http://Etsy.com/shop/GrayHorseLeatherwrks, http://GrayHorseLeatherworks.com/

Gray Horse Leatherworks, Mint Hill, NC (2025)

07/03/2025

MIKMAR TRAINING BIT

This was another request to cover - it is a specific mouthpiece designed by trainer Frank Evans in the 50s. His intent was to create a bit to suit all horses and riders. Unfortunately that is not possible, but he came up with this design anyway 😝

This mouthpiece, as bulky as it looks, is actually quite lightweight. They come in two varieties, hinged and non-hinged (straight bar). Both have a large flat mouthpiece with a copper roller inlay.

This bit will primarily apply tongue pressure as well as some palate pressure. The degree to which depends on its use.

For the hinged snaffle variety (first photo)…
Pros:
🔹 relatively lightweight
🔹 this variety has an angled mouthpiece which will allow it to sit at a more natural angle, and should reduce palate pressure / risk under contact
Cons:
🔸 hinges are a major pinch risk
🔸 bit will still rotate forward under contact and will take up more space than most horses can accommodate

For the straight bar Pelham or curb variety (second photo)…
Pros:
🔹uncomplicated mouthpiece makes fitting the bit and curb chain straightforward
🔹relatively lightweight and balance point will not change
Cons:
🔸 not anatomically friendly at all. Will squash the tongue at rest.
🔸 bottom edge will scrape against tongue when reins are taken up (bit will rotate)
🔸 loose curb chain will over-rotate and port can injure the palate
🔸 tight curb chain will increase severity of action on the tongue

These also come in a combination bit style, but since I have covered combination bits before I will save my breath on that one!

If your horse goes relatively well in one of these, I’d recommend a more simple mouthpiece that applies the same pressure distribution but will be more anatomically friendly and comfortable for your horse.
While it isn’t a really harsh bit on its own, it easily can be as it carries some risks in its design and mechanics. It is not one that I’d ever recommend. I had to really reach for some of those “pros” above 😅 but trying to keep things more positive!

Have more bit/bridle questions? Reach out for more info or check out my website to book a consultation 💻 🙋🏼‍♀️

06/30/2025

Remember that matching saddle attachments can be ordered with your neck straps! This is a separate listing in my Etsy shop but if you order at the same time I will make sure it all matches 🌈

06/26/2025

ICELANDIC CURB BITS

The Icelandic Curb bit is a very unique bit, designed exclusively for Icelandic horses. At a glance it may look like a western curb bit, Pelham, or gag bit, but it is different from all 3.

PURPOSE:
These adorable Icelandic ponies have 5 gaits - this extra gait is called the Tölt (“power walk”) and is showcased at Icelandic Horse competitions. This bit was developed to aid in the training of this movement, encouraging suppleness through the jaw and poll via the rotation of the mouthpiece and engagement of the curb chain.

USE & FIT:
Unlike traditional leverage (curb) bits, it is intended for use with a direct rein and more consistent contact, and more similarly used by a rider like a snaffle bit. Because of this, the ideal max rotation of the shanks is ~110 degrees (instead of 45 degrees). There will *nearly* be a straight line from the riders hand to the mouthpiece. Because of this, the mouthpiece is set at an angle to not be harsh when at full rotation. The balance point of this bit is also different, and you’ll see that at rest it sits at ~45 degrees.

MECHANICS:
The purchase (ring above the mouthpiece, where the bridle connects) on this bit is large and round, and therefore will not apply downward pressure on the poll when the bit rotates. There is still a leverage component, as the mouthpiece is fixed, the shank is much longer than the purchase, and there is a curb chain. However, the construction here is focused more on mouthpiece rotation and enhanced pre-signal than applied forces from leverage. The resulting forces (based on leverage ratio, described in my last post) will be distributed to the curb chain (and mouth), not the bridle.

This pre-signal is especially important in training and competing Icelandic ponies as they will also show the horse on a loose rein Tölt.

