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[Moongait]

Congratulations on going gaited!  Your plan- to begin with groundwork and try the bits you have- sounds excellent.  I believe in using the mildest bit that will work for each individual horse.  Hopefully you'll be able to use one of the bits that you already own.  To me, twisted wire mouthpieces and long shanks seem very severe.

Warning: you may find yourself riding way out in front of your friends on their slower-moving stock horses..  But don't worry; when they see how much fun you're having, they'll all want to go gaited too!  Enjoy your new boy!  -Julie

[misstux]

Lots of great advice here.  My horse Strider (MFT) goes in a Myler level 1 mouthpiece long shank, short shank or snaffle (Baucher NOT D-ring thank you very much) or rope halter.  Try all your bits, borrow bits from friends, rent bits.  Your horse will tell you what it likes and what it doesn't - the Myler level 1 D-ring lasted all of 5 minutes in Strider's mouth.

[MyBoyG]

As others have stated, just start working with him like he was any other horse.  Lose the Gaited stigma, and teach him to work with an egg butt snaffle - mouthpiece of choice.  Meaning, you may find he likes a single jointed mouthpiece, or a dog bone or a Mullen mouth - I'm sure you have a bit box or wall with a lifetime of stock horses    But horses are all different in what they like and how your hands interact with the bit.  Do in hand work as you build your relationship and then see how he does with it in a round pen or arena.  What's the horse's background?

[2gaits]

I have used a Robart's walking horse bit, a wonder bit, and regular walking horse bits successfully. Just depends on what the horse needs. You might try getting an interchangeable bit from national bridle shop. This would allow you to try different type mouth pieces to find one the horse responds to well. You can use a snaffle depending on the horse. My mare was trained initially in an o ring and I am still riding her in it at 10 years old. Depending on the horse you might go back to this but there is no reason to not use a good curb bit.

[sjharris53]

Yesterday when we went to pick up  my horse, the owner said he had tried him a different bit and he thought it worked better than what I had ridden him in on Friday.  So I purchases the bit.  It's a curb with a copper roller over the joint, and shanks about 6" long.  It has the metal hooks for a curb chain, but he recommended riding without one.  Thoughts on that?

[Myaj]

I ride my mare bitless and my gelding in a Robarts pinchless D ring snaffle.  There are no "must use for gaited" bits, even if people try to sell them to you.

I personally prefer Mylar and Robarts bits.  When I do put a bit in my mare's mouth its the Mylar short shanked comfort snaffle (has the roller center). 

But you just have to see what the horse likes, it all depends on the shape of his mouth.  Training comes first, and if someone has to depend on a harsh mouthpiece to keep control, they are skipping out on training.. so technically the bit should not matter other than comfort considerations, and knowing that long shanks in uneducated hands can do a LOT of damage (due to higher leverage).

Try him in a standard snaffle, if he's tossing his head around he may not like something poking him in the roof of the mouth, try a french link or something with a roller center or mild/low port.  Always start with groundwork and establish yourself as the boss, its just easier that way.

[Walkin45]

If that's what the owner recommended, and he goes well in it , leave it alone.

[Myaj]

Personally, I would never want one of my horses to deal with a shanked twisted wire, *just because* its what someone else used on them.  Your point is valid, assuming the bit is appropriate.  Its just my opinion that it a shanked twisted wire is not appropriate though, I'm sure many people use them.

[rydincolor]

Have a good equine dentist give him a check up.  Get to know the horse.  Ride him with soft quiet hands in the bit the previous owner used/recommended for him, if bought from a dealer then I would guess they used what worked best on him for their intent while they tried to sell him .  You don't need a fad "gaited bit" if he works well in a snaffle use it.  You will figure out what works best, you said you had horses previously that will help you along too.  Welcome to the smooth gaited horse world!

[Karen A]

I think the best bit for just ordinary riding is the Imus comfort gait bit.  It is well balanced and easy to use.  All of the horses that I have tried it on have responded well to it even with riders that weren't that experienced.  The mullen mouthpiece is very gentle on their mouth.  I have been doing gaited dressage recently and have switched to a boucher double jointed snaffle but that is because I am doing lateral work that requires a lot of bit contact.  When I am trail riding, I prefer the Imus bit because I have good control and don't need to ride with a lot of contact.  My horse goes back and forth between the two bits without any problem.  While it is true that a good rider can get collection and proper gait in a snaffle, it does require more seat and leg strength.  I have seen many gaited horses that are being ridden in a snaffle that are allowed to move all strung out and you will not get the most comfortable gait that way.  If a gaited horse is used to a curb and you change to a snaffle, a lot of the time you will find that they run right thru your hands so be sure that you are in a safe place like an arena and know how to do a one rein stop because you may not get much response when you try to stop.

[Bejammie]

Snaffle snaffle snaffle

[sjharris53]

Investigating further, the bit I purchased from the owner is very similar to the Imus Comfort bit; this one has a longer shank/purchase ratio.  I'll start with it, and see how he goes, and try out snaffle if needed.  I did lunge him and do some round pen work yesterday - he lunges very well, and is very respectful on the ground. 

Thank you for all your suggestions!!!

Susan

[sjharris53]

I rode today with the bit I described in my last post; he was very responsive and comfortable in it.  This was my first ride at home, and I spent time working on basics.  He was very responsive to subtle aids - it was a great ride!  I'll be keeping him in this bit for now.

[stablemind]

Did you use the curb chain? Curb bits (any bit with a shank) need to be used with a chin strap - not necessarily a chain - in order for them to function correctly. The strap is for stabilization. Without it, the mouthpiece can rotate too much in the horses mouth.

[sjharris53]

Yes, I did put a curb chain on - I too was concerned about too much movement of the mouth piece.