Gifts & Toys
Shires Bit Fitting Guide
To measure your horse for a bit:
1. Having first selected the correct height stand in front of your horse (for safety, with your face turned to one side) and with your hands hold a contact with the bit. Approximately 5mm (1/4 inch) on each side is correct (a little more can be allowed for loose rings). As a guide there should be space to fit one finger between the horse's lips and bits ends on both sides.
There should be adequate space on both sides to clear the lips to prevent pinching but not so much that the bit can slide across the mouth. N.B. Rubber bit rings need additional width.
2. Remove the bit and lay it flat on a firm surface. Measure between the twon corners of the bit, inside to inside (C) to find the width size of your horse's mouth.
| Bit Size Guide | |||||||||||
| Inches | 3" | 3.5" | 4" | 4.25" | 4.5" | 4.75" | 5" | 5.25" | 5.5" | 5.75" | 6" |
| Centimetres | 7.5cm | 9cm | 10cm | 10.5cm | 11.5cm | 12cm | 12.5cm | 13cm | 14cm | 14.5cm | 15cm |