I do not consider this bit harsh if fitted and used correctly, but it can easily be misused (or manufactured incorrectly) and become unfair to the horse. The shape and angle of the mouthpiece (most commonly single joint or double joint) is particularly important, and should only be used by a rider who understands its purpose and mechanics 💡

Admittedly, my knowledge on this bit is from bit fitting school, and I have only used this bit once as a young girl, so if anyone has more experience with it (or icelandic ponies in general) I’d love to hear about it and learn more!

If not, I hope this was helpful! 🥰

06/19/2025

WESTERN CURB BITS

This was another request to cover, and since there are so many types I am going to keep it generalized, focusing on purpose and basic mechanics of these…

THE INTENT:
These are intended to be used on well-educated horses that are responsive to leg and seat, and can neck rein. These bits are not intended for direct-reining or consistent (holding) pressure. A shift in hand position from the rider will shift the weight from the reins, creating a signal (English disciplines would call this a pre-signal) to the bit. Weighted reins and longer, straighter shanks will amplify this effect and therefore should be used by an educated rider with deft hands ⚠️

THE PURPOSE:
Curb bits (including Weymouths) construction is intended to encourage suppleness through the poll and lower jaw. A ported mouthpiece on a curb bit can further encourage relaxation of the tongue/hyoid/sternohyoid which is a key biomechanics component. 💃🏼

THE MECHANICS:
A curb bit operates on the principles of levers, with the shank as the long lever arm, the mouthpiece as the fulcrum, and the purchase as the short lever arm. See 2nd photo for a visual 👉🏻

Force from the reins will apply a multiplied counter-force to the purchase, pushing the crown piece of the bridle forward and down (pressure on the poll and behind the ears) and engaging the curb chain (pressure on lower jaw). The mouthpiece will also rotate forward then press downward on the mouth once the curb chain is engaged. See 3rd photo for a visual 👉🏻

The magnitude of this counter-force depends on the ratio of the purchase to the shank. Ideal ratio is close to 1:3, where 2 lbs of force from reins will translate to 6 lbs pressure to the horse. Logically, longer shanks will take considerably less force from reins to apply the same pressure to the horse 🪶

FIT:
Ideally the curb strap will not be a chain, and rather made of soft flat leather to better distribute the pressure on the lower jaw, and adjusted so that the bit cannot rotate more than 45 degrees from rest. 📐

Reach out for more info or check out my website to book a consultation 💻 🙋🏼‍♀️

06/13/2025

W-MOUTH BITS

These are bits with two single jointed mouthpieces, each with offset joints. These are named due to the shape that the bit makes in the mouth when the reins are taken up (see second photo).

These are not anatomically friendly and considered very harsh. Here’s why:
🔺 Single joint bits with no curve will apply point pressures instead of evenly distributing pressure. Two off-set joints will double this effect.
🔺 Off-set joints will poke the edges of the palate
🔺 Takes up far too much room in the mouth. Many horses barely have room for one mouthpiece, let alone two. And when the bit collapses it requires considerably more space (see second photo 👉🏻)
🔺 Potential to trap the tongue between the mouthpieces. Risk is even greater if on a loose ring.
🔺 Most often seen in a “double twisted wire” form which has a rough texture and will multiply pressure points, exacerbating the harshness of the construction.

A horse will naturally want to open their mouth to avoid this pain and make space the bit needs to operate. They will likely draw up their tongue, which means this bit will apply direct pressure on the bars (lower jaw bones) beneath the tongue which are only protected by a thin layer of flesh. The way this bit collapses inward, it will apply point pressure to the top and sides of the bars. This will certainly create pain and can also cause damage 🤕

Needless to say, this is yet another bit I would never recommend. But the double twisted wire bit is unfortunately seen in many tack rooms across the country, and since I covered twisted wire bits last week by request, I thought I’d cover their mean older brother 😅

Have more bit/bridle questions? Reach out for more info or check out my website to book a consultation 💻 🙋🏼‍♀️

06/09/2025

Another neck strap with some sass ✨

06/05/2025

TWISTED WIRE BITS

These are as they sound, a mouthpiece made of twisted metal, looped back on itself to form a joint in the center like a single jointed bit. These are made with a wide array of cheek pieces and are very inexpensive. It’s not uncommon to see one of these in a western or hunter/jumper tack room.

