Full Leather Hunter D-Ring with Straight Bar

Suitable for horses that:

• Will not take a metal mouthpiece but still need steering help

• Do not respond to the outside rein

• Fall in on a circle or drift on a straight line

• Are green and sensitive about the bit

How it works

Mouthpiece. An unjointed bar at 18mm, the widest bearing surface in the range. With no joint there is nothing to close on the bars, nothing to rise towards the palate and nothing to pinch at the lips, and rein pressure is spread across the full width of the tongue. A stainless steel wire core runs through the whole length, so under contact the bar takes a shallow curve and follows the shape of the tongue rather than bridging across it.

Cheek piece. The Dee ring is similar in action to an eggbutt but presents a longer straight edge against the face. It prevents pinching, gives a more solid feel against the cheek and prevents the bit being pulled through the mouth. The straight side runs 86mm down the face, so when the inside rein is used the opposite side presses against the cheek and assists in bringing the shoulder round. With an unjointed mouthpiece the steering comes entirely from the cheek, which makes the Dee a sound pairing here.

8255.

Material. Built in layers over a 2mm stainless steel wire core. The core is sleeved in nylon webbing, built up with a suede layer that also carries over the cheek bushings, then wrapped in 1mm bark tanned leather and hand stitched with the seam running along the front, away from the tongue. The nylon sleeve means the horse never meets bare wire, and taking the suede across the bushings removes any hard junction where the mouthpiece meets the cheek. Leather carries no metal taste and does not draw heat from the mouth, and saliva softens it until the bar takes the shape of that individual mouth. Colour comes from vegetable oil and deepens with use. Cheeks are stainless steel.

Fit closely, with the lip gently brushing the cheek. An unjointed mouthpiece does not draw up under contact, so the width you measure is the width you need. Leather does not slide across the lips the way polished steel does, so do not fit tight.

At 18mm the bar is tall as well as wide, so check there is room between the upper and lower bars when the mouth is closed. Leather does not slide across the lips the way polished steel does, so do not fit tight.

Size and fit

4.5"

5"

5.5"

115 mm

125 mm

140 mm

Mouthpiece

18 mm

18 mm

18 mm

Core

2 mm wire

2 mm wire

2 mm wire

Dee ring

86 x 58 mm

86 x 58 mm

86 x 58 mm

Wipe dry after every use. Treat with a food safe oil if the leather dries out. Do not soak, do not store wet, and do not leave the bit on a horse standing or travelling in the bridle. The covering moulds to one mouth, so keep the bit to one horse.