Bits for Driving
Hardy is a member of the American Driving Society Combined Driving & Dressage Committees, the American Horse Show Association Driving Committee, the United States Equestrian Team Driving Committee and Active Drivers Committee and served as Chef d'Equipe for the U.S. Team at the Four In-Hand World Championship in Waregem, Belgium in 1996. He is an American Driving Society & American Horse Show Association licensed Combined Driving Judge and judges all over the country. More about Hardy

Question
I would like to buy a bit for my driving mare that will give me more control as she is a Morgan with lots of life and came to me spoiled. I want to drive this mare but I need a different bit and can't seem to find anyone who knows what kind of bit I should have. At present I'm using a curved O-ring bit, the same kind my dad used on his well broke team years ago. Can you help?

Answer
Hi - I'm glad that you are seeking advice on this matter, as I think proper biting for a driving horse is serious business and should be handled by some knowledgeable driving people. Similarly as I would not want to give a medical diagnosis just on a simple e-mail request, I think also in this case it would not be proper to just name a few driving bits which offer more control, of which there are many. I would rather recommend that you have a knowledgeable driver, or driving trainer take a look and work with you and your horse. Since I don't know in which part of the country you are in, I would suggest you contact the American Driving Society at http://www.americandrivingsociety.org and find out from them the name of a driving club in your area and then contact the club for recommendations of local driving experts in your area. Good luck with your mare.

Hardy