Sizing- so stupidly simple... NOT!

Your entering the equestrian store, stating that your horse stands at 17hh and that you need to find the right size Bit for him. Because he is a big horse, a big Bit is recomended. You get home, put it in and its got a couple of cm of Bit showing both sides so you feel reassured that it is not going to pinch, get caught, rub, etc, better to be too big than too small right?

Sound familiar?

What if I told you that I often see more horses with bits that are too big than too small? Most of the time, the rubs, wounds, abrasions, and splits are caused by bits that are too large, as they move excessively in the horse's mouth and create friction. Occasionally, when a jointed bit is pulled through the mouth, the joint can get caught on the lips if it's too big. Having a bit that is too large also means that the mouthpiece doesn't apply pressure where it is supposed to. For instance, if a ported bit is too big, there is a risk that the corners of the port will rest directly on the bars, causing discomfort. We also often see turning being delayed due to the mouthpiece being pulled through. Bit rings can be put on to help if the Bit is too big, they shorten the bit by 0.5cm each side, however these are not a long term fix.

Some Bits are indeed fitted too small, which can pose certain risks, particularly on the lips. High-quality Bits, are crafted to be more forgiving. For instance, the Bore Hole (the hole at the end on the mouthpeice where the ring slides through) in Bomber Bits is chiseled out to be smoother and angled in a way that makes it highly unlikely for lips to become caught.

Certain mouthpieces are tricky to fit correctly, for instance, the classic single jointed snaffle, while a popular choice, can pose challenges in terms of fit. If not properly adjusted, this type of bit can easily cause wounds and discomfort for the horse. The design of the single jointed snaffle means that it can shorten up during use, leading to unnecessary pressure and squeezing on the horse's sensitive lips. Some mouthpeices need to actually be bigger than the size of mouth due to the mechanics, this is something we talk through and establish at a fitting.

I have a mouth measurer that I use at fittings to get the correct size of the mouth, then based on if its a loose ring or a fixed ring I go up and size and depending on the mouthpiece we may need to increase the size again if its a semi broken or boken mouthpiece, we also consider the anatomy . You can also measure your horses mouth at home- using a plastic rod (pencil like thickenss) put it in the horses mouth and make a mark with a vivid on either size of their lips. Take it out and put a tape measure against it. Feel free to send me a picture of what size your horses mouth measured and what Bit you are currently using to check if it is correct. I work in mm when measuring mouths and Bits as it is the most accurate and universal.