http://Etsy.com/shop/GrayHorseLeatherwrks, http://GrayHorseLeatherworks.com/

Gray Horse Leatherworks, Mint Hill, NC (2025)

09/11/2025

SPADE BIT

This bit is rich in history and one I find very interesting. I went over this in greater detail on my “What’s That Wednesday” Instagram story series yesterday and unfortunately I don’t have enough space to write it all down on one post, so I will make a blog post about it soon!
Until then, a brief overview:

The pictured bit is a traditional Spade, used by the vaquero which was adopted in western horsemanship for a time. Horses are fully trained in a bosal (jaquima = Hackamore) before they are ever introduced to a bit. And when they are introduced to a bit it takes over a year before the bit is used primarily❕The horse is trained to respond from the slightest shift in weight of the rider and featherweight touch of the reins. Their philosophy is the harder you pull, the more resistance you will get, and the more dull they will become. So both the bosal and the spade bit are not to be pulled on 🪶

Every component of this bit is designed with a clear intention and purpose, Primarily to encourage the horse to hold/carry the bit and do so with a vertical head carriage. Because of the weight and precise balance of the bit, it should sit at “neutral” in the mouth when the horse is in this working frame ↕️

The bit comes with bridle chains which connect the shanks to the reins. The reins are also very specific - braided rawhide with knots on the first 18” to counter-balance the weight of the bridle chains⛓️

Every part of this setup is focused on balance and pre-signal, so that the smallest touch or shift in the reins will have a clear signal to the horse, keeping the horse soft, alert, and sensitive💡

This looks like a lot of hardware in the mouth, and it is! But each component has a purpose and, as said, only for use on a specially trained horse🐴

Because I have so much admiration for vaquero horsemanship and their art of training a Hackamore horse and bridle horse, you will not hear me hate on this bit (even though it is not ideal in an anatomical sense). That said, these are extremely rare to find made correctly today, even the fancy custom ones. These go for $1,000+! 💰

08/10/2025

Hi everyone! Just letting you all know I am shutting down for the month of August as I’m off to get married! 👰🏼

I’ll be back with regular leatherwork, consultations, and content in September. Thanks for everyone’s understanding!

08/07/2025

ELEVATOR BIT

These come in many shapes and sizes, but these are defined as a leverage bit with fixed cheeks and equal length purchase (part above mouthpiece that connects to bridle) and shank (part below mouthpiece that the reins connect to).

I explained in a lot more detail on my Instagram story yesterday how these work - and will do my best to summarize below!

While the first photo looks scary (and it is), most elevators seen today are much smaller (see second photo).
These are different from a gag and a Pelham, although some styles look convincing.
Mechanically you can think of them like a see-saw (see last photo); force from the reins + resisting force from bridle = total force applied to the mouth.

These are similar to a gag bit in that they apply conflicting “head up” (stretch lips upward) and “head down” (poll pressure) signals to the horse, and are also at risk for over-rotation which makes for a painful mouthpiece.

Unlike a Pelham, the lever system on an elevator is 1:1 and these are not used with a curb chain.

As with any leverage bit, the longer the shanks, the greater the mechanical advantage. Longer shanks = considerably less effort needed from the reins to apply the same forces on the horse.
Unless the rider has light-as-a-feather hands, this will result in harsher than intended forces upon the horse (well, we hope it isn’t intended!).

Because of this, and the conflicting signals it sends the horse, I could never recommend this bit for use. The only clear signal this can send to the horse is pain - which unfortunately is interpreted by some as submission and lightness.

Why these are called elevators I will never know… clever marketing implies they help lift and balance the horse, but these apply more downward forces than a gag! 🤷🏼‍♀️

Have a strong or heavy horse in the contact? Reach out for a consultation - in most cases the core of the problem is training/fitness related, but training can be supported with a bit that suits your horse’s anatomy - the latter is where a bit fitter can help! Reach out to book a consultation in-person or virtually - I’d love to help! 🙋🏼‍♀️ 💻

08/02/2025

New research shows cranking the noseband hurts your horse's gait.

There are always many opinions about nosebands. Too loose, and a trainer might call it sloppy. Too tight, and it becomes a welfare concern. There are studded and crank and chain and traditional, and all kinds of gadgets and gizmos designed to keep our horse’s mouth shut, but what is best for the horse? Is cranking that extra hole doing more harm than good?

A 2025 study published in the Journal of Equine Veterinary Science examined the impact of noseband tightness on pressure and performance. The results are eye-opening if you believe that a tighter noseband means better performance in the ring.

Most riders are familiar with the standard: leave two fingers’ space beneath the noseband. It’s even outlined in guidelines from the FEI. And according to the study, 85% of riders say they know this recommendation. But when researchers actually measured the fit using a standardized taper gauge, only 15% had their nosebands adjusted to the proper tension.

The vast majority were too tight. Sometimes dramatically too tight.

The Hidden Pressure on a Horse’s Face
In the study, eight horses were fitted with a simple cavesson noseband and tested at three settings: a standard two-finger fit, a snug one-finger fit, and a cranked-tight zero-finger fit. Under each setting, researchers measured facial pressure and evaluated gait.

