How to fit a curb chain on a Pelham, Kimblewick or double bridle: getting it flat, choosing the link, the 45 degree check, and what a lip strap does.
Sweet iron vs stainless steel, copper alloys, titanium, rubber and plastic: what each bit material is, what the makers claim and what the research shows.
Looking for a bit for a strong horse? Why horses pull, what to rule out before going stronger, and how Kimblewicks, Pelhams, combinations and gags differ.
How a running gag bit differs from a 3 ring Dutch or continental gag, which horse each suits, why rein position matters and why gags take two reins.
What a Wilkie bit does, how much poll pressure it adds, where the bevel differs and which rein position to use, from a UK bit specialist with trial bits.
A mullen mouth is an unjointed bit with a gentle curve. How it differs from a straight bar, and which horses go well in one.
How the Waterford’s ball-and-link mouthpiece works, why it stops a horse leaning, whether it is severe and which cheek to pair it with.
All three are double jointed, but they feel very different on the tongue. How to tell them apart and which one your horse is likely to prefer.
Three bits with similar names and different jobs. What a Kimblewick, a Kimblehook and a Tom Thumb each do, and how to choose between them.
How a universal (Dutch gag) works, why the ring you use changes everything, what a curb strap adds, and how it differs from a true gag.