Curb Bits, Transition Bits and Special Tuning Bits Designed to Produce Great Results
Note: You may want to read Larry Trocha’s Horse Training Tips Insider which details how and when to use the different types of bits.
Loose-Shanked Curb Bits
These curb bits are designed for positive control and feel. The loose shanks allow for good direct-rein and neck-rein response.
Each mouthpiece is made of “sweet iron” and has inlaid copper stripes to produce the taste that horses prefer.
Also, these bits are a “NO PINCH” design. Many bits will pinch a horse’s lower lip between the top ring and the curb chain. The lips will also get pinched
by the cheekpiece joint. Pinching is NOT a problem with any of the bits listed on this page.
Maintenance tip: To keep the cheek pieces of the bit operating smoothly, occasionally put a drop of oil or WD40 in the cheek joints.
“Billy Allen” Mouthpiece with 8 inch “Bob Loomis” Loose-Shanks. (Highly Recommended)
This is the ultimate transition bit. If I had to choose just one transition bit, this would be the one.
Basically, its a snaffle mouthpiece with a “roller” molded over the middle joint. This roller “limits” the movement of the mouthpiece. What’s great about this, is the horse gets the feel of a mouthpiece that is almost “solid” but still has some “flex” to it.
This semi-solid mouthpiece gives you a lot of control without scaring or worrying the horse. A good bit that horses actually like, you can usually leave a horse in it for most of his training. I highly recommend this bit. Add to it, my professional quality reins and you’ll have one of the best set-ups around.
Mouthpiece: 5″ wide. Cheek-piece 8″ long.
Price $89.00 
Correction Curb Bits
Based on famous bit maker, Don Hansen’s design, these two correction bits are ideal for “tuning” and “lightening” a horse up. Good results are usually accomplished in just a few rides. They can be used anytime the horse gets too heavy and needs a little extra. After the horse lightens up, he should be put back into his regular bit.
The mouthpiece is overlaid with good-tasting copper. Shanks are stainless steel.
Correction Mouthpiece with Medium Shanks
Highly Recommended
This is the ideal bit to lighten-up your horse. The correction mouthpiece really helps with the horse’s stop.
And the loose shanks allows you to easily flex the horse’s head laterally for correct circles and turns.
Once good results are achieved, put the horse back into his regular curb or
transition bit.
Mouthpiece: 5″ wide. Cheek-piece (shank): 7 1/2″ long.
Price: $49.00
Correction Mouthpiece with Argentine Shanks
This is the bit to use to really lighten up a horse that is normally ridden in a snaffle or one of the above transition bits.
The correction mouthpiece really helps with the horse’s stop. And the short,
curved-back shank allows you to easily flex the horse’s head laterally for correct circles and turns.
Overall, a really good bit for a horse that needs to pay more attention but isn’t ready for a longer shanked bit.
Mouthpiece: 5″ wide. Cheek-piece (shank): 5″ long.
Price: $49.00
Leather Curb Strap
This leather curb strap is 1/2″ wide and will work as a “curb strap” on a curb bit or as a “bit hobble” on a ring snaffle.
$12.00
Hi Larry, I’m looking into a transitional bit soon. I really wanted your opinion on the Professionals Choice Clear Signal bits? Which I believe are a new revolutionary bit. They explain in a video clip that the older style curb bits rotation of the shanks on a loose shank curb, digs into the horses mouth when asking for lateral movement. Does the Billy Allen one u suggest do this? I’m also not sure if the Clear Signal bit is too much of a transition from what I’m using now, which is a triple barrel fixed D ring Myler bit. I was going to go with another Myler but saw your options and also these Clear Signal ones and now very confused. My QH knows all the basics, but could u also give me an idea on what I should have solid before moving up to a curb bit? I would appreciate your thoughts.
Hi Rebecca,
Many horse products, bits and tack, the name of the product is usually deceiving.
They name a product this way for MARKETING purposes.
A good product “name” usually equals “more sales”.
The “Tom Thumb” bit is a good example.
It’s one of the most popular bits on the market. Every body buys one even though it’s one of the worst designed bits. People buy it because the name is appealing.
The bit you mentioned in your post, has a “name” which is very appealing.
However, I personally would prefer a different design.
I would suggest you read this:
https://www.horsetrainingvideos.com/bittinginfo.htm
I have many bits and switch around according to what i think my wild mustang needs day to day.
Recently purchased your billy allen and she loves it. The billy allen is a wonderful bit!ll
Thank you Jack.
Glad you like the bit. It’s one of my favorites.
I have a mare that chomped and fought just about any bit I tried on her, even an o-ring and d-ring snaffle. If I wanted a good ride out of her, it had to be bitless. Then I found a Billy Allen type bit and have been using it for about 4 months on this mare and she’s a different horse with it. No more chomping. No more head throwing. Now, instead of paying attention to the bit in her mouth, she pays attention to me. I’ve gotten several people to toss their old bits and use this one. All have had great results.
Love the correction bits..use them on my cutters…??
Hi Larry,
I can’t agree with you more, you are so right. I probably have around 25 bits that I have messed around with over the last 20 years just to see how a horse will react to different bits and give them something to think about. I am no trainer but I can honestly say that of the 15 or so horses I have worked with that were ours or friends, the bits with the Billy Allen mouthpiece seemed to be the ones that worked best and the horses seem to like them. I really like the way the mouthpiece doesn’t collapse on their mouths like a snaffle and the shanks are independent. Just a great bit!