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