Are Western bridle bits hard on a horses mouth?
No, not generally, but it depends on what bit you use. There are many severe bits, both English and Western. The way you ride, too, can ruin a horse’s mouth if you yank. A really severe bit won’t injure a horse’s mouth if you never touch the reins. And a light snaffle can tear a horse’s mouth up if you yank and pull. If you ride Western (I do! :-), you should get a good bridle that won’t break and a nice soft Western bit. Western is a great style for all types of riding, plus there are many competitions you can ride in. For bits, a D-ring snaffle is a good choice, because it’s a soft snaffle that is less likely to come through the horse’s mouth than a loose ring snaffle. You may want something with a little leverage. I like a Sharon Camarillo Tender Touch bit, they have a broken mouth like a snaffle but have a little shank, too, and are very soft on a horse’s mouth. Something with a broken mouth, maybe a little shank, and a copper mouth or rollers on the mouthpeice, because horses like
