Saddles and Harness

     There are more and more bits being developed for use on draft horses. Bits are available in 6″, 6.5″, and 7″.  Some bits have straight mouths and some have broken mouths.  Some are designed for driving, some for riding, and some for both riding and driving.

     Our favorite bit for draft horses is the Butterfly Bit. This bit is made of stainless steel and it has 3 large loops on each side of the mouthpiece. By choosing different loops you can adjust the amount of pressure applied to the mouth. They are used for riding and driving.

All draft horse bits are not created equal.  Not all draft horses are the same size, so the width of the bit necessary has to be determined prior to purchase.  There are also different styles of draft horse bits such as snaffle and curb.

While researching the differences between various draft horse bits, the majority of articles stated at least once that the effect of any given bit on a horse’s mouth was solely dependent on the skill level of the rider.

     Bits for draft horses are in very limited supply. Typically draft horses use 6″, 6.5″, and 7″ mouthpieces on their bits. There are only a handfull of stores that sell these type of bits. In the old days the only choices were O-ring snaffle bits and the large carriage bits such as Liverpool bits.

     Today there are many more varieties of Draft Horse Bits to choose from. They are now available in D-ring snaffle, western curb bits, Tom Thumb bits, Butterfly bits, and many variation of these styles. This expansion in the selection of bits for draft horses has been fueled by the rise in popularity of riding these large draft horses.