1.0The Vegan Dragonhttps://thevegandragon.comrich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="jGo3JZVro8"><a href="https://thevegandragon.com/index.php/bit-encyclopedia-part-3/">Bit Encyclopedia Part 3: Specialty Bits and Effects of the Bit</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://thevegandragon.com/index.php/bit-encyclopedia-part-3/embed/#?secret=jGo3JZVro8" width="600" height="338" title="“Bit Encyclopedia Part 3: Specialty Bits and Effects of the Bit” — The Vegan Dragon" data-secret="jGo3JZVro8" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(d,l){"use strict";l.querySelector&&d.addEventListener&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&(d.wp=d.wp||{},d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage||(d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage=function(e){var t=e.data;if((t||t.secret||t.message||t.value)&&!/[^a-zA-Z0-9]/.test(t.secret)){for(var s,r,n,a=l.querySelectorAll('iframe[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),o=l.querySelectorAll('blockquote[data-secret="'+t.secret+'"]'),c=new RegExp("^https?:$","i"),i=0;i<o.length;i++)o[i].style.display="none";for(i=0;i<a.length;i++)s=a[i],e.source===s.contentWindow&&(s.removeAttribute("style"),"height"===t.message?(1e3<(r=parseInt(t.value,10))?r=1e3:~~r<200&&(r=200),s.height=r):"link"===t.message&&(r=new URL(s.getAttribute("src")),n=new URL(t.value),c.test(n.protocol))&&n.host===r.host&&l.activeElement===s&&(d.top.location.href=t.value))}},d.addEventListener("message",d.wp.receiveEmbedMessage,!1),l.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",function(){for(var e,t,s=l.querySelectorAll("iframe.wp-embedded-content"),r=0;r<s.length;r++)(t=(e=s[r]).getAttribute("data-secret"))||(t=Math.random().toString(36).substring(2,12),e.src+="#?secret="+t,e.setAttribute("data-secret",t)),e.contentWindow.postMessage({message:"ready",secret:t},"*")},!1)))}(window,document); //# sourceURL=https://thevegandragon.com/wp-includes/js/wp-embed.min.js /* ]]> */ </script> Double Bridles: Overcheck Bits: Overcheck bits are placed on the roof (palette) of a horse’s mouth. They are connected to a strap that goes over the top of the horse’s head and down the neck, connecting to the breast collar, girth, or saddle. Should a horse try to lower their head, the overcheck will pull or stab the palette, causing pain so the horse is forced to keep their head raised.  Overchecks are primarily used for standardbred racing horses or carriage horses. Sometimes, they can be used for riding if a horse is “easily distracted.”  Some overchecks do not go into the mouth, but rather around the chin. I have more information on those types here.  Snaffle Overchecks: Mullen Overchecks: Bent Overcheck: Birch Overcheck: Mohawk Overcheck: Chain and Mulemouth Overchecks: Mckerron Overcheck: Speedway Overcheck: Hutton Overcheck: Crit Davis Overcheck: Double Bar Crabb Overcheck: Double Bar Crabb with Spoon Overcheck: Pro Steel Italy Leverage Bit: Speciality Bits: These bits are used for extra pain and control of horses.  Mini Snaffle Bits: Snake (Lasso) Bits: Safety Bits: Chifney: Effects of the Bit: Injuries to the Mouth: Bit seat Bits and Breathing: https://horsesandpeople.com.au/a-bit-free-pain-free-future-for-the-free-breathing-horse/ Resources on Bits World Bitless Organization: https://worldbitlessassociation.org/ Massive Paper on Studies With Visuals: https://worldbitlessassociation.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Data-and-visual-evidence-for-the-bit-free-debate.pdf Above Paper on Google Drive: Papers from Dr Cook: https://bitlessbridle.com/articles/ Bit Use and It’s Relevance to Rider Safety: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0168159123000278#:~:text=Abstract,modern%20understanding%20of%20animal%20welfare Bit Injuries High in Show Horses: https://thehorse.com/197631/study-finds-high-rate-of-bit-related-lesions-in-trotting-horses/ Oral Lesions from Bits: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fvets.2019.00206 Tongue ties: https://horseracingkills.com/issues/tongue-ties/ What is a Tongue Tie: https://horsesandpeople.com.au/what-is-a-tongue-tie/ Champing at the Bit for Improvements: A Review of Equine Welfare in Equestrian Sports in the United Kingdom. Tim Holmes & Ashleigh F Brown https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9100173/ The 2020 Five Domains Model: Including Human–Animal Interactions in Assessments of Animal Welfare: https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/10/10/1870 Bits Hurt Horses (video): [link] Bits and Horse Riding (video): [link] Abuse of Bits (video): [link] Bit Bridle vs Bitless Bridle (video): [link] Bit Abuse (video): [link] Dr. Cook on Bits (video): [link] https://thevegandragon.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Horse-bit-and-bridle-fitting-1024x539.jpg