Bites

A little BIT can be a big bit of information.

By: The Player

Unless you have been around horses for a part of your life, you probably do not understand the role a bit plays in racing. If you are in this category, sit back and enjoy this article.

A bit is a small piece of metal that attaches to the reins and fits into a horse‘s mouth. Not such a big deal, right?

Well consider the fact that this little piece of metal weighing a few ounces has the responsibility of controlling an animal weighing over 1000 pounds as he runs 35 miles an hour along side and behind ten other horses. See why it might be real important to choose the correct bit for the horse?

There are a large variety of bits used every afternoon at the racetrack. When you learn a little about bits, you can actually use this information to make some nice scores at the racetrack.

The first thing you need to know about bits is that the largest reason different bits are employed is to give a rider leverage over the horse. The more severe the bit, the more leverage the rider can get.

The fundamental rule is that the less you put into a horses mouth and still have good control, the better off you are. A horse‘s mouth is a sensitive area and the more severe the bit, the more likely the horse is to be distracted and even expend energy fighting the bit rather than running his race. Basically, the fatter the mouthpiece is, the milder the bit is. The thinner the mouthpiece, the more severe the bit is.

It is always comforting to see a horse stepping out onto the track with a light ring bit or big old hollow mouth snaffle bit. This is especially true of young, inexperienced horses. The real light bits generally mean that the horse is better behaved and won‘t find trouble in a race, the way overly aggressive or poorly behaved horses do.

You might also see a series of three rings running up the side of the bit. This is called an elevator bit and gives a trainer an option of how much leverage he wishes the rider to have. If the reins are attached to the lowest ring, watch out, this might be a headstrong, impulsive, problematic horse.

You might also see bits with full cheek pieces. This adds a further degree of rider control as it is easier to steer a horse‘s head with a full cheek bit.

Horses that tend to bear out or lug in while running may be helped by the use of a prong bit. Metal prongs on either side of the mouthpiece can be covered with leather or left exposed. Either way, the prong puts pressure on the side of the horse's mouth that he is leaning into.

Bits that attempt to control a horse from lugging in or bearing out are called run out bits and come in a variety of shapes ranging from the simple solid disc or prong bits described above to what is called a burr bit. Burr bits actually dig into the exterior of the horses mouth in an attempt to gain leverage and steer him in the opposite direction.

While run out bits don‘t harm a horse, they can distract him from racing or cause mouth pain which might stop him for trying his best. And the fact is they would not be used as racing equipment if the horse wasnÕt exhibiting some type of problem that necessitated their use. Often times, that problem is soreness somewhere in the body or legs. This is especially true when a horse changes course while making the turn. Basically the altered course is letting you know that the horse is experiencing discomfort running as fast as he is while negotiating a turn.

A horse that drifts in the stretch might due so out of plain fatigue but if he is somewhere near the top of his acceleration curve and starts to alter course, that is never a good thing. And there is no bit on earth that will make a sore legged horse run faster or farther.

The only time I can accept a severe looking bit is on a horse that is headstrong and has trouble rating. Then I look at the jockey. If it is a good jockey like Prado or Gomez, I can accept the bit. If it is a bad jock up with heavy equipment in the horse‘s mouth, I will go the other way.

There is a second important dimension to some bits. I call them tongue control bits. There are many variations but they all are designed to keep the tongue snug under the bit. My favorite tongue control bit is called The Serena's Song. It has a U-shaped extension in the center of the snaffle mouthpiece to keep the tongue from getting over the bit. This helps certain horses that tire prematurely due to the tongue suddenly obstructing the airway.

Instead of switching to bits like the Serena Song, some trainers opt to use their regular bit and add another piece of equipment, such as a running W or a tongue grid. Both of these are lightweight, W-shaped metal devices that lay on top of the tongue to help keep it in place.

One final note about something related to bits, you can‘t see from the stands. That is, of course, the teeth. Babies should have their wolf teeth pulled before a bit goes into their mouths and horses in training should have the sharpness taken off their teeth every sixty days. Some trainers neglect the teeth and they become as sharp, over time, as razor blades. Horses with sharp teeth eat less and quickly lose fitness. Not only that but imagine putting a bit into a horses mouth with sores and cuts on the gums. Once the jock starts pulling on the reins the horse stops running.

I have found over the years that as there is more attention put into a horseÕs legs than into his feet and mouth. In my opinion, neglecting a horse‘s mouth or feet is the fastest way there is to slow their performance.