Leverage Bits

When does a leverage bit make sense?

The most common reason is control. A horse that becomes strong out hacking or on a course, that leans on your hand or that you can no longer steer through a turn, puts both of you at risk. A leverage bit gives you more effect with less force in those moments — and that second part is the real gain: you no longer have to pull to be heard.

These bits are also used in showjumping and cross-country, where you need to be clear with a light hand in canter and on the way to a fence. A pessoa or gag bit adds a lifting action that helps the horse keep from dropping behind the rein.

The bit is always the last aid

We would rather say it plainly: a bit does not solve a problem that starts somewhere else. A horse that becomes strong is almost never being difficult. So work through these points first:

• Pain and health — teeth and sharp hooks, stomach, back, neck and hindquarters. A horse in discomfort will go through your hand.
• Equipment — saddle fit, a pinching bridle, a noseband done up too tightly, and the bit size and mouthpiece thickness.
• Training and balance — a horse out of balance looks for support in your hand. That is a training question, not a bit question.
• Your hand and seat — a leverage bit amplifies everything, restlessness included. In an unsteady hand, a stronger bit is not a solution but a risk.

If the question still stands after all that, a leverage bit is a legitimate choice. But do not make it on your own: always ask a qualified instructor to take a look. Someone who sees you and your horse in motion weighs up things you can never read on a product page. We are glad to help think it through too — see the bottom of this page.

And the reverse applies just as much: if you do have control and are mainly looking for a softer contact, our snaffles are the better place to start. If you would rather stay out of the mouth altogether, have a look at bitless riding.

How leverage works

A lever needs two arms with the mouthpiece as its pivot: an upper arm carrying the cheekpiece and a lower arm carrying the rein. Take up that lower rein and the bit rotates. The longer the lower shank, the greater the effect. A pelham with a long shank therefore acts quite differently from the same pelham with a short one.

Worth knowing: a leverage bit sits most stably as a straight or slightly ported mouthpiece. A single- or double-jointed leverage bit can squeeze the lower jaw under too much pressure. That is exactly why a quiet hand with a stable mouthpiece is the better answer, rather than a sharper mouthpiece with more movement.

The curb chain sets the limit

On a pelham and kimblewick, the curb chain limits how far the bit can rotate. Too loose and the bit over-rotates, making the action unpredictable; too tight and there is constant pressure on the curb groove. As a guide, the chain should make contact at about a quarter turn of the bit. Lay the links flat and use a curb chain guard for extra comfort. You will find curb chains and guards among our bit accessories.

Two reins or roundings

A pelham and a pessoa work best on two reins: you ride on the snaffle rein and only pick up the second rein when you need it. That way you decide how much leverage you use, and the bit sits more stably. Roundings are easier to handle, but they hold the bit in a permanent light leverage position, so you give up some nuance. If you ride on two reins, a narrower curb rein is more comfortable. Reins and pelham roundings are with the bit accessories.

Permitted in competition?

That depends on the discipline and the level, and the rules are revised regularly. Leverage bits are generally not permitted in dressage, where you ride in a snaffle or, at higher levels, a double bridle. Showjumping and cross-country allow more scope. Always check the current KNHS or FEI rulebook for your level before you enter the ring. In doubt? Ask us — we are happy to look it up for you.

Advice from people who ride

Choosing a bit is not something you do from a list. In our 400 m² showroom in Lemelerveld — on the N48 between Raalte and Ommen — you can lay shank lengths and mouthpieces side by side, feel them in your hand, and we will explain what the differences mean in practice. Rather talk it over first? Send us a WhatsApp message. You will get a personal reply, and if we think another bit, or a conversation with your instructor first, would serve you better, we will say so.