They are known to be a harsh bit, and I can explain why:
1️⃣ Too thin - the thought “the thinner the bit the more harsh it is” certainly applies when talking about mouthpieces

05/18/2025

Custom bucking strap with some sparkle ✨

05/15/2025

SEGUNDA BIT

The Segunda is a ported mouthpiece (similar to a correction port mouthpiece that I covered on a recent post) with unique construction of the base of the port - they are curved inward with a pointed, often sharp, edge 🔪

The traditional Segunda is a solid mouthpiece (picture 1️⃣) and the more modern/popular version is double jointed (picture 2️⃣).

Like correction ports, the Segunda port has just (barely) enough space for the tongue, so instead of providing any tongue relief, it will apply concentrated point pressure on the tongue and may trap the tongue as well❗️Neither scenario will encourage suppleness through the jaw and poll.

This point pressure will be uncomfortable at rest and painful or even harmful under any applied force. The mouthpiece will naturally rotate under rein contact which will push the top of the port into the palate and the base of the port down onto the tongue. Because there is often not enough room for a horse’s tongue in their mouth let alone a bit, especially a bit with a high central port like this, will be painful for the horse. They will likely try to evade this pain by:
🔸drawing up tongue
🔸trying to get tongue over bit
🔸squeezing tongue in port (likely a result of the first two evasions)
Each will result in the bit contacting the bars, which can easily be bruised/damaged as a result. 🤕

I had a client once that told me her horse’s tongue was severed nearly in half after a jump round in this bit 😣 I cannot recall how many stitches she said the horse needed to save the tongue - but I’ll leave you with that gruesome visual…

I always say the middle 2” of the bit are the most important due to the average horse oral anatomy, and the middle 2” of this mouthpiece is very severe in its construction. It goes without saying that I would not recommend this bit on any horse. However, it is quite a popular bit in some disciplines so I felt it was important to cover the mechanics and risks of using such a bit.

If you’d like to see this in “action”, check out this very helpful visual: https://youtu.be/WTaI3yHokIU?si=CrsRX3ujfKKuFDI2 🎥

03/14/2025

LIP STRAP

Ever wonder what that tiny hole on the shank of a Weymouth (curb) or Pelham is for? Or why curb chains have an extra O-ring connected in the middle? This is for the lip strap!

The lip strap is a small leather piece that runs between the small rings on a leverage bit shank between the mouthpiece and the curb rein attachment, and through the little O-ring on a curb chain.

The lip strap serves two key purposes:
1️⃣ Prevents the shanks from rotating forward and upward, which would result in the bit upside-down in the mouth (ouch 😣)
2️⃣ Keeps the curb chain in the curb groove (the part of the lower jaw closest to the chin which is fleshier and the sensitive jaw bones are more protected)

Because a Weymouth or curb bit will sit lower in the mouth than a snaffle (or Pelham), it is not as likely that the curb chain will rise out of the curb groove, but avoiding any scenario where a ported mouthpiece could turn upside down in the mouth is important!
This can happen if you’re leading your horse and they put their head down, or horses can even flip the bit with their tongue 👅

For Pelhams, because they have a longer purchase (part above the mouthpiece where the bridle attaches) and are used with a snaffle and a curb rein, the curb chain is almost guaranteed to creep up the sensitive jaw bones when the bit is engaged. For this reason it is important to use a lip strap to keep the curb secure and comfortable for the horse.

This also helps generally stabilize the bit for curbs and pelhams with jointed mouthpieces and swivel shanks.

All this to say… there are good reasons for it so please use one!

It is unfortunate that they do not come with most bits that need them, and I suspect that is why I do not see them installed very often. But they are only about $20 to buy separately - a small price to pay for your horse’s comfort and welfare if you ask me 😉

03/07/2025

A friendly Friday reminder, brought to you by a custom neck strap 🥰

These can be ordered on my Etsy shop and customizations/ideas are welcome!

Gray Horse Leatherworks

07/03/2025

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