Western States Horse Expo - Bit Fit & Function Interactive Demonstration

Utilizing at least 5 real skulls from horses ages 3 to 26 years old, attendees will experience an in-depth demonstration and discussion of bit fitting and function. With a collection of over 25 different bits, as well as both traditional and mechanical hackamores, we will discuss and demonstrate their mechanics and function. We will also discuss the importance of knowing your horse's basic mouth anatomy and common pathologies. Whether they have a thick, wide tongue or fleshy lip flaps, narrow bars or a shallow palate, all of these will factor in your horse's comfort and how a bit will function. To get a better understanding, we have devised a pressure-sensitive model "tongue" to place in the skull and show how each bit affects the mouth. We will add measurable pressure to the reins to show how many of the bits actually function in the horse's mouth.

Observers will be encouraged…