Kimberwicks: The Popular Circuit Bit? Options

[..::Felda::..]

I've had the opportunity this past couple years to attend AQHA and APHA breed association shows with my friend. She runs the speed events, but want to get points on her horse too. We always get with enough time to catch a few long classes before her classes, so we watch alot. A noticable trend I've seen is that a horse that is used for a WP or Trail class will often be ridden in a kimberwick bit for the Hunter class. I've always wondered why. Kimberwicks, from my understanding weren't the most popular bits when I competed on the open hunter circuits as they were often compared to Tom Thumbs. I would expect with all the attitude towards Tom Thumb, that the kimberwick would end just as much disliked.

What's you opinion on this bit? Does it assist in the transition between curb, to help set the head or both? Is it fair to relate it to the Tom Thumb?

[kitten-kat]

honestly a kimberwick is my boys favorite bit.. he goes well in his others, but he really prefers his kimberwick.. i agree with a lot of people a bit can be good in one persons hands and really bad in anothers..

I dont personally think it is fair to rate it next to the tom thumb.. there are 2 settings, you can use, one is basically about as hard as a standard snaffle, and the other does not honestly have any where near the torque the tom thumb has or can have.. with the tom thumb there is NO release.. and with the kimberwick all yo hav to do is let your rein down a short bit and there is no action..

I find daniel really does hold the bit more quiet when ridden with his kimberwick.. he really does listen more for sure.. but honestly he doesnt pull and has a very soft mouth..

This post has been edited by kitten-kat: Oct 25 2009, 08:32 PM

[K. Blue]

Personally, I hate Kimberwicks and would just about never let one in my barn. It is a bit that is over used, and many don't truly understand its function.

It isn't the same as a snaffle, even on the highest setting.

Personally, I prefer a pelham for a horse that needs a little bit of curb because you can in fact ride in it as a snaffle without the pelham/curb rein.

I connect it on the same line as a TT because it is usually used because people don't understand how poorly this bit works and how it affects the horse. Many horses work "well" in it because they are afraid of it (not pointing figures at anyone or trying to criticize, just stating what I've experienced at breed shows and through 4-H).

It isn't a bit you are going to find to be popular at H/J shows for many reasons.

[Kyra]

I'm not a huge fan of the jointed kimberwicks, because they do have the joint that pinches the tongue because of the curb action. I do, however, like the low port kimberwicks. I find them useful for a hotter horse. Now if it was up to me, i would have all horses trained to go well in a snaffle, but sometimes for a school horse, you simply don't have the time for that. We have a couple of hardmouthed ponies and a Thoroughbred that are great lesson horses when the have an uxeter kimberwick, but take advantage with just a snaffle. We're careful that the riders are gentle with their mouths, but the horses are happy and well behaved with them. It's just not always possible to keep a school horse light in a snaffle.

My mare simply LIKES her uxeter kimberwick. She doesn't like a snaffle. She plays with it and tosses her head. When i put the kimberwick in, she quits. She controls just fine in a snaffle,just doesn't like a joint in the bit. Yes they can be abused, but so can everything. I think they have their place.

I think that part of the reasons that hunters use them so much is that for WP the horses have a shank and a curb chain, and so naturally the horse does better english with some curb action and a curb chain. Just my thoughts.

[Kyra]

I'm not a huge fan of the jointed kimberwicks, because they do have the joint that pinches the tongue because of the curb action. I do, however, like the low port kimberwicks. I find them useful for a hotter horse. Now if it was up to me, i would have all horses trained to go well in a snaffle, but sometimes for a school horse, you simply don't have the time for that. We have a couple of hardmouthed ponies and a Thoroughbred that are great lesson horses when the have an uxeter kimberwick, but take advantage with just a snaffle. We're careful that the riders are gentle with their mouths, but the horses are happy and well behaved with them. It's just not always possible to keep a school horse light in a snaffle.

My mare simply LIKES her uxeter kimberwick. She doesn't like a snaffle. She plays with it and tosses her head. When i put the kimberwick in, she quits. She controls just fine in a snaffle,just doesn't like a joint in the bit. Yes they can be abused, but so can everything. I think they have their place.

I think that part of the reasons that hunters use them so much is that for WP the horses have a shank and a curb chain, and so naturally the horse does better english with some curb action and a curb chain. Just my thoughts.

[Mia'sMom]

My mare went best in her kimberwick. It was a myler with the jointed, covered middle link, comfort mouth. It also had a copper inlay. She would suck that bit right in when I bridled her, and she definately preferred it over a plain snaffle. With the myler mouth piece it was a very directional bit and could be used very subtley. I have never used a regular kimberwick so I don't know what that would do. I have used this same bit on a friend's horse who reacted as though she was quite comfortable with the bit, though I rode her with minimum contact as she is used to being ridden western.

I really love myler's comfort mouth.

[quarters n paint...]

My horse also loves his myler... he likes the tongue relief. I've tried lots of bits on him, and I let him "choose" which one he goes best in.

Pelhams aren't legal AQHA/APHA (unless maybe over fences, I'm not sure on that.)

