Bits bits bits

My new bit is FINALLY here. I borrowed a full cheek French link about a month ago, and Apollo really likes it. No gaping or fighting, much less bracing. He's easier to bridle and is more willing to reach for the bit under saddle. I ordered him a 5" with 1.5" rings from Adams Horse Supply, by far the best price ($22.) This is NOT the JP Korsteel with the curved pieces. It's the regular Korsteel one. They're pretty hard to find because I guess everyone except me wants the curved mouth pieces.

Shiny new bits are so pretty--I want to buy a bunch more just because I like looking at them....

.....I have that same logic with vodka bottles, and I hate vodka.

There it is! He's average sized but has a very fine head with a smaller mouth--the 5" is perfect for him. It's a nice bit, and it's so CHEAP! I grew up with this crazy idea that new bits cost upwards of $100/ea. because we used Myler bits. I'm almost embarrassed to say that it never occurred to me that not everyone used Mylers, so when I started shopping for other bits, I was really excited that they were way more affordable. It sounds ridiculous to other people who are used to the idea, but the thought of buying a bit my horse really likes for only $22 blows my mind.

I also bought a set of keepers. I already had a set a friend gave me, but they're small and seem like the kind of thing I'll lose. For $4, sure I'll buy another set! I bought a set of Kincade keepers from Adams. I'm disappointed. They're tiny, and the leather feels like cardboard. There was absolutely no way I was getting them over the top cheek pieces of the bit, let alone attached to the bridle.

This is what I've resorted to.

When I started stretching them, I could barely get a pencil in each side. We've since graduated to getting the part that attaches to the bit to go over the little metal balls of the cheek pieces, and I'm using toothpicks to gradually stretch the pieces that attach to the bridle. Using a set of keepers should not be this difficult. I'll probably move up to using two pencils per keeper hole tomorrow. Luckily the set of keepers my friend gave me work perfectly. I ran a Sharpie through each side a few times and wiggled them to loosen the leather and got them all hooked up to the bridle. Long story short, if you're shopping for keepers, don't buy the Kincade ones. They're dirt cheap for a reason.