Bits in General. Terry W., Lynn G., anyone that knows....

[My Pasos]

Okay, I have a question. On my Grey mare I use a myler. She is much more comfortable with that than a spoon.
When I go to working with Sola, what would you suggest? Here is my ignorance...Please don't down me for not knowing. I am trying to learn.

The spoon bit, what excatly is its purpose? I have been told it is used to set the head.
My grey mare is a pleasure, her head is not set like most Pasos I have seen.
Does that affect their gait to have a spoon?

I have more questions, but sadly have to go to work.....

[CarolU]

Which Myler bit do you have? There are many models. What they have in common is tongue relief, sweet iron, and copper in-lay. Other then that, it depends on which bit you have, what kind of response you have. The same of the spoon bit. Different spoons, do different things. The height and size of the spoon, the angle to the port, the shanks and their shape, all affect how the bit works. And....every horse has a little different mouth anatomy.

Sorry...there isn't "one bit fits all" in this business. ;-)

[My Pasos]

I know, that is why I am asking.

Here is the mouth piece with a HBT shank.
http://www.toklat.com/myler/mbits_36.html

She is very comfortable with that & fights with a spoon. I have tried 4 different spoons on her & she liked none of them.

I am just trying to figure out what would be good for Sola.

[CarolU]

Is this to be Sola's first bit? The MB 36 is a nice mild bit. It really depends on where it hits the bars in the mouth on if it is a comfortable bit for a specific horse.

I start horses with a jacinta for 5-6 rides. I put honey on it so they get to like it. Then I switch to carrying a bit. I start with a Myler comfort snaffle (with honey), but I don't see a problem starting with an MB36 if she is already trained to respond correctly and lightly to your jaquima.

I let them carry the bit for a few rides and then attach some different color reins (I don't want to accidently make a mistake). And then start moving them over onto the bit. You'll know it is too much bit for her right away if she undertucks her head even when you apply no pressure. Go to a lighter bit.

[Pinto Paso]

first you will want to measure her mouth to know what width to get...

Next, is it important that she goes in a bit?
I personally dont like a broken mouth bit but do have some that are nice and will use them on ocassion..

here is my favorite bit (reinsman colt breaking bit)you can get it with teardrop short shank or swivel shank... since I dont like snaffle bits this is my starter bit, others will graduate from the ring snaffle to the mullen port and swivel cheeks.
http://airscentinghorse.com/images/molan-bit.jpg

[Terry Wallace]

There is very good thought and design that went into the Paso Fino spoon bit. I use them too along with Mylers....

Before you excuse the spoon bit entirely..when you say she does not like it...please tell me more. What exactly does she do? Is it possible that you put too much pressure on the reins? Hold your reins too short, too high, or the mouth of the bit is too long, or you may need bit guards, or does she seek more rein (pull your reins with her mouth)?

A Paso spoon IS a good bit for head setting...but then, I also find a Kimberwicke good for head set, along with comfort mouth shanked Mylers.

Sometimes you have to experiement a little before you find the right bit.

My normal succession of bit is...1 Kimberwicke, then moving on to a Myler short shank broken mouth comfort type, later as the horse progresses...it may or may not progress to a longer shank Myler. OR...it may progress right to a Paso spoon. OR..I may take it right from the Kimber bright to the Paso Spoon. Sometimes I use the Myler bridoon type bit.

Describe the headset you have now...photo if possible.

[Pinto Paso]

I agree there is nothing wrong with the spoon bit - I use them a lot I also really like the port bit with roller Colombian bits, especially for easy headset horses - it really refines the headset.

I also am a bit, barbados, noseband collector... I have some really awesome antiques and a rack of everyday bits so that the horse can have options.

[My Pasos]

Carol. No that is my Grey Show mare. It took sometime for me to find one she liked. As a matter of fact, Cyrstal helped me with that one.

Pinto. I was thinking of that kind of bit to start her on. I will have to take a picture of her, she is just slightly a hair shorter than Melinda & Crystalchick. She is ALL LEGS & with a nice gait to boot.

Terry. My Grey mare actually faught the bit. You don't need hardly any rein with her. I am very gentle with her mouth and the reins, she is pretty well trained. It just seemed to me that it was un needed pressure for her(or maybe too much.) She would easily become irritated with the bit, and a few times she would fling her head up. Now, with the myler she is at ease, so to speak & more willing to be worked with.
It was obvious that type of bit was not for her.

I am not totally against the spoon bit, but more NOT understanding its uses in a horse. If anyone knows me, the last thing I want to do is make my babies uncomfortable. I want them to feel relaxed and be happy about what we as a team are doing.

As for nose bands, I am not sure on that phase either. I don't want a band to be too harsh like the serrated ones. Those are the ones that turn me off. I can do ground work on a horse, but when it comes to other things like sacking out and actually getting on them I am unsure of myself.

The first horse I got was a Spotted Saddle, Crystalchick. We got her when she was six months old. Now, at comming 6, I use and have used her as a lesson horse. I have had 2yr. olds, on up to Mark on her. I have taught her to Whoa on voice command along. Ground work, a breeze, but she wasn't easily trained. Now, she knows what to do, even before I ask her. I don't know why I can't feel comfortable with doing the same for Pasos? Or am I not confident enough? Or am I not smart enough?

These are my questions.

[Pinto Paso]

If you have started other, you will be fine with Paso Finos..... there is no real mystery - they are still horses.... the refinement comes in the collection, the headset, the gait (how refined you want it) so I will tell you what a great breeder told me over 20 years ago when I started out with PF in an area where NO ONE had them..... you know how to ride, so just get on a ride!! What he was saying is you are not going to ruin them, just do what you know how to do...

[pasohappy]

If you have started other, you will be fine with Paso Finos..... there is no real mystery - they are still horses.... the refinement comes in the collection, the headset, the gait (how refined you want it) so I will tell you what a great breeder told me over 20 years ago when I started out with PF in an area where NO ONE had them..... you know how to ride, so just get on a ride!! What he was saying is you are not going to ruin them, just do what you know how to do...

:yay RIGHT ON STEPH, funny I was told the same thing not from a breeder but from and real cowboy. Sometimes maybe we can be to peticular about what to do and what not to do.

[mypasosfarm]

Well, I will try then. It is just I don't focus on "showing" purposes when I work with them. I want them to be sweet & sane. In other words, If I ever did show them, they will probally be no match for the "trained" horses. I don't know if you can understand what I am tring to babble about. Pocket Ponies is what I really want. I do believe Sola will be that way, but Little Bit not sure.