BITS & PIECES DICTIONARY 2021 BITS, NOSEBANDS, SPURS AND MARTINGALES

GENERAL GUIDELINES ON BITS ⚫ Snaffle bits should always be used. A snaffle has either a straight mouthpiece, a

single joint or double joint. The rein and cheek strap attach to the same ring (with the

exception of a Bouche snaffle). The Wilkie bit is now permitted (except in dressage)

(the rein must be able to move within the ring). The mouthpiece may be of metal,

rubber, nylon or other synthetic material and must be smooth (not twisted).

⚫ Hackamores and bosals are forbidden (unless doing camp drafting)- a bit must be in

the horse's mouth at all times while being ridden with reins attached to that bit in

competition.

⚫ Bitless Bridles are permitted only at Pony Club Rally Days (unless you have an exsmption),

only specific types are permitted, and must be approved by the Chief Instructor who fills

in the application form found on the PCASA website, and the form is to be forwarded to

PCASA Head office

⚫

⚫ Cheek guards are permitted but not for dressage and if used must be entirely smooth

on both sides.

⚫ Chin straps be permitted at rallies as a training aid and are not to be used in

competition, must not be too tight.

⚫ The bit should be checked for wear or rough surfaces, attention being

given to any central joint of a bit.

⚫ The bit is not to be considered cruel or uncomfortable and must have

sufficient clearance each side of the horse’s mouth.

⚫ Sharp, corrugated or ridged bits are not permitted.

⚫ Bits must lie in the correct position in the horse’s mouth

⚫ If the gear checker feels that there is a legitimate reason to remove the bit

for checking then the rider must dismount and a halter must be placed onto

the horse while the bit is examined.

⚫ Tongue ties are not permitted.

⚫ The reins must be attached to the bit.

⚫ Curb chains should come in contact with the chin only when the cheek

pieces are at 45 degrees. Chains must have a cover.

⚫ All bits with curb chains attached must have a rein on the top ring (at the bit) or

equalizers may be used.

⚫ The use of dropped nosebands, Hanoverian nosebands or any noseband which fits

in the horse’s curb groove, is not permitted when a curb chain is being used.

⚫ Bits not to be modified in any way

All bits allowed for Dressage are also allowed for all other disciplines

The following snaffle bits may be used for all disciplines in Pony Club. They may be made

from stainless steel, copper, sweet iron. They may be coated in rubber. They may be

synthetic, nylon, “apple” or “happy mouth”

Eggbutt Snaffle Dee Snaffle

French Link Snaffle Loose Ring Snaffle

Mullen Mouth Snaffle Loose Ring Eggbutt

KK Training Bit Baucher Bit or “Hanging” Snaffle

Offset Dee Snaffle

Offset D Snaffle

Snaffle Bits – All Disciplines

WTP Bit

Full cheek Snaffle – may be single

jointed or French link

FM Snaffle – should be used with FM keepers

Tom Thumb Snaffle Half Spoon Snaffle – may be Mullen mouth or

jointed

Avacallo Sensitive Equisoft Bit Bomber Loose Ring Happy Tongue

Copper Roller Snaffle Not permitted in Dressage

MB03 Eggbutt Mylor bit Not permitted in dressage

Snaffle Bits – with Discipline Restrictions

6.5.3 Associate and senior riders who hold their C certificate and have a green card issued and

adult riders with the exception of the PCASA banned list be allowed to use any approved EA

bit.

6.5.1 Myler bits level one mouthpieces MB01R, MB02R, MB03R, MB09R, MB10R

Myler bits cheeks, loose ring, loose ring with sleeve, English D ring, dee without hooks, English

egg-butt, boucher, half cheek, full cheek

No cheek with hooks is allowed for Dressage.

R=regular

The W tongue lay is allowed. This is not a bit but may be used in conjunction with a correctly

fitted bit to prevent a horse getting it's tongue over the bit.

Wilkie Bit – the rein must be able

to move within the ring

not permitted in Dressage

The following bits may be rubber coated. They may be Port mouth, Mullen mouth, Single

Jointed or French Snaffle jointed. The curb chain must have a curb chain cover. These bits

must be used as a complete unit.

