If you would like to test a SPRENGER bit, it is best to contact your Specialist dealer. Some of our specialist dealers offer a SPRENGER test center in their store, but you can also Onlinehave the opportunity to put SPRENGER bits through their paces first. As a rule, our Test center are equipped with a large selection of models and sizes and can help you find a suitable bit.
Ideally, you already know which bit size your four-legged friend needs. To do this, you can either simply measure the size of a suitable set of teeth or you can use our bite width gauge. Simply download it here, print it out and put it together. You can find out more about 'Passendes Gebiss' in the corresponding blog post.
But maybe it's easier and you can find someone in your circle of friends or acquaintances, or in your stable community, who can lend you a suitable bit for a few days. Again, make sure that the bit doesn't have any major scratches or damage that could be unpleasant for your horse.
How long should I test a denture?
A new set of teeth should be tested over a period of at least 3 days, even better are 1-2 weeks, as the horses often have to get used to the new mouthpiece first, so you can optimally assess the effect and acceptance.
SPRENGER Gebissberatung
On-site denture fitting by a SPRENGER employee is generally possible, but ideally takes place in conjunction with a specialist retailer. The costs depend on the effort involved and the number of participants and the feasibility naturally depends on our time and personnel capacities. We have already been able to offer several On-site denture consultations events with our dealers, which have always been very popular. Furthermore, we offer seminars in cooperation with the FN, which are designed to train the eye for the right bit and offer opportunities for direct exchange. On Youtube you will also find a Film series in cooperation with the FN and also on Social Media we are working hard to explain to you in videos what the different SPRENGER bit models are all about and how you can find the right bit for you. Of course, you can also simply send us a message at any time via the support button and we will help you with your search.
How can I tell if my horse likes the bit?
Our SENSOGAN bits are made from a special alloy of copper, manganese and zinc. This makes the metal hard enough to make it suitable for a bit, at the same time the copper it contains provides a sweet taste due to its oxidizing ability, which promotes the flow of saliva and thus stimulates the horse's chewing activity. The high thermal conductivity of SENSOGAN also ensures rapid heating to body temperature, which ensures better acceptance of the bit. Our SENSOGAN material therefore has a major influence on the acceptance of the bit. Would you like to know more about our SENSOGAN? Then read on here: 'Promoting purchase SENSOGAN bits from SPRENGER'.
In addition to the right material, the shape is of course also decisive for the satisfaction of your sport or leisure partner. Whether your horse prefers a single or double jointed mouthpiece is often purely a matter of taste. A single jointed bit directs the pressure of the rein aid to the edges of the tongue and relieves the middle of the tongue and is therefore popular with horses that find pressure on the middle of the tongue uncomfortable. Horses that prefer an even distribution of pressure are usually happier with a double jointed bit. If your horse needs some support when riding turns, you can try a bit with fixed side pieces, such as an olive head bit or D-ring bit, to see if the lateral restraint helps. You can find more information on the different effects of the side pieces here: 'Which side bit should I choose?'
If your horse is happy with the bit, it will chew in a relaxed manner and seek the connection - it will pull towards the bit. Your rein aids reach the mouth correctly and your horse reacts appropriately. The corners of the mouth are not pinched and show no signs of injury. Head banging, locking, curling or lying on the hand can of course also be caused by Rideability problemsorHealth problems, but can also indicate an unsuitable bit. After riding, it is also worth taking a look in the horse's mouth: redness can indicate possible pressure points from the bit, and this is often caused by a bit that is too thick, as the mouths of our horses have significantly less space than is usually assumed, according to studies by the Hanover University of Veterinary Medicine.
Correct buckling and fit of the bit
Always pay attention to the correct fit when testing a bit: For bits with loose rings, max. 3-5 mm space between the bit ring and the corner of the mouth on both sides to prevent pinching. Fixed side pieces of olive head snaffles, D-ring bits or shank snaffles should lie close to the corner of the mouth in order to develop their limiting effect. For horses with fleshy lips, you should make sure that the corner of the mouth is not pressed against the first molar by the bit. To avoid this, we tend to recommend straight bit shapes for horses with a lot of flews, such as the KK ULTRA or Turnado bits. There is also a lot to consider when buckling the bit. To assess whether the horse is happy with the bit, it is particularly important that the noseband and, if necessary, the locking strap are correctly buckled (2-finger rule) to allow a natural Chewing movement. The headpiece of the snaffle should be able to be easily slipped over the ears, otherwise the bit is buckled too high. You can tell if the bit is buckled too low if the cheek pieces flicker when the reins are taken up. As a rule of thumb, 1-2 folds should form in the corner of the mouth if the bit is buckled correctly. The best way to check the correct position is to feel the molars on the side of the horse's head in the direction of the horse's mouth; in the area where the molars end and the bit begins, there should be two finger widths of space between them to ensure that the bit does not come into contact with the first molars.
SPRENGER bit arrow
Are you wondering what the arrow on your SPRENGER bit stands for? Quite simply, with most of our bits it is important how they are buckled in, as the joints have a 45° rotation forward to ensure even pressure distribution on the tongue and avoid palatal pressure. Therefore, the arrow on the left hand must always point forwards, only then will the bit lie correctly in the horse's mouth.
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