If you are a barrel racer, then you want your horse to perform at its absolute best.  That means your horse needs to be able to get the clearest signals possible in order to have the best performance possible.  Here is the truth about barrel racing bits.  There is really not a specific bit for barrel racing.  Some may like one type of bit over another, but they pretty much all do the same thing.

What Most Horse Bits Do

You can go online or to a tack store and you will see literally thousands of bits.  You can even do a search for barrel racing bits and get websites that claim to have specific barrel racing bits.

Most bits do basically the same thing.  They apply pressure to the tongue and the roof of the horses mouth and cause the horse some discomfort.  You will notice this when you begin to stop your horse.

What happens?  When you pull back on the reins, the horse throws its mouth open.  That is because the bit rotates in the mouth of the horse and pushes up on the roof of the mouth causing the horse pain.  Not to mention the signals the horse is getting are mixed and unclear.

Why Is The Perfect Bit Horse Bit Great For Barrel Racers

The Perfect Bit is really a breakthrough in bit technology.  We have completely reinvented the way the bit works and the ability to give the horse clear signals.  Here is a great video that shows how the bit works differently here.

Our bit has a patented ball joint that allows each side of the bit to move independently of the other side.  Simply put, if you pull on the right side of the bit, it doesn’t pull on the left side.  You can see this in the video mentioned above.

The ball joint technology keeps the bit from rotating upward in the horses mouth and causing it pain or discomfort.

When it comes to getting the best performance out of your horse, then the perfect bit will help you do that.  Each bit has the ball joint and comes with your choice of mouthpiece and length of shank.

Because each horse is different and responds differently depending on the rider and the environment, you may need a longer or shorter shank.

The Clearer The Signal, The Better Your Barrel Horse Will Respond

Your bit is about communication.  It allows you to communicate effectively with your horse.  When the horse is receiving the correct signals, you can then expect your horse to perform better.

If you have questions about the perfect bit, then check out our FAQ page here.  

You can always email us to get more information as well.

The post Barrel Racing Bit first appeared on The Perfect Bit.

So just how do you find a good farrier?  Here are some tips to help you out.

1. Ask your local veterinarian and if you can, ask an equine vet.  They should have the names of local farriers and have an idea of what kind of reputation they have.
2. Ask other horse owners. A word of mouth referral is a pretty good way to find a quality farrier.  You may able to also see some of their work if they have done any for your family or friends.  Remember; it’s ok to ask for referrals from a farrier if you need to.
3. Look for one online. Many farriers have websites these days and the ones who don’t generally have a Facebook page.  Looking online also may reveal whether or not that farrier has any reviews from clients.

Does a Good Farrier Have Any Education?

It’s not required that a farrier have any type of education however, you still want a farrier that has a good solid knowledge of the trade and some years of experience.

Some farriers have trained under other farriers and they have experience and extensive knowledge.  Asking the right questions can certainly help you make a better decision.

The Cheapest Farrier Is Not Always Best.

You have heard the old saying “you get what you pay for.”  Nothing could be truer in this case.  Try and avoid hiring the cheapest farrier around.

If they do a poor job, it can lead to unwanted vet bills that can add up into the thousands of dollars.

How Well Does Your Farrier Listen To You and Work With Your Horse?

It’s really important to find a farrier that listens to you and works well with your horse.  Every horse has quirks and different personalities.  That means you need someone who can adapt to your horse’s needs without causing you or the horse stress.

Keeping these things in mind will help you find the right farrier for your horse.

The post Keys To Finding A Good Farrier first appeared on The Perfect Bit.

Some General Rules To Consider

• The seat size of the western saddle refers to how the rider fits the saddle and has nothing to do with how it fits the horse itself.
• There should be about 4 inches between the front of your body and the swells of the saddle.
• Your behind should rest on the base of the cantle but not pressed against it.
• It’s better to have a saddle that is a little big than one that is too small. Smaller saddles can cause some chaffing that will make you uncomfortable.

Western saddles have a stated seat size.  This size is the distance from the base of the horn to the top middle area of the cantle. This distance is then shown in half-inch increments from 12 to 17 inches.

A Standard Sizing Guide

• Youth: 12 to 13 inches
• Small Adult: 14 inches
• Average Adult: 15 inches
• Large Adult: 16 inches
• Extra Large Adult: 17 inches

You would think that with a published seat size, picking the right saddle would be easy but it is really just the beginning.

In addition to picking the right size, you really need to sit in a variety of saddles in the size you need to find the one you are most comfortable with.

You need to consider the seat depth, slope, cantle slope, cantle dish, fork style, and fork angle.  Each of these features can affect the rider and the way they fit the saddle.

Competition Riders

If you are riding in competitions, then it is imperative that you get the right saddle for you, the horse and the type of riding you are going to do.  This will ensure that you will be at the top of your game when it comes time for your events.

Saddles, bridles, bits, cinches, and reins are all part of your performance equipment and they need to be top-level in order for you to keep being in the winner’s circle.

The post A Beginners Guide To Picking A Saddle first appeared on The Perfect Bit.

We get a lot of questions from people and they say, “Why do you have all the different mouthpiece linked to shank if it’s the perfect bit?” What makes it perfect is the mechanics. The ball joint allows independence from each side therefore the mouthpiece isn’t hitting the roof of the horses mouth.

Bits are designed to give signals and then apply pressure in a certain area. So if you look at your bit and think, mechanically, what’s different from about this bit, the majority are all going to be the same.

The point is, sometimes when we buy things, we don’t even know why we’re buying it. People come in the booth and say, “I want that bit.” And I ask them why. The reason I want to do that… I don’t want them to buy something that’s not going to work or for the intentions they’re buying it. That’s not the mechanics of that bit. So I always ask why they want to buy that one.

I encourage you to look at yours and see where the pressure’s being applied and how much is being applied. So you don’t wind up buying several different bits and they’re all really the same thing. And when we use a bit, we have that in mind –I know I’m going to apply this amount of pressure in this area and this is the result I want.

So I encourage you to look at the mechanics of your bits, understand them, put yourself in the horse’s position.

The post Facts About the Perfect Bit first appeared on The Perfect Bit.

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