Badminton House in Gloucestershire, England is the home of the 12th Duke of Beaufort and the world-famous Badminton Horse Trials. First held in 1949 by the 10th Duke of Beaufort, as a way of letting British riders prepare for international events, it is now in the countdown for its 74th running.
Considered to be one of the most important equestrian events in Britain, the atmosphere around it crackles with anticipation and excitement. With its three phases consisting of dressage, cross-country and show jumping, crowds of up to a quarter of a million fill the park to witness the bold horses and rider tackle famous obstacles such as The Quarry, Footbridge, Vicarage Vee and of course, The Lake!

The Badminton Horse Trials event is governed by the British Equestrian Federation (BEF), and its competitors must follow the rules and regulations set out by the BEF. These cover all the aspects concerning the competition, including saddlery (tack) and lorinery (horse bits, stirrups and spurs).

Abbey England is proud to be one of the leading lorinery and saddlery supply companies in the UK, as well as Royal Warrant holders. The company manufactures not only finished items, such as horse bits, stirrups and spurs, but also all of the leather, buckles, clips and additional articles required by master saddlers to produce the many items of tack used by horse and rider.

With the focus on Badminton Horse Trials 2023, here are a selection of the items that Abbey England manufactures for use through the three phases of this prestigious competition, during the 4 – 8 May 2023.

DRESSAGE

Snaffle bits such as:
HV012 AB Full Lozenge Hanging Cheek by Abbey England (below)





Useful for – this bit is useful for horses that are less comfortable in a single jointed bit and those who prefer the mouthpiece to be supported off the tongue. Also, with horses with a lower palate and those who benefit from stability of the mouthpiece and support from the cheek.
 
The cheeks – being a Snaffle bit these have no rein attachment below the mouthpiece and therefore, no lever or action upon the poll. The attachment of the bridle to the top ring, and the static positioning of the mouthpiece, enables it to be ‘held up’ off of the tongue, preventing it dropping down onto the tongue as other bits would do. Many tongue sensitive horses prefer this. The tall, upper side sections help in keeping the bit central in the mouth and assist with directional guidance.

The mouthpiece – shown here with a rounded lozenge for greater comfort. It also has branches that are curved forward, to fit the horse’s mouth anatomically. This is helpful in encouraging the horse to relax and move forward into the contact. When an even rein contact is taken up, this mouthpiece will wrap around the tongue, lips and bars to form a consistent contact across the mouth.

Available from 115mm (4.5”) to 160mm (6.25mm) in a 12mm thick mouthpiece



HV001 – AB Eggbutt Full Lozenge (below) 
 






Useful for – this simple, smooth lozenge eggbut Snaffle is a ‘go to’ bit for horses that are happy in the contact, but who work better in a double jointed bit and stable cheeks, such as the eggbut.

The cheeks – the eggbutt cheeks provide a smooth contact with the horse’s lips and are therefore much less likely to pinch them. The weight privided by the ends can assist with a more defined action, as the contact is taken up.
 
The mouthpiece – the smoothly fininshed lozenge encourages the horse to move forward into the contact, by encouraging the horse to bring its tongue forward. It avoides the pinching action of a single joined mouthpiece and enables the bit to wrap around the tongue, bars and lips  more emphatically. Care should be taken to select a lozenge that is the appropriate length for your horse’s mouth, seek expert advice if you are unsure. Here again the branches of the bit are curved to allow for the mouthpiece to sit smoothly across the mouth.

Available from 115mm (4.5”) to 150mm (6”) in a 12mm thick mouthpiece

CROSS COUNTRY

Bits such as:
B36G-3 Abbey Waterford Balding Running Gag (below)  








Useful for – bold horses, when in fast work, who tend to lean or go with their head down below the line of control from the rider’s hand to the bit. With its strong lifting action, a Running Gag