Is this bit right for my horse?

Riders often choose this bit for:Green horses with plenty of room in the mouth: our gentlest, most even pressure distribution at 16mmHorses that stay behind the bit or avoid contact: the wide surface makes contact comfortable to acceptBar-sensitive horses, especially on the Baucher cheekpiece which lifts the bit off the barsHorses that chew or grab the bit with their teeth (metal, non-ported)Worth knowing:At 16mm it needs room. If your horse opens its mouth at rest or has limited oral space, choose something slimmerThe eggbutt keeps the bit still. A good match for busy-mouthed horses and those that prefer stability.Every horse is an individual. If you are not sure, take our two minute quiz or write to hello@agadors.com and we will help you decide.

ComfortWave Eggbutt Snaffle

Our ComfortWave mouthpiece features a curve to conform to the shape of the horse's mouth and encourage acceptance of contact. The lozenge features a larger than usual surface area with no sharp edges to distribute pressure evenly on the tongue.

German silver develops a sweet taste when in contact with the horse's saliva and has a slightly softer and warmer feel compared to stainless steel or other metals commonly used for bits. This characteristic can make the bit more comfortable for some horses, as it may feel gentler against their sensitive mouth tissues and improve relaxation.

Eggbutt cheekpieces are often preferred by young horses or those who require more stability in mouth than the loose ring offers.

A simple bit, it often is a good starting piece for a young horse who is beginning their training.

Mouthpiece thickness: 16mm

Start with the mouthpiece width of a bit that fits your horse well. See the full illustrated guide for loose-ring and fixed-cheek fit examples.

How We Measure Our Bits

At Agador's, we measure every bit consistently to ensure you get exactly what your horse needs. Our measurements follow industry standards while accounting for design variations that can affect fit.

Key Measurements:

Mouthpiece width (critical for proper fit)
Thickness at various points
Ring size
Shank Length

Understanding how we measure helps you:

Compare bits accurately across styles
Order the correct size with confidence
Ensure consistent fit when replacing bits
Account for design features that affect sizing

Let's explore how each measurement is taken.

Mouthpiece Length

We measure mouthpiece length from ring to ring for both fixed and loose ring mouthpieces.

Loose-ring bit showing mouthpiece length measured from ring to ring and thickness measured next to the ring.

Mouthpiece Thickness

We measure mouthpiece thickness at the point closest to the cheekpiece using a calliper measuring tool with mm precision.

Ring Size

Loose-ring diameter measured vertically from inside edge to inside edge.

All our measurements for ring sizes are inside to inside.

D-ring diagram marking internal height, internal width and thickness of the straight side.

For D Ring bits we measure both height and width.

Cheekpiece Height

Shank Length is measured as follows:

Shanked cheekpiece diagram marking upper and lower shank lengths, shank leg, upper, middle and lower ring sizes, and the small loop.

We measure Cheekpiece Height: Top To Mouthpiece of our Baucher Bits as follows:

Baucher diagram marking cheek-ring and rein-ring internal diameters and hanging-cheek length above the mouthpiece.

Final Remarks

We strive to provide key measurements for all bits we sell as part of our product descriptions.

If you have any questions or would like to have a specific bit measured please do not hesitate to contact us via email. We generally respond to inquiries within a 24hr window.

Finally, please note that while we make our best effort to have all bits be equally sized and comparable, from time to time there might be slight variations and deviations as every Agador's bit is handmade.

Riders often choose this bit for:

Green horses with plenty of room in the mouth: our gentlest, most even pressure distribution at 16mm
Horses that stay behind the bit or avoid contact: the wide surface makes contact comfortable to accept
Bar-sensitive horses, especially on the Baucher cheekpiece which lifts the bit off the bars
Horses that chew or grab the bit with their teeth (metal, non-ported)

Worth knowing:

At 16mm it needs room. If your horse opens its mouth at rest or has limited oral space, choose something slimmer

The eggbutt keeps the bit still. A good match for busy-mouthed horses and those that prefer stability.

Every horse is an individual. If you are not sure, take our two minute quiz or write to hello@agadors.com and we will help you decide.

Horses that stiffen against a straight mouthpiece, and horses that are sensitive about tongue pressure. The central lozenge has an unusually large surface with no sharp edges, so pressure spreads across the tongue instead of concentrating in one place.

It is the mouthpiece our hunter and jumper riders reach for most.

It might be, and we would rather say so now.

ComfortWave is 16mm in 4.75" and up, and 13mm at 4.5" and below. The average horse has around 16mm of space from tongue to palate, so a wide bit suits a horse with an average to shallow tongue and plenty of room, not a thick or fleshy one.

If your horse has a big tongue or a low palate, look at CalmBlue at 10mm, CalmRide at 10 to 12mm, or ComfortGlide at 12mm instead.

The curve is deliberate and it is doing the work. It is shaped to follow the mouth rather than cut straight across it, which is why it looks unusual next to a straight mouthpiece.