[Smilie]

First, there is no relationship between a western pl horse and using a kimberwick, nor is it a common bit used on all around horses, esp those shown 'open' as opposed to non pro
Remember, unlike an English horse, a western pl horse, whether jr and ridden in a snaffle, or a senior horse ridden in a curb, that horse is ridden on a loose rein, as opposed to contact, esp using two hands and curb action.
A kimberwick, at breed level, sort of says, 'non pro' or youth. You will see very few top open HUS horses on the breed circuit ridden with a Kimberwick, whether jr or senior.
I see no comparison to aTT. There is very little curb action possible with a Kimberwick. If the rider is riding as he should, with more leg than hands, then one does not get a negative type of action with a kimberwick
Certainly, when I ride my western pleasure horse HUS, I have way, way less rein contact that most horses that are only ridden English. I have just enough contact to avoid disqualification for drape in the reins, as horses whose mouths are generally stayed out of, except when corrrected, are never happy travelling with constant strong rein pressure.

[Willy ShoMaker]

I have tried all the supposed "training" bits (english) on my gelding: o ring snaffle, full cheek snaffle, thick slow twist snaffle, rubber snaffle, and even spent the money for a myler bit. My horse hated all of the broken bits. When I put him in a low port kimberwicke, he was much more at ease and preferred to work in it. I used a kimberwicke for years on my previous mare who also liked this bit best. So, why anyone would "hate" this bit is beyond me????? Whatever works for your horse is the way you have to go. Every horse is different, their mouths are shaped differently, and what fits one will not fit another. My horse also takes a 5 1/4" or 5 1/2" bit, where most quarterhorses are a 5".

[DiluteMe]

I actually find this post to ruffle my memories of younger days quite a bit.

When I first got into horses, owning my first horse, and being absolutely and utterly CLUELESS as to everything horse the first suggestion and only suggestion on a bit to use for english riding was a Kimberwick. I was in 4-H at the time and everyone used one. It just simply seemed like that only english bit out there.

Now knowing more about horses, bit mechanics etc I prefere to just go in a french link snaffle. But I think it's funny that yes I've seen a Kimberwick be an overwhelming choice for a lot of people, especially the ones that really don't know a lot about horses yet. For some reason it is the "suggested" bit.

[Smilie]

My Point , Dilute Me!
If you go to a breed show (AQHA, ApHC or ApHC ), you would be hard pressed to find Kimberwicks used in the open divisons (pros)
You will see quite a few non pro and youth using them
It is an example where a little 'more bit' is used for added control, and sort of proclaims not quite open level ready.
I have a friend who showed on the hunter jumper circuit for many years. She said that riding in a kimberwick was sort of looked down on by the professional riders.
Having said that, I have seen many nice non pro horses ridden successfully in a kimberwick

[Skippysperson]

wow.
Intersting.
We show most of our hunt horses in a kimberwick.. however we show Pleasure/saddle type horses. In this "world" a kimberwick is widely used and accepted. I cannot say that I pay that much attention to what the stock horses had on......

[RollingThunder]

All that being said, you can put a 9" lag bolt in your horse's mouth and it'll go along just fine (seen it done), if your hands are good. If they're not, no manner of bit, hackamore, $900 electro-wappamatic gizmotronic horse-mouth thingy will get your horse to perform well.

[Smilie]

True, Rolling Thunder, never the less, since the person is interested in showing, only thought in informative to address the Kimberwick from a show perspective, also a point of view the post originated from
I have had pros on the stock horse circuit tell me the info I provided.
I would ask you to pick up an AQHA Journal and see if you can find a winning hunt seat horse, showing at the open level in a Kimberwick

[RollingThunder]

Never said you would. :D Course, you wouldn't find them showing in a 9" lag bolt either. I simply meant to interject that while the focus on good comfortable equipment is indeed important, the reason these folks win is mainly in their skills, and not in their gear, and that perhaps we'd all be better off focusing less on the bit, and more on the hands connect to the bit's reins.

This post has been edited by RollingThunder: Nov 7 2009, 04:49 PM

[Smilie]

No argument there, Rolling Thunder. In fact you just underlined the point. The reason pros show HUS in a snaffle, usually D ring, is that they have the higher level of skill to get a horse very soft and responsive in a snaffle
The Kimberwick is a very popular bit on the circuit, in non pro and youth, as the poster noted, for this very fact. This level of rider ( non pro) usually can't get ahorse as well shown in a plain snaffle as a pro, thus goes to a bit 'bigger bit' Ie Kimberwick.
Those that are very into HUS realize the statement made, between showing a HUS horse in a snaffle versus a KImberwick. In fact, at the world level, even the non pros show HUS in a d ring snaffle.
Like it or not, on the stock horse breed HUS circuit, a snaffle versus a kmberwick speaks loudly as to level of training and ability or the rider, to those that are in the know, so to speak.

[Stinger]

I'm a non-pro and not offended at all that it's suggested that higher levels use a snaffle. I use a kimberwick on my mare. It's a jointed low port Myler. I tried and tried to stick with a snaffle - but so long as my dear mare is also a game horse, I just need more breaks. Before I had her, she was one of those "Let's teach her to game by running running running" and although I've had her for 5 years, that's still in the back of her mind. With both games and HUS, I need slight leverage and good breaks, without it being too heavy. That means a hack for games, and a kimberwick for HUS. She's been a hard horse to find the right balance for, and now that I've found her the correct bits, she does beautifully. Also, she is not and will never be a WP horse. She just doesn't have the gaits.

If I want to go pro, I realize I'll need a different horse. One that is not a hot-headed crossover, lol.

[Smilie]

Totally agree, Stinger, for the events you do, and showing HUS non pro, the Kimberwick is a good compromise