Abbey England Part three
Bitting for Carriage Driving
Thankfully starting out is a distant memory for me, but acquiring all the necessary kit can seem a bit daunting. My general advice would be to start out with safe and serviceable kit from known makers and try and match your equipment to the task in hand and be prepared to upgrade as you go along.
Buxton
Buxton Similar in nature to the Liverpool driving bit, the Buxton differs in the cheek, being far longer and with various rein options. A strong driving bit with long shanks joined at the end for stability. Fixed or swivel cheeks are available as well as a variety of mouthpieces. Due to their elaborate appearance, Buxtons are usually seen for formal outings such as a Park Drag or a coachman-driven carriage.
curb/leverage bit. It is available in a variety of mouthpieces and with fixed or swivel cheeks. Fixed cheeks are ideal for using on a pair of horses to avoid pinching that may occur with the coupling reins. The reins can be attached in any of the three slots along the shanks. The further down the shanks the reins are attached the more leverage will be applied.
Wilson
The Wilson snaffle has four loose rings — two attached to each end of the mouthpiece, with two additional ‘inside’ floating rings. The cheek-pieces of the bridle are fitted to the inside rings, while the reins are fitted to the outside two.
Georgina Hunt explains Bridles & Bits
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