Reinsman Cowhorse Jr. Bit

lilbit · 03-23-2006, 03:37 AM

Hi I'm new

I can already see this is an excellent board!

Can I get some advice from you all? I've been using this bit on my horse and it SEEMS to work very well with her, she stays soft in the bridle and goes very well with just light hands.

http://www.horse.com/products/gift-0__sku-WBF17.html

I used to use a full cheek snaffle (she went well in it but would run through it whenever she choose to) but decided last week to find something she would respect more but would be comfortable as long as she behaved. I then tried a Tom Thumb for a day which I realized was causing pain cuz she got antsy the second day when I approached her with it.

I've used the Reinsman now four days in a row, she accepts it readily and responds really well. I ride on a loose rein, lots of leg cues, and very light hands b/c she's very light usually except her occasional tendency to try and pull the old runaway maneuver. It's her only flaw, she was really bad before I got her, we've about got it non-existent but it does return now and then.

I was wondering if anyone could tell me how much whoa this bit has or if it has the potiential to cause pain/discomfort in a way I'm not aware of. I don't need the whoa on a daily basis, but it'd be nice to know if it was there or not.

My guess is that this is a moderate bit (assuming the rider has light hands and knows how to ride). The shanks aren't very long but the upper shanks (I forget what they're called!) are equal in length to the lower so it ups the leverage ante more than if the upper were longer than the lower. The dog bone snaffle breaks farther out so this eliminates nutcracker effect and puts pressure in a whole new area than before. The thickness of the twist lessens the bite somewhat but if the horse lugs on the bit or ignores it, the twist will discourage that. I don't know much about the whole gag bit thing, so I won't even try to speculate on that

How'd I do?

Any opinions/insight/advice would be highly welcomed!!!

cd_horton · 03-23-2006, 07:04 AM

The junior cowhorse, is basicaly a gag type bit, it will add some stoping ability, but is an over all moderate bit. The bit itself does not cause pain or discomfort to the horses mouth, it is the hands the reins are in that can casue pain. You might also like the Myler bits, they offer many different mouthpieces and shanks.

lilbit · 03-23-2006, 09:47 AM

Thanks, CD!

I was asking if it could cause pain/discomfort I wasn't aware of b/c I noticed the first, and only day, I used the Tom Thumb that when I was asking her to give to one side, the joint in the middle caught and got hung up in that position, I thought she was resisting, starting asking harder and all of a sudden ** BAM ** it become uncaught and slammed her. Hv, I ride two-handed 90% of the time on a loose rein, so perhaps the Tom Thumb is designed for just one-handed riding.

Can you elaborate on the gag at all? Do you know how it works? I'm a little uneducated there. Do you know how it makes the bit different from just a plain old snaffle?

I just got done riding today and she was really full of it, wanting to gallop non-stop, bucking (out of exuberance not meanness), if she had been in her old snaffle, we would have been looooong gone. The Reinsman did well in getting her attention back to me, though she didn't act as though it hurt excessively - no head shaking, throwing, mouth gaping, etc.

I really appreciate your input, I love hearing others' advice and experiences with stuff

cd_horton · 03-23-2006, 12:12 PM

The "gag" action means the shanks slide through the bit, it seems to allow for varying degrees of pressure on the corners of the mouth and tongue. It also allows for some degree of independant side control. It is different from a snaffle in that it offers some leverage (increased pressure on the mouth and tongue as it has shanks, also it can utilize curb pressure under the chin, which your snaffle will not. There would be no unseen pain or discomfort, unless the middle of the bit pinches the tongue. You could use this bit with some direct rein if you needed.

lilbit · 03-23-2006, 12:29 PM

CD, thank you! Ahhh, I see now. You satisfied my curiosity, perfect answer. I can see now why I thought it was working good, you just described the perfect bit for my particular horse.

lucky_pine · 03-24-2006, 11:24 AM

Did you ride with direct rein in the tom thumb? If so, that's why she fought that bit. Of course it would hurt.
Don't direct rein in any bit with shanks. If the horse isn't neck reining, don't put her in any kind of curb.
Curb=indirect
snaffle=direct

lucky_pine · 03-24-2006, 11:25 AM

I ride my roping horse in that bit but it isn't twisted. I like them, really nice bits.

cherazam · 03-25-2006, 04:43 PM

I dont know if you show, but a bit with the "dogbone" mouth piece are illegal in many orgainizations.

lilbit · 03-27-2006, 04:28 PM

Actually, she didn't really fight the bit, the bit stuck, got jammed.

I do ride both two handed and neck reining in the cowhorse jr, but the curb isn't tight, I can fit four fingers in with room. She does well with it direct reining, even though it's shanked, and definitely isn't in any pain. She lets me know when she is! I ride with a lot of leg though too so I don't really have to use much rein, I just tighten up my fingers a tad if she doesn't respond right off to the leg.

I do like this bit, it seems to do the job and keeps her light and happy.

lilbit · 03-27-2006, 04:31 PM

Nope, don't show, do some local rodeo playdays but nothing's illegal there.

