/node/466
The snow does melt and the grass grows in the sun for a few months a year up here. I’m not native, and I don’t think I could do perpetual winters.
The leather is like a rubber D, it does make it gummy/softer. We’ve used it with and without the leather depending on the horse. I don’t think it would be a good choice for jumping though. I think it comes from the harness world.
1 Like
Yes it does. Was developed by Billy Haugton a good while ago
Thanx
LBR
[QUOTE=sk_pacer;5518625]
Yes it does. Was developed by Billy Haugton a good while ago[/QUOTE]
You guys get all the cool toys!
That particular toy is a great thing, brush roll and is used on horses that don’t go nicely with a shadow roll and jump over non-existant holes and the always evil blowing leaves and things. With the brush, everything in front of the eyes moves all the time so they just ignore the horse eating hoofprints and blowing leaves and stuff. This one looks to be a cross between the brush and the fingers which are no more than tire ties put on a shadow roll.
What I always found intriguing were the variations on driving and overcheck bits…still fascinated by that.
Good on the OP for looking outside her world and asking questions. Being a multicultural horseman isn’t a bad thing.
I think standardbred boots are almost as good as their bits. They’ve got one for every joint.
I was thinking about a brush or fan roll for my crazy old road horse. Maybe she won’t notice the scary yellow lines in the road. :eek:
[QUOTE=Bacchus;5518513]
I hope your day gets better, Emily, because from this reply to a simple question, it must really suck. For a second, I thought I was on a snarky board;)[/QUOTE]
OK stop making me smile… I was just getting set into “being a grump” mode. And if you don’t believe me, have a look at my overly opinionated self replying like a mad woman over on the Eventing board today!!
To be fair however I have a very big (personal) issue with people putting on new bits just for the sake of trying a new bit. A horse’s mouth is far more sensitive and vital to the quality of how it goes than I think many can comprehend.
A Haughton is not a bit to “play” around with. It’s effective for horses that need it, but having said that I know we tried very very hard to avoid putting it on any horses in any of the track strings I worked for.
And when you throw in there that the OP is coming over from hunter jumper land and is interested in a bit that a lot of quality racehorse trainer try to avoid… well I hit my threshold today for silly ideas.
Riding takes skill and training and groundwork and time. Cute and fashionable and new bits, gadgets etc, just prolong the amount of time before you hit an all out wall and need to fall back, take 3-6 months off and retrain your horses the basic foundation that you should already have to be competitive and succesful in the show ring.
(**NOTE, I am not saying all “non snaffle” bits are bad. What I am saying is that bit selection should be done purposefully to compliment the training you are putting into your horse(s). And whenever possible staying with something less complicated and gadgety should always be the goal to allow the mouth of your horse to stay soft as nature intended and not cause a horse to coil up and fail to use its neck and spine as intended)
~Emily
Would jumping in this bit, if the horse played with his jaw a lot, hurt the horse? Wouldn’t the bit act like a mullen mouth with the addition of the “jaw cage” (sorry, couldn’t think of a better term).
I’m not planning on using one, it’s curiousity based on the “not good for a jumper” response.
LBR
[QUOTE=Xctrygirl;5518114]
Ok this just seems wrong to me, and maybe its because its rainy and I am already a little grumpy but…
IF you don’t know how the bit works, then maybe you shouldn’t be using it. Especially on a show horse.
Haughton’s are useful bits on the track for stronger horses that try to move their jaw around a lot to avoid being rated well. (Or at least the ones I used with it) I would no more put this bit on any of my eventers or jumpers than go to Charlie Sheen and ask for marital advice.
Just saying…
~Emily[/QUOTE]
Then go to Charlie Sheen and ask for marriage advice. I gave one to a BNT to use and on a certain horse and wow, he went out next week and won a 100k Grand Prix. Loved the bit for that horse.
Terri
Shall we throw you a party then???
A BNT with a 100k jumper is not the type of person who inquired here.
Pro’s are capable of trying new stuff and using their skills to try it wisely.
Ammies… not so much.
And I am gonna stick with my original position on this.
It has no more place in jumpers than draw reins. And yes I do realize how much they’re used. I am entitled to my opinion too.
~Emily