If you are unsure you have it the right way up, send us a photo and we will confirm.

Try the eggbutt or Baucher version before you change mouthpiece. A more stable cheekpiece holds the bit still and often settles it on its own, and that is a cheaper first move than starting again with a different mouthpiece.

A copper, nickel and zinc alloy. There is no actual silver in it.

The copper content gives a mild warm taste that encourages salivation. Unlike sweet iron there is no oxidation process to manage, so it is the lower maintenance choice.

Wipe clean with a damp cloth after use. No oiling and no rust prevention needed. It may develop a slight patina over time, which is normal and does not affect how the bit works.

Bit size is the width of the mouthpiece. We list inches. Some bits are stamped in centimetres, so a bit marked 13.5 is 13.5cm, which is our 5.5".

Measure your horse rather than going by their height. A 17hh horse can have a 5" mouth. If you already have a bit that fits well, measure that instead and match it.

Fixed cheek (eggbutt, Baucher, D-ring, full cheek): about 0.5cm of clearance each side. Loose ring: up to 1/8" between the corner of the lip and the bore hole each side. If you ride in bit guards, or your horse has fleshy lips that catch, order a quarter inch up from your fixed-cheek size.

Too wide slides side to side and can pinch the corners. Too narrow presses on the lips. If your current bit fits with no room at all, stay at that size. If it "just" fits, go up a quarter inch.

Send us a photo of your horse in their current bit and we will tell you what we see.

Can I return it if it does not suit my horse?

Most of our metal bits, yes, within 30 days, for a refund or an exchange, and we do take them back used. That is the point of the 30 days: a bit you have not ridden in tells you nothing.

What happens to it then is that we resell it as a Demo unit, clearly labelled and priced lower, rather than as new. That is also where the demo units on this site come from.

Three things cannot come back: rubber mouthpieces, Final Sale items, and Demo condition bits. Rubber because it cannot be brought back to a saleable state, and the other two because they have already been through this once. All three are marked in the product title and description.

Optional return coverage pays for a prepaid return label on eligible returns. You can still return an eligible item without coverage; buy your return label through our returns portal. Coverage does not change which items can be returned. See the return policy for full terms.

We do not run a trial or loaner program.

How do I know if this is right for my horse?

Ask us. We would rather look at your horse than have you guess.

Useful things to tell us: what they go in now and what is not working, your discipline and whether it needs to be competition legal, the size, and what their mouth looks like inside. Peel the lip back and look at the tongue. Is it fleshy and full, or thin and tucked? Is the palate low? Are the bars sharp to the touch?

A photo of your horse wearing their current bit tells us more than a paragraph.

One thing worth saying up front: the bit is one variable. Saddle fit, dental work, noseband tightness and rider hands cause a lot of what gets blamed on bits. If your horse has changed suddenly, get the teeth and the saddle checked before you change the bit.

Which way up does it go?

Lay the bit flat on a table. The roller or centre link should sit as the highest point. The Agador's lettering and the size should read upright, and the "A" points toward the nostrils.

Our logo placement is not perfectly consistent across the range, because where it lands depends on the bore hole the cheekpiece rings pass through, and some bits work either way up. If it looks odd, send a photo and we will confirm rather than have you guess.

When will my size be back in stock?

A restock is usually 4 to 8 weeks. Canada tends to land first and the US follows about 2 to 3 weeks later, so if you are in the US and it shows in stock for Canada, ask us. We can often ship one across the border, which adds roughly $10 in duties.

Two honest caveats. Some cheekpieces get discontinued and will not return, and we will tell you plainly if yours is one of them. And sizes 6.5" and up are not something we stock regularly, because the orders are too few to justify holding them.

ComfortWave Mouthpiece

The ComfortWave mouthpiece features a curve to conform to the shape of the horse's mouth and encourage acceptance of contact. The lozenge features a larger than usual surface area with no sharp edges to distribute pressure evenly on the tongue. A gentle bit it balances the pressure over the tongue and bars.

Eggbutt Cheekpiece

Eggbutt cheekpiece is a simple cheekpiece without leverage. It provides more stability than loose ring bits, which often makes it a great choice for young horses still learning, more sensitive and reactive horses and riders with less experienced hands.

German Silver

German silver is a copper-rich alloy made of nickel, copper, and zinc that promotes salivation and offers a warm feel in the mouth. It is more resistant to oxidation than sweet iron but still encourages bit acceptance due to its composition. While it does not rust, it may tarnish over time. To maintain it, clean with warm water and mild soap after each use, avoid harsh abrasives to preserve the finish, and polish occasionally to prevent discoloration.

Free for orders $100+ to USA & Canada. Here's how long it will take.

Eligible metal bits can be returned within 30 days, even lightly used. Rubber bits, demo and final sale items are excluded. See return terms.

We’ll guide you - no pressure, no bots, just honest advice.

Read about real horses, real riders and real contact issues our bits have helped solve.