Many of you have written to tell us how effective the Imus Comfort Gait Bit is for young horses when you snap the reins to the snaffle rings. This was no surprise, as we’ve been working our own young stock this way for the past couple of seasons. While we’ve had good results doing that, all the hardware of the lower shanks does tend to get in the way.

Price: $79.95

I was also concerned that some folks might be tempted to move the reins down to the lower shanks on the bit before the young horse was developed sufficiently to start working in finished gait form. While very humane, the Comfort Gait Bit is nonetheless designed for horses that have been worked sufficiently to accept and round up to a stronger curb action.

I also wanted to develop a bit that works as a great starter bit for the young horse, and later on allow the rider to introduce a gentle curb action. I’ve been working on the design of one bit that will serve a horse and rider well right through until it is time to add the ‘finishing touches’ to its training – when they can move on to our Comfort Gait Bit

The result is our new Imus Comfort Training™ Bit. This bit possesses many of the same humane features of our Imus Comfort Gait™ Bit: A gentle, pinch free mouthpiece that extends beyond the horse’s lips for tactful communication, plenty of tongue relief, and resistance-free action across the tongue, bars and lips. However, it boasts a large “D” Ring for attaching the reins as a simple snaffle. This allows the rider to start a young horse right out with the same type of bit action through the mouth that it will later become accustomed to during more advanced training.

What I love about this design is that once a horse is well started, you can move the reins down to the lower rings at the bottom of the cheek pieces, add a curb strap to the upper rings (where the headstall is also attached)  – and you’ve now got a mild yet effective curb bit. This helps make the transition from simple snaffle to gentle curb – and ultimately, to finishing curb bit – logical and virtually seamless. Plus, you essentially get two bits for the price of one. How cool is that !

So if you’re working with a young horse (under four years of age), or want to transition an older horse from a snaffle bit, hackamore or bitless bridle into a mild curb – the Imus Comfort Training Bit is definitely the bit to have on hand.

Special Note About All of Our Bits:

We have designed or chosen our bits with an eye to producing results based on willing cooperation, rather than upon pain avoidance. The difference this makes in the responsiveness of your horse will amaze you! Horses have relatively thick tongues, and when they (or we) try to swallow, it’s essential that the tongue be able to lift in the mouth. Go ahead-try it and see. Our bits all offer curved mouthpieces for plenty of tongue relief.

These bits encourage the horse to softly round up its back and stretch out its topline while lowering its head and giving itself willingly to the rider’s hand. This makes for a horse that’s beautiful, soft, supple–and sound.