In order to be effective, your horse’s bit needs to fit properly. A too large bit will slide back and forth in your horse’s mouth, and certain parts might not sit where they need to. Too small, and the bit may pinch the sides of your horse’s lips, and again, not sit in its mouth properly. An improperly fitting bit can result in an uncomfortable horse and muddled rein aids. In the show ring, a horse fussing with its bit will catch the judge’s eye in a negative way. And a fussing horse can take the pleasure out of pleasure riding.
A poorly fitting bit isn’t the only reason your horse will fuss with a bit, but it’s a place to start. Or, maybe you have a new horse and need all new gear. It’s hard to eye up what size you need, and it’s easy to be dazzled when you’re standing in front of a wall full at the tack shop with every imaginable shape, size and promise available.
Now of course, the easiest way to buy a proper fitting new bit is to know the size of a proper fitting old bit. Lay the bit down on a flat surface. Use a flexible tape measure, such as a sewing tape measure to find the distance from the inside of the mouthpiece from ring or cheekpiece to the other. Now, write this down and make sure you have it with you when you shop.
But, maybe you don’t have a properly fitting bit at all. In this case, there are a few things you can do. For complete DIY measuring you’ll need one of three things, and a tape measure and marker.
Flexible Tape Measure
If you have a flexible cloth or plastic tape measure, such as the one you’ve borrowed from your mother’s sewing box, put this through your horse’s mouth where the bit would sit. Hold it fairly taut. Since you probably won’t be able to grasp the end, start your measurement a bit further up and then do some math. Wipe the tape measure down and put it back in the sewing box.
Doweling
Use a piece of doweling. Put it through your horse’s mouth. Mark the wood on each side of the horse’s lips, remove and measure.
String
Use a piece of string. Tie a knot a few inches in, and put the string through the horse’s mouth, with the knot on the side of the lips. Mark the string with a marker. Remove and measure from the inside of the knot to your marking.
Calipers
You can use calipers if you happen to have these around. If someone you know does wood or metal work, you might be able to borrow them. Or you could download calipers to cut out of cardboard.
There are also tools made specifically for measuring a horse’s mouth. They are not very expensive and might be worth it if you do a lot of fitting.
Whatever method you use, you need to try the bit in your horse’s mouth and make sure that it doesn’t pinch, or slop around. Your horse should be comfortable, and hold the bit quietly. Hang onto the store slip and any tags or packaging, just in case you have to trade up or down a size.
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