Kimblewick

Pelham

Weymouth Set

The following bit may be rubber coated. It may be single jointed or French link jointed.

Slotted Kimblewick or Spanish

Pelham

Pelham Equalisers must be used to

convert the double reins to a

single rein

Forked Reins/Divided

Reins/Splitters are not permitted

Curb Chain Bits

All Pelhams must be used complete with equalisers. (The equaliser on the Balanced Pelham

must be at least 20cm in length measured between the buckles.) The split rein form of

Balanced Pelham is not permitted. If a chain is used it must be fitted with a chain guard.

Curb Chain Bits

The Pessoa or Dutch gag is

permitted with the reins either

in the bit ring or with the use of

equalizers.

Also known as the continental

or 3 ring gag. It may have 2 or

3 rings

Curbed Chain Cover prevents

chain from pinching. Lip Strap

Rungs through Curb Chain ring to

prevent loss of chain

Bridles can be made of leather or PVC. The brow band and throatlash must not be too tight or

too loose. A suitable permitted noseband must be worn

Micklem Competition Bridle

The use of the Micklem Competition Bridle and Comfit Bridles are permitted

The use of these bridles is only allowed without the use of the bit clips where fitted at Pony Club

Rally Days, Dressage, Jumping Equitation, Show Jumping and One Day Event competitions

Bitless Bridles

Bitless Bridles are permitted only at Pony Club Rally Days, only (unless you have an exemption)

specific types are permitted, and must be approved by the Chief Instructor who fills in the

application form found on the PCASA website, and the form is to be forwarded to PCASA Head

office

Bridles

Dr Cook with sliding Side Pull Bridle which NOT PERMITTED –

Chin strap is permitted is a very kind bitless with crossed straps Bridle – is permitted under the jaw. Also not permitted are

Rope Bitless bridles

Bosal/Hackamore

NOT PERMITTED – John Whitaker Noseband (pictured below)– Nosebands can be made of leather

or PVC only.

Nosebands

Leather or Rubber Bit Guards Bit Guards may be used for all

disciplines in Pony Club except

Dressage. Must have round edges

Drop Noseband

Drop Nosebands may be used for all

disciplines in Pony Club

Figure 8/Crossover/Grackle/Mexican or

High Ring Nosebands

May be used for all disciplines in Pony Club

Cavesson Noseband

Cavesson Nosebands may be used

for all disciplines in Pony Club

Hanoverian/Flash Noseband

Hanoverian Nosebands may be used for all

disciplines in Pony Club

Running Martingale

Breastplates

Martingales & Breastplates

Running Martingales may be used for all

disciplines in Pony Club EXCEPT Dressage

and Jumping Equitation. They must be fitted

with Rein Stoppers and Martingale Stoppers

at all times

Martingale Stoppers

Rein Stoppers

Breastplates may be used for all disciplines in Pony

Club. When fitted with a Running Martingale they may

not be used for Dressage

Correctly fitted standing or fixed martingales are permitted for mounted games & novelties only A standing martingale consists of a strap that attaches to the girth and runs between the horse’s front legs up to the back of the noseband. This runs through a neck strap which fastens around the neck and keeps the martingale close to the horse. This type of martingale should only be fitted to a cavesson noseband or similar and if correctly fitted, the main strap should be able to touch the throat lash when raised. A stopper must be used above the chest piece.

Dummy type, the neck not exceeding 35mm in length and must not be under 7mm in width at

the point of the neck. The neck if curved must point downward and the neck must jut from the

centre back of the heel. Short necked roller ball (rubber/synthetic/steel) spurs are permitted for

use at Pony Club. Bumper Spurs are permitted for use at Pony Club.

Soft Touch Roller Spurs Spur Straps

These spurs must have The straps holding the spur in place

A rounded smooth roll must fit the boot closely.

Permitted straps may be leather,

metal, synthetic or rubber

Spurs

Spurs with rubber covered arms

Dummy Spurs

Maximum length 35mm. May be

used for all disciplines other than

Mounted Games