Second, the mouthpiece angle affects the balance of the bit. If the mouthpiece is capable of applying palate pressure, the closer the mouthpiece is to the palate and the quicker the palate pressure will be applied as the reins are pulled. The angle of the mouthpiece affects two things: First, a mouthpiece angled forward takes pressure off the tongue - pressure applied by the port as it sits in a neutral state with no rein pressure - and applies it closer to the palate. A spade, for example, applies palate pressure where a straight bar with no post does not. Height can be added to the port of the mouthpiece to affect palate pressure. As the mouthpiece is moved further in front of the vertical line, the bit’s speed is slowed. The next and final point to discuss is the placement, angle and height of the mouthpiece. A lot of material is needed to create the design, which adds more weight and increases the signal. The Santa Barbara is an example of how a bit can maximize leverage and signal. An example of this is the Las Cruces shank. If a shank’s design puts the point of pull straight down from the mouthpiece on the vertical line, leverage is at a maximum. Shank design can also affect the leverage of the bit by changing the point of pull. As weight is added to the bit, it becomes easier for the horse to feel the movement in his mouth. If the shank travels straight to the point of pull with minimal amounts of material, less weight is created in the bit, which affects the signal of the bit. Point of pull is defined as the distance from the vertical center line to the back of the bottom ring, where the reins are attached. Shank design is the path the shank takes to get from the butt of the mouthpiece to the bottom ring. Shank design and point of pull are the next two structure points. it creates a maximum amount of signal with a minimum amount of hand movement, which is the purpose of the spade. Most spade bits are around this ratio because of the speed of the bit. A bit ratio of 2:1, for example, means the shank length is twice as long as the purchase. As the distance increases in relation to the purchase length, the leverage and speed of the bit is increased. This measurement is taken along an imaginary vertical line that carries straight down from the center at the top of the bridle ring through the butt of the mouthpiece if the shank swoops back, the angle is not measured, simply the vertical distance. The next point to discuss is the shank length, which is the distance from the butt of the mouthpiece to the bottom of the shank. This can be positive or negative depending on the task at hand. This gives the rider the ability to move his hand more without creating signals to the horse. Second, as the distance increases, the speed at which the bit produces a signal (reaction time) decreases. First, as the curb moves up the horses jaw, the jaw becomes less sensitive and the ability to control the face (vertical) position of the horse’s head increases. As the purchase length is increased, multiple things happen. This distance affects the placement of the curb strap on the horse’s chin. A Bit’s 5 Structure Points Starting at the top, the distance from the bit’s top ring to the butt of the mouthpiece is referred to as the purchase. And it will be your menu, because each of us is unique, including the way in which each of us handles a horse. However, if you understand those four pressure points, and how you affect these points by changing the structure of the bit, you can come as close a possible to creating your own menu. This is why there has never been a menu or checklist created for bitting a horse. The challenge: the way in which a signal is applied will be unique to each rider, and the reaction to that signal will be unique to each horse. By applying pressure to one or more of these four pressure points, the horse will react in certain ways. The more comfortable the horse is with the rider’s communication, the better the horse and rider will get along. When a horseman understands the individual physical characteristics of a horse and the goal of riding, the better that rider can communicate though the bit to meet his needs. A bit’s design affects how it applies pressure to these four points. A bit applies pressure to a horse’s palate, tongue, bars and curb. However, if you break down the five structure points of a bit and examine how they affect the four pressure points of a horse’s mouth, bit function becomes something easier to comprehend. The bit can be an intimidating piece of equipment to understand.
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