- The one-finger setting increased pressure on the nasal bone by 54% over the two-finger baseline.
- The zero-finger setting? A staggering 338% increase in pressure.

Imagine trying to do your day job with a belt cinched tight around your nose and jaw. Now add that your success relies on body movement, and you have no way to say, “This hurts.” That’s similar to what the horse might feel like being asked to perform in a fully tightened noseband that more than triples the force exerted on its face.

Unfortunately, changes to tack and equipment don’t typically come solely from the perspective of the horse’s comfort. So let’s look at performance as well.

In addition to pressure data, the researchers measured each horse’s trot stride. As the noseband got tighter, the stride got shorter—by a lot. On average:

- Horses at the one-finger tightness lost 6.2% of their stride length.
- With a fully tightened noseband, stride loss jumped to 11.1%.

In real-world terms, that’s about 24 centimeters, roughly the length of a hoof, disappearing from every stride. While that may not sound dramatic at first, consider how it compounds across a full course. Shorter strides can mean rushed distances, flat movement, and a horse that never quite gets to “flow.” In the hunter ring, 24 centimeters could be the difference between pinning in a highly competitive under saddle class.

And this wasn’t just about stiffness or resistance. The study found a statistically significant negative correlation between noseband pressure and stride length. In short, the tighter the fit, the shorter the step.

Sure, a longer stride is helpful in the show ring. But this research highlights deeper concerns about what that level of pressure does to the horse’s face and nerves. The noseband sits directly over sensitive structures, including branches of the trigeminal nerve, which help regulate posture and proprioception. Excessive pressure here doesn’t just hurt. It may also interfere with the horse’s balance and coordination.

Previous studies have shown that pressures as low as 32 kPa can damage tissue. In this study, the tightest noseband setting reached an average of 115.8 kPa. That’s far above what’s been associated with pain or injury in other species. That number isn’t just theoretical. It’s happening under tack, often unnoticed, every day. And unlike overt lameness, this kind of pressure flies under the radar, making it easy to miss, but just as impactful.

🔗 Read the full article at https://www.theplaidhorse.com/2025/07/30/new-research-shows-cranking-your-noseband-hurts-your-horses-gait/

🔗 Read the full study here: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0737080625003120?via%3Dihub

07/31/2025

JOWL STRAP

A jowl strap is absolutely essential for any bitless bridle setup, but is not always seen on one ☹️ I’ll go over what they are, what they do, why they are important, how to get them, and how to fit them! 👩‍🏫

WHAT IS IT?
It is an adjustable leather strap connecting both sides of the bridle cheek pieces, running beneath the jaw.

WHAT DOES IT DO?
It stabilizes the bitless bridle setup (can also help stabilize bitted setups, and may be seen on setups without a Noseband or throatlatch).

WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT?
Bitless bridles primarily operate on pressure across the nose. So every time a rein is pulled, the entire bridle will shift. If the bridle is fit properly but lacks a jowl strap, that will mean a good deal of shifting. This can (and most likely will):
🔺 Rub/chafe horse’s face
🔺 Push bridle cheek pieces towards the horse’s eyes
🔺 Push Noseband (or metal Hackamore shank) into the facial crest
🔺 Delay rein signals
🔺 Result in unclear communication
Tightening a noseband on a bitless bridle will not fix this. However, simply adding a jowl strap will significantly reduce or eliminate these common bitless bridle issues 🙌🏻

HOW TO FIT?
These will be attached to your bridle cheek pieces, ideally between the Noseband and your horse’s eye (see photo). These should be adjusted snugly so the rest of the bridle can be appropriately fit/loose.

WHERE CAN I GET THESE?
There are several manufacturers that make correct bitless bridles and Hackamore bridles with jowl straps, and a few that even sell “kits” to convert your regular bridle to a bitless bridle - this includes shorter cheek pieces with a jowl strap attached. I will happily send you links to these - or I can do these modifications myself to your bridle. I will happily make recommendations to suit your budget. Reach out for a quote! 🙋🏼‍♀️

07/28/2025

Curious what my travel range is❓

Are you within the map area in the first photo and

07/25/2025

Last chance to order anything off my Etsy shop! I will be taking the whole month of August off (I’m getting married! 💒) and I am already trying to work thru quite a backlog, so going to pause all new orders until September.

Thanks for your understanding! 💕

07/10/2025

LOOSE RING BITS

Taking it back to basics again! I get this question quite a lot - why choose a loose ring snaffle versus a fixed cheek snaffle (like an eggbutt, D-ring, full cheek, or Baucher) ❔

The loose ring is the most common snaffle cheek piece type seen in dressage and western disciplines. It is likely popular because of these factors:
🔹The “play” between the ring and the mouthpiece enhances pre-signal from the reins (no tension is taken up on the bit but the horse can feel the change in the balance of the rein) 🛜
🔹 This can also help enhance a more “elastic” feel to the contact 〰️
🔹 Mouthpiece angle in the mouth is less fixed and can be held in a slightly more comfortable position for the horse 📐

However, these benefits listed can also be problematic for certain horses. The “play” between the cheek piece and mouthpiece can be irritating or distracting for some.

