THE KIMBERWICK BIT

*Note:

My guide is in no way intended to replace the advice of your vet, trainer or other professional advisor.  Rather, it reflects the experiences that I have personally found to be true with this bit.  It is my hope that you find it interesting and informative, but only you can decide if a bit is right for you and/or your mount.

• What is a Kimberwick bit?

Kimberwick Bit

A Kimberwicke is typically a bit with two "D" rings for the cheek pieces.  Each D ring contains two separate slots, one being set higher up than the other.  It has two solid loops for attaching to the headstall, and also usually two hooks with a curb chain attached.

• What types of mouthpieces typically come with a Kimberwick?

Just about any thing you can imagine!  Solid or broken mouth, copper rollers, low, medium or high ports, and mullens are a few options. 

Important Note:  There is a misconception out there among some horsepeople that any bit with a broken mouthpiece is a "snaffle."  This is not the case.  A snaffle is defined as a "non-leverage bit  with either a broken or solid mouthpiece."  When you use the Kimberwick with the curb chain that is usually attached, it is absolutely a LEVERAGE BIT, no matter what kind of mouth piece it has.  Additionally, there are some bits on the market that are deceptively labeled" Cowboy Snaffle" with shanks and a broken mouthpiece that are in NO WAY snaffles.  Tom Thumb bits are another name for them.  Be very careful when useing these bits, because with the broken mouthpiece, long shanks and curb action, these bits can exhert a tremendous amount of leverage, pain and damage to a horse.  In my humble opinon, these bits are some of the nastiest on the market, and better off tossed in the trash.  Please research them very carefully before using, or better yet, choose another bit.  Your horse will thank you!

• What are the slots in the cheek D's for?

When the reins are attached to the upper slot, more pressure is exherted on the horse's tongue.  When the lower slots are used, the rider can apply more leverage , especially in the curb area.

Note:  You can also remove the curb chain so the bit will function more like a snaffle instead of a leverage bit. I have personally never done this, but I don't see why someone could not use the bit this way if they wished.                                   

My mare Avalon wearing her Kimberwick. 

• Why do I prefer this bit to all others that I have tried?

I personally like the Kimberwick due to it's great versatility.  All three of our riding horses came to us wearing  long, medium-ported shank bits and our Missouri Foxtrotter mares had cavesons as well, and had both been out to pasture for years before they came to live with us.  Both of the mares had only been ridden a few times a year, and neither knew how to neck rein.  It can be fairly challenging to ride a horse who can barely turn with a direct rein in a curb bit.  You can help things along by teaching them leg cues, but our newest mare was so pressure sensitive at first that the mere weight of your leg resting on her side sent her off in a flurry, so we had to teach her to accept our leg resting on her before we could even begin to think about using leg to turn her.  

So, since none were well-finished (they were all downright green despite their ages) the shanked bit made it all but impossible to teach bending, pivots, sidepasses, proper backing, and  the other things that I want my horses to learn before we head for the hills and trails.  

Only our Appie/Quarter gelding Archie was neck reined, (sorta) but he had a terrible problem with throwing his shoulder out during his turns.  He also tended to buck.  We put him in a broken-mouthed Kimberwick so we could isolate each side individually, and that worked out much better.

Archie

Both of our mares and Archie responded in tremendously positive ways when we tossed those shank bits and cavesons to the curb and showed them that it did not have to hurt to have metal in their mouths.  While Archie liked the broken mouthpiece at first, we eventually switched him over to a solid low-port, and both the mares have always preferred a solid mouthpiece as well.

As a matter of fact, our new mare Autum tossed her head so furiously when the owner tacked her up for our first test ride that he had to dismount and loosen the curb bit and caveson, but she still spent the entire ride fighting the bit and tossing her head.  My husband and I could see very clearly that it was the bit and caveson that was causing her behavior problems, and not the horse herself, and she proved us right when we brought her home and changed her over to a Kimberwick. 

I usually start my horses with the reins in the upper slots, and change to the lower slots if I needed a bit more leverage.  My own riding Foxtrotter mare, Avalon, was a flighty sort of girl for the better part of 2 years when I first got her, and although she was worked in the round pen and arena for six months prior to her first trail ride, (and actually became extremely obedient and responsive, although spooky as a loon) those first trail rides were explosive!  Not having been with me very long, she had little trust in me at that point, and I even less in her, and she could wind up 500 feet down the trail and turned backwards before I knew what hit me.  All her training seemed to fly out the window for the first two years, especially that first 12 months.  I just kept working with her in the round pen and arena, lowered the reins to the bottom slot for a bit more "umpf" on trail and now, 4 years later, she has finally settled down and become a quiet, responsive, polite girl who is my very best friend.  She can still be quirky at times, does not like others riding or handling her, and jumps a bit still, but at least she does not explode much anymore.  Whew...what a ride that girl can be!!  Little wonder I have 3 helmets!

• So, would a Kimberwick bit be right for me and my horse?

Well, it depends.  In my opinion, a Kimberwicke is best for a horse who has at least been broken to ride (ours were, thank goodness) and can respond somewhat to a rider's cues.  If your horse's training level is intermediate or above, a Kimberwick should do nicely.  If you are new to riding or have never used these bits and choose to use a Kimberwick on a somewhat greener horse (as we did), make sure you consult a qualified trainer to help you. 

If you are starting a young horse, almost all professionals will advise a simple snaffle at first.  You can then graduate to a Kimberwick as a sort of "intermediate" bit to introduce the horse to the concept of leverage, and when your horse is completely finished you can move on to a full curb if you desire. 

In my opinion, curb bits should only be used on a fully finished and well-trained horse being ridden by a knowlegable rider with good hands, a good seat and the ability to use his/her body to cue the horse.  There is just too much potential for harm to the horse if a curb is used by a beginner or inexperienced rider.

As for the rider, although Kimberwick's are lower-leverage than some bits, they are still leverage bits, and can cause a horse a good deal of pain and mouth trauma when constantly pulled or yanked.  Although any bit can cause trauma if misused, if you are a beginning rider who has not "found your seat" so to speak, I would advise a snaffle at first.  Also, if you have a hard time with your hands, yank on the bit or try to gain your balance through the horse's mouth, you are definately not yet a candidate for a Kimberwick.

However, even if you are a novice, if you have a decent seat and quiet hands, and a fairly well-trained horse, a Kimberwick should work nicely for both you and the horse!

• What other bits have I tried to compare with the Kimberwick and why did I not choose them?

Up until last year when I had to stop working due to my health, I had almost my entire paychecks to devote to horse stuff.  It was great!!  I tried all manner of things, including bits.  I tried the following bits:  Mikmar, Myler Combo Bit, Short-shanked "English" hackamore, Snaffle, broken mouthed Kimberwick, and a few more I cannot even remember.  I won't got into detail about each bit because it would take too long, but if you would like to email me about one of these bits and what I thought of it, please feel free to do so, as they all had different attributes and uses, and were for the most part acceptable.

However, after all that playing around and money spending, I finally concluded that the Kimberwick was the most useful and cost-friendly bit that I had tried and it seems to work well for pretty much all of my horses (including an Arab, Welch/Arab pony and Palomino Paint that we no longer have) so I have stuck with it ever since. 

I hope this guide has been useful, and please email me with any questions, I would be happy to be of assistance if I may.

Peace and Happy Trails,

Anni & Avalon