“The Bit Video: Understanding How and Why Bits Function” Digital Download Parts 1, 2, and 3

*Purchase all 3 parts together and save $10

“The Bit Video” has the simple goal of providing solid, science-backed information on how bits function. We aren’t selling bits. We explain how and when designs are meant to be used. We bust myths, and debunk misinformation while keeping it easy to watch and understand. You will have strong visuals burned into your psyche forever, and laugh a lot too.

While “The Bit Video” is easy to understand, it’s also very comprehensive with a total run time of 5 hrs and 20 min. There were 9 highly educated collaborators involved in the project who’ve vetted what we’re discussing. It’s already on every continent except Antarctica, and in the Equine Sciences/Studies programs of over 25 U.S. universities. Let us help you have the tension free partnership you want. I promise that buying this video will be some of the best money you’ve ever spent on your equine education.

The video is not discipline specific. We talk about snaffles, spades, double bridles, and more. No matter what type of horse you’re riding, there’s a ton of relevant content for you. We are also breaking ground on several subjects in this project. So, whether you are a seasoned pro, or a newbie, you’re going to get a lot of valuable knowledge for your time invested.

This option will allow you to purchase all 3 parts (7 chapters) of “The Bit Video” at the same time. Upon purchase, you will get the links to download the 3parts sent to your email. All together, they are about 16 GB and have a run time of 5 hrs and 20 min.

Chapter 1 is the introduction.

Chapter 2 is pretty dense and gets into the anatomy and physiology of the horse that is affected by the bit. We talk about the eye, the throat, the tongue and hyoid apparatus, and all of the other pressure points that bridles can affect. We then explain dental terms and timelines, neurology, the cervical vertebrae of the neck and the body language signs of failure and success. You’ll never look at a horse being ridden the same way again.

Chapter 3 is on methodology. Bits are simply tools. While there are tools that are more and less appropriate for certain tasks, it’s ultimately the skills of the operator of that tool that determines the quality of the outcome. We discuss how you can do a better job of handling those reins. Things like the independent seat, what contact should and shouldn’t be, and tips on maximizing your warmup time are all covered.

Chapter 4 is what we call the Middle Child information. It’s often overlooked, taken for granted, and practically nobody takes the time to understand whether it’s being taken care of well or poorly. These factors can really make life difficult if neglected or not understood. This is where we get into things the skill of the rider can’t overcome, like setup. We’ll discuss the materials the bit is made of (which is very misunderstood), the width, weight, and adjustment of the bit (also very misunderstood), and more.

Chapter 5 is all about snaffles. Snaffles are the most common bit out there, but most people don’t actually understand the defining characteristics of the cheek that make a snaffle a snaffle. You’ve probably noticed how many times we’ve used the words “misunderstanding” and “misinformation” throughout these descriptions. These broken understandings may not be more true or common of any area of bit knowledge than with the simple snaffle. We talk about the cheeks, the mechanics that all snaffles do, AND DO NOT have, the myth of the nutcracker effect, severity and surface area are introduced, and more myths are debunked. You just might be amazed at how much marketing there is out there to solve problems that snaffles are mechanically incapable of causing. All of the previous chapters will allow you to really get into how these bits are intended to be used, and where they really aren’t helpful anymore.

Chapter 6 is all about curb/leverage bits. We carefully define what leverage bits are and the basic mechanics that they all have, like rotation of the mouthpiece, and how this is such a big difference from snaffles. Many of the other aspects of anatomy and the basic features of mouthpieces are built upon in this chapter. Daniel also draws a lot on the whiteboard, showing you how the bits are effectively built and what those changes to the mouthpieces actually change the function of the bit. We talk a lot about the overview of mouthpieces and cheek styles and how those things affect the horse, like more lateral vs more vertical designs and so forth. We lay out a clear progression for the most common Western events, but also talk about the traditional Vaquero progression, and the English bits leading up to the double bridle. We really get into what is appropriate for what training stage or problem, and what isn’t. All other things being equal the mechanical differences in these bits do make a difference, but not always in the ways we want. We discuss the skills/understandings that the rider might need before stepping up into certain bits and alternatives to help more novice riders on more advanced horses. This part does get into the physics of leverage and you will get a taste for just how much we’re told that is actually completely wrong. Don’t be intimidated by the mention of physics. It is laid out slowly, carefully, and practically, so that just about anyone will get the take home message in a way they can apply. The average 15 year old will “get it”. I have been told by one of the most well known and prolific bit makers in the US, that the section on cheek balance enlightened his understanding greatly and changed the way he looked at cheek design.

Chapter 7 is the summary of the project. We remind you of some of the key points and give even more practical examples of how those key points should be in your mind throughout training. We talk about the physical differences between horses and how that should factor into your bit selection as well. We also give these examples with all disciplines in mind.