It is also important to note the downsides to this type of bit:
🔸 Space between loose ring and mouthpiece can pinch lips 🤏
🔸 Not as stable laterally (side to side) ↔️

These risks can be slightly alleviated by using rubber bit guards (covered in a previous post), but note those are not legal for dressage as they obstruct the view of the mouth 🚫

I personally like loose ring bits but find that after consultations I recommend an eggbutt cheek piece more to clients than a loose ring, as stability is a key factor for most💡

If you use a loose ring, it is important to note that the bit will need to be sized up to reduce the risk of pinching. See the second photo for a good example of fit 📏

Note that the shape and type of the mouthpiece is also a big factor in its stability. This is where a bit fitter comes in handy! Reach out for more info or check out my website to book a consultation 💻 🙋🏼‍♀️

07/03/2025

MIKMAR TRAINING BIT

This was another request to cover - it is a specific mouthpiece designed by trainer Frank Evans in the 50s. His intent was to create a bit to suit all horses and riders. Unfortunately that is not possible, but he came up with this design anyway 😝

This mouthpiece, as bulky as it looks, is actually quite lightweight. They come in two varieties, hinged and non-hinged (straight bar). Both have a large flat mouthpiece with a copper roller inlay.

This bit will primarily apply tongue pressure as well as some palate pressure. The degree to which depends on its use.

For the hinged snaffle variety (first photo)…
Pros:
🔹 relatively lightweight
🔹 this variety has an angled mouthpiece which will allow it to sit at a more natural angle, and should reduce palate pressure / risk under contact
Cons:
🔸 hinges are a major pinch risk
🔸 bit will still rotate forward under contact and will take up more space than most horses can accommodate

For the straight bar Pelham or curb variety (second photo)…
Pros:
🔹uncomplicated mouthpiece makes fitting the bit and curb chain straightforward
🔹relatively lightweight and balance point will not change
Cons:
🔸 not anatomically friendly at all. Will squash the tongue at rest.
🔸 bottom edge will scrape against tongue when reins are taken up (bit will rotate)
🔸 loose curb chain will over-rotate and port can injure the palate
🔸 tight curb chain will increase severity of action on the tongue

These also come in a combination bit style, but since I have covered combination bits before I will save my breath on that one!

If your horse goes relatively well in one of these, I’d recommend a more simple mouthpiece that applies the same pressure distribution but will be more anatomically friendly and comfortable for your horse.
While it isn’t a really harsh bit on its own, it easily can be as it carries some risks in its design and mechanics. It is not one that I’d ever recommend. I had to really reach for some of those “pros” above 😅 but trying to keep things more positive!

Have more bit/bridle questions? Reach out for more info or check out my website to book a consultation 💻 🙋🏼‍♀️

06/30/2025

Remember that matching saddle attachments can be ordered with your neck straps! This is a separate listing in my Etsy shop but if you order at the same time I will make sure it all matches 🌈

03/14/2025

LIP STRAP

Ever wonder what that tiny hole on the shank of a Weymouth (curb) or Pelham is for? Or why curb chains have an extra O-ring connected in the middle? This is for the lip strap!

The lip strap is a small leather piece that runs between the small rings on a leverage bit shank between the mouthpiece and the curb rein attachment, and through the little O-ring on a curb chain.

The lip strap serves two key purposes:
1️⃣ Prevents the shanks from rotating forward and upward, which would result in the bit upside-down in the mouth (ouch 😣)
2️⃣ Keeps the curb chain in the curb groove (the part of the lower jaw closest to the chin which is fleshier and the sensitive jaw bones are more protected)

Because a Weymouth or curb bit will sit lower in the mouth than a snaffle (or Pelham), it is not as likely that the curb chain will rise out of the curb groove, but avoiding any scenario where a ported mouthpiece could turn upside down in the mouth is important!
This can happen if you’re leading your horse and they put their head down, or horses can even flip the bit with their tongue 👅

For Pelhams, because they have a longer purchase (part above the mouthpiece where the bridle attaches) and are used with a snaffle and a curb rein, the curb chain is almost guaranteed to creep up the sensitive jaw bones when the bit is engaged. For this reason it is important to use a lip strap to keep the curb secure and comfortable for the horse.

This also helps generally stabilize the bit for curbs and pelhams with jointed mouthpieces and swivel shanks.

All this to say… there are good reasons for it so please use one!

It is unfortunate that they do not come with most bits that need them, and I suspect that is why I do not see them installed very often. But they are only about $20 to buy separately - a small price to pay for your horse’s comfort and welfare if you ask me 😉

03/07/2025

A friendly Friday reminder, brought to you by a custom neck strap 🥰

These can be ordered on my Etsy shop and customizations/ideas are welcome!

Gray Horse Leatherworks

09/11/2025

08/10/2025

08/07/2025

08/02/2025

07/31/2025

07/28/2025

07/25/2025

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06/30/2025

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