hi, I ride my dressage horse in western tack for my equestrian team to get points, not to be super competitive. I need a bit that will encourage a relaxed canter, and that will give me leverage in the ring when he gets hot and excited. The only criteria is the port can’t be and larger than a low port, and the mouthpiece must be 51/2"
any help is much appreciated! 
What kind of mouthpiece is on his dressage bit? For a horse that switches between disciplines, I would generally try to use a western bit that has shanks but has a mouthpiece as close as possible to his primary bit.
I used to use a french link mouthpiece with shanks on my western all-around horse, then graduated him to a swivel shank mullen bit that I LOVED. As his training has progressed, he is now in a solid (no shank swivel) low-port bit. Remember that a shanked bit needs a properly adjusted curb chain to function correctly. The chain isn’t just there to provide leverage against the horse, it keeps the bit from rotating into the wrong position in the horses mouth.
He is in a single jointed mouthpiece, he doesn’t love French linked, but I’ve been looked at Mullen bits and they look super nice.
I’m guessing he gets hot and excited because he does not understand the western aids and that makes him anxious. What western classes are you showing?
The relaxation WP requires isn’t going to come from a bit, it’s the whole body. Many avoid bits with joints or loose jaw shanks as any moving parts can get a more ambitious horse fussing and a quiet mouth is a must.
IME there tends to be a hole in the training of horses that don’t accept the curb…that hole is they were never taught how, neither were their riders. That can be fixed with the help if a trainer who does know how to accomplish this important step in training.
However if a horse is basically hot natured, WP goes against its basic nature. Some horses take to it, others never do settle into it, Sort of a square peg, round hole thing. Maybe asking something of the horse it’s just not going to be good at which will make him unhappy and you frustrated. Is it worth it for some points?
Myler makes western bits, that come in 5 1/2.
The mouth size is going to limit your selection drastically. Try looking at draft bits
Look at the Robart Pinchless 5 3/4 Training Snaffle bit. $38.99 at Stateline Tack. The mouth is close to what he is used to, and it is a good bit for converting from snaffle to curb. The shanks and curb chain will make it signal him differently
http://www.bigdweb.com/category/tack…estern+bits.do Select the 5 1/2 option.
www.lwbits.net This company can make a 5 1/2 bit in many mouth pieces.
To your horse…the western saddle feels very different, the curb bit feels very different, and the neck reining may be confusing.
None of that contributes to relaxation. Your horse needs lots of practice with the western equipment. Preferably with a western trainer helping you.
He understands western aids, its just his nature to be hot. I only do western equitation and western bareback
He rides in a kimberwicke for huntseat equitation, which has a curb. He is hot natured. Im not in control of what classes I am put in, and since there is nothing physically keeping him from doing western, i cant object without quitting the team.
Weirdly, he actually neck reins quite nicely. Thank you for the suggestions! I found one myler i really liked, but its very very expensive, an Im not sure its worth it
If he truly understands Western aids and neck reins properly, you can ride him in a halter, or even bridleless. If the bit is going to make that big of a difference, he’s not there yet.
I ride him bridleless and bitless at home. Its the showing atmosphere that makes him hot.
Check Ebay, lots of Myler bits there, and there are used tack and bit Facebook groups.
Maybe call Myler and see if they can give you a price break since you need the bit for your Equestrian Team. They are very nice folks.
Good luck
Okay thank you!
Then you need to put him in situations that make him uncomfortable and get him to relax.
Any horse gets upset in new surroundings with new sights, sounds (like the PA system) and smells plus working in a group on the rail. That’s not “hot”, that’s Green in away from home and group situations.
If he was by nature a hot tempered horse, you would not be riding him in a halter bareback at home in familiar surroundings.
He sounds pretty quiet natured as long as he’s in familar surroundings. That can be schooled.
I am a bit confused by your original post and question because the bit has nothing to do with a relaxed canter. You have to train your horse to have a relaxed canter.
If your horse is only “hot” at shows, either he’s green and needs more showing experience or else he’s a jumper and excited to do his job… But you said he’s a dressage horse?
Can you get a relaxed canter in your English (dressage) tack? If you cannot, don’t expect a bit to do it for you.
I understand why you are doing the Western events, as you’ve explained, so I would try to choose something as close to the kimberwicke as you can, since he is used to that. Something with a short curved shank, and with the same mouthpiece that he is used to.
With that said, the action of a kimberwicke will still be different than the action of a western curb bit and he’s going to need to get used to it.
Most of the time at shows I cannot get a relaxed canter, but at home I can. Ive been trailering him at least once a week to different friends houses to get him out of his comfort zone, but in a less stressful environment where I can school. DO you know any western bits like a kimberwicke?
Your friends house doesn’t have a PA system, at least 50 random people, some with yappy little dogs or strollers, and he’s not tied to the trailer for hours or in a warm up ring with all sorts of horses doing all sorts of things or the show ring with 15 other horses doing the same thing trying to go slow.
We aren’t trying to argue with you, just trying to tell you we have worked with many horses in the exact same situation and the only way you get them to relax at a show is to go to lots of shows. You don’t have to enter anything, just hang out, ride around the schooling ring and stand around the gate (without being in the way, if course) walk around.
Make it boring. For both of you. It has to be frustrating you, unless you are a robot, when he heats up, that just feeds the anxiety back to him and turns up the heat.
Its a real common problem. But fixable, just not with a bit. BTW Kimberwicks can come with different mouthpieces and degrees of curb action depending on the length of the straight part of the sidepiece above the mouthpiece compared to below it. Called a curb ratio. 4:1 wound be stout, 2:1 pretty mild. If the reins are in a slot, its stronger then if they are sliding on just the curved part of the dee. They aren’t all the same even if they look similar. Bits are an ignored art these days…
Can you post a picture of the exact bit you are using now? Kimberwickes vary.
It is good to haul him to different arenas; even if they are not show environments. Keep hauling and keep showing. It takes time to seasons a horse.
I can take a picture tomorrow, and okay! He doesn’t mind the trailer at all which helps alot
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