The highest levels of equestrian sport are achieved through the daily work of many people, including riders, grooms, stable staff, horse owners, and vets. Countless factors, from daily feeding and training plans to the smallest piece of tack, can influence the final result. That's why it is essential to choose selectively and critically in order to give your horse the greatest possible comfort in everyday life, both in the stable and in work.
The importance of bit comfort in jumping
Nowadays, to win a class, a horse needs to pay careful attention to all the rider’s aids. Top breeders are putting more focus on improving rideability in dam lines and producing cooperative horses with soft and delicate mouths. However, this approach can also result in a very sensitive horse that has a problem accepting metal bits.
The Winderen Gel Bits System has been created with the greatest possible comfort for the equine partner in mind. The horse-friendly gel used in Winderen bits is durable yet pleasant to the horse's mouth, which makes it also a good solution for horses prone to metal allergies or horses with sensitive mouth corners. The material is proved to be comfortable and willingly accepted by horses, encouraging them to chew the bit freely and relax the entire jaw. A horse that accepts the action of the rider's hand is able to seek a soft and steady contact, transmitting energy through its whole body without stiffening and allowing it to bascule over obstacles without tension.
In response to numerous inquiries from riders and bit fitters, we have created a slimmer version of our product. In addition to the standard Comfort version (18mm), we now offer the thinner Slim version (14mm).
The Slim Gel Bits are the go-to choice for horses with lower palates and narrower spaces between their upper and lower jaws. Another important factor to consider while choosing the right bit is the thickness of the horse's tongue, as it varies from one horse to another.
For horses with a thicker tongue (as shown in the drawing on the right), a thinner bit may be more comfortable. Horses with a thinner, flatter tongue (as shown in the drawing on the left) often work better with a thicker bit.
A thinner bit is a great choice for horses that require highly precise aids from the rider’s hand. The pressure from a thinner bit may be perceived by the horse as more focused compared to the thicker version, which distributes the pressure over a larger surface area.
At the same time, the gel material encasing the bit’s core provides a pleasant sensation in the horse’s mouth.
A comfortable and well-chosen bit is the key to correct, soft and flexible communication with the horse, which directly translates into greater riding enjoyment and better training results. Finding the perfect bit is a never-ending process. When looking for the right one, we often need to have a “slightly different” mouthpiece in the horse’s favourite bit or perhaps attach “slightly different” cheek pieces to the horse’s favourite mouthpiece.
This is where Winderen's innovative system of interchangeable cheek pieces comes in handy. With this solution, you can adjust the Winderen bit to the changing needs of your horse in just a few minutes. And because the various elements can be easily combined with each other, the system doesn't take up too much space in the bit box.
Discover the innovative technology of the Winderen Gel Bits System at the manufacturer’s website and learn the difference these bits can make to your riding.