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Horse Bit Terminology

1. Purchase – the part of the bit above the mouthpiece. With a short purchase, the bit will act quicker in a horse's mouth when the rider pulls on the reins. With a long purchase, the bit is slower to react.
2. Shank – the part of the bit below the mouthpiece. Will give you leverage on the mouthpiece. The shorter the shank, the less control – the longer the shank the more control.
3. Cheeks – the sides of the bit. Includes both the purchase and shank.
4. Mouthpiece – the part of the bit that goes in the horse's mouth.
• Snaffle – broken in the middle and one of the most common mouthpieces.
• Three-piece snaffle – broken in two places so as to work on different places on the bars than a regular snaffle.
• Double twisted wire snaffle – made up of two small snaffles which are broken off-center from each other.
• Chain mouthpiece – does not work on the bars as a snaffle, but on the corners of the mouth.
• Solid mouthpiece – any mouthpiece that is not broken.
• Bars – rest on the horse's bars (gums behind the teeth).
• Port – rests on the tongue. There are high, medium and low port bits. The closer the bars are together, the more severe, the wider apart, the less severe.
• Mullen relief – a forward curve to the mouthpiece gives even pressure across the mouth. This causes a smoother reaction from the horse.
• Swivel mouthpiece – the mouthpiece swivels on the shank. Allows independent shank action. Gives the mouthpiece a different action than a solid constructed bit.
5. Curb bit – rotation in mouth-down on mouth, up on curb chain, pressure on pull.
6. Curb chain pressure – varies to one bit to another. Sets the timing of the bit. Loose curb chain – slower timing. Tight curb chain – faster timing.
7. Metal used in mouthpieces
   • Copper – causes a horse's mouth to salivate which allows the mouth to stay soft and usable to the rider.
   • Sweet iron – it is intended to rust. It actually does have a sweet taste to it as rusting occurs.
   • Stainless steel – gives a clean, neat look to any mouthpiece.
8. The "feel of the bit" – not only what the horse feels when the rider pulls on the reins; but, also what the rider feels. For example, suppleness or stiffness.
9. Timing – the amount of time required from the point when the reins are pulled until the bit has done as much as it can do.

Points of Control