Buying a new bit after my horse chewed up an apple bit

Hi! Given that your horse has chewed through the last apple bit, it will probably happen again, with the risk that the horse then hurts itself on the sharp edges. Repeatedly biting at the bit suggests that the horse is not entirely happy, so it is worth trying something else 🙂 It is also wise to have a vet who is skilled with teeth check that everything looks healthy in the mouth. Problems in the oral cavity can develop quickly, especially when a horse has bitten the bit into a sharp state.

A barrel bit is a lovely alternative. It lays an even pressure across the horse's tongue and sits still and stable in the mouth. It looks like an ordinary straight bit, but with a loose roller in the middle. This lets each side of the mouthpiece, with its own bit ring, move independently of the other side, unlike an ordinary straight bit. That stops a barrel bit feeling as rigid.

Most horses tend to appreciate these bits, but especially sensitive ones that find it hard to take a contact on the bit. They also tend to work well on the sharper, hotter type of horse, and on horses that are on and off in their contact with the bit. The rings at the sides help to stabilise the bit too, and because they are so large they relieve the molars more than an ordinary bit. Copper adds a sweet taste, which can improve acceptance.

So, do give it a try and see how you get on 🌸