03-23-2006, 03:37 AM	#1
lilbit Full Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 88	Reinsman Cowhorse Jr. Bit Hi I'm new I can already see this is an excellent board! Can I get some advice from you all? I've been using this bit on my horse and it SEEMS to work very well with her, she stays soft in the bridle and goes very well with just light hands. http://www.horse.com/products/gift-0__sku-WBF17.html I used to use a full cheek snaffle (she went well in it but would run through it whenever she choose to) but decided last week to find something she would respect more but would be comfortable as long as she behaved. I then tried a Tom Thumb for a day which I realized was causing pain cuz she got antsy the second day when I approached her with it. I've used the Reinsman now four days in a row, she accepts it readily and responds really well. I ride on a loose rein, lots of leg cues, and very light hands b/c she's very light usually except her occasional tendency to try and pull the old runaway maneuver. It's her only flaw, she was really bad before I got her, we've about got it non-existent but it does return now and then. I was wondering if anyone could tell me how much whoa this bit has or if it has the potiential to cause pain/discomfort in a way I'm not aware of. I don't need the whoa on a daily basis, but it'd be nice to know if it was there or not. My guess is that this is a moderate bit (assuming the rider has light hands and knows how to ride). The shanks aren't very long but the upper shanks (I forget what they're called!) are equal in length to the lower so it ups the leverage ante more than if the upper were longer than the lower. The dog bone snaffle breaks farther out so this eliminates nutcracker effect and puts pressure in a whole new area than before. The thickness of the twist lessens the bite somewhat but if the horse lugs on the bit or ignores it, the twist will discourage that. I don't know much about the whole gag bit thing, so I won't even try to speculate on that How'd I do? Any opinions/insight/advice would be highly welcomed!!!

03-23-2006, 07:04 AM	#2
cd_horton Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,023 Images: 60	The junior cowhorse, is basicaly a gag type bit, it will add some stoping ability, but is an over all moderate bit. The bit itself does not cause pain or discomfort to the horses mouth, it is the hands the reins are in that can casue pain. You might also like the Myler bits, they offer many different mouthpieces and shanks. __________________ Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

03-23-2006, 12:12 PM	#4
cd_horton Senior Member+ Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,023 Images: 60	The "gag" action means the shanks slide through the bit, it seems to allow for varying degrees of pressure on the corners of the mouth and tongue. It also allows for some degree of independant side control. It is different from a snaffle in that it offers some leverage (increased pressure on the mouth and tongue as it has shanks, also it can utilize curb pressure under the chin, which your snaffle will not. There would be no unseen pain or discomfort, unless the middle of the bit pinches the tongue. You could use this bit with some direct rein if you needed. __________________ Romans 10:9 "If you confess with your mouth Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved."

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03-23-2006, 09:47 AM	#3
lilbit Full Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 88	Thanks, CD! I was asking if it could cause pain/discomfort I wasn't aware of b/c I noticed the first, and only day, I used the Tom Thumb that when I was asking her to give to one side, the joint in the middle caught and got hung up in that position, I thought she was resisting, starting asking harder and all of a sudden BAM it become uncaught and slammed her. Hv, I ride two-handed 90% of the time on a loose rein, so perhaps the Tom Thumb is designed for just one-handed riding. Can you elaborate on the gag at all? Do you know how it works? I'm a little uneducated there. Do you know how it makes the bit different from just a plain old snaffle? I just got done riding today and she was really full of it, wanting to gallop non-stop, bucking (out of exuberance not meanness), if she had been in her old snaffle, we would have been looooong gone. The Reinsman did well in getting her attention back to me, though she didn't act as though it hurt excessively - no head shaking, throwing, mouth gaping, etc. I really appreciate your input, I love hearing others' advice and experiences with stuff

03-23-2006, 12:29 PM	#5
lilbit Full Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 88	CD, thank you! Ahhh, I see now. You satisfied my curiosity, perfect answer. I can see now why I thought it was working good, you just described the perfect bit for my particular horse.

03-24-2006, 11:24 AM	#6
lucky_pine Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,423 Images: 810 Blog Entries: 14	Did you ride with direct rein in the tom thumb? If so, that's why she fought that bit. Of course it would hurt. Don't direct rein in any bit with shanks. If the horse isn't neck reining, don't put her in any kind of curb. Curb=indirect snaffle=direct

03-24-2006, 11:25 AM	#7
lucky_pine Senior Member Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 6,423 Images: 810 Blog Entries: 14	I ride my roping horse in that bit but it isn't twisted. I like them, really nice bits.

03-25-2006, 04:43 PM	#8
cherazam Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 636	I dont know if you show, but a bit with the "dogbone" mouth piece are illegal in many orgainizations.

03-27-2006, 04:28 PM	#9
lilbit Full Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 88	Actually, she didn't really fight the bit, the bit stuck, got jammed. I do ride both two handed and neck reining in the cowhorse jr, but the curb isn't tight, I can fit four fingers in with room. She does well with it direct reining, even though it's shanked, and definitely isn't in any pain. She lets me know when she is! I ride with a lot of leg though too so I don't really have to use much rein, I just tighten up my fingers a tad if she doesn't respond right off to the leg. I do like this bit, it seems to do the job and keeps her light and happy.

03-27-2006, 04:31 PM	#10
lilbit Full Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 88	Nope, don't show, do some local rodeo playdays but nothing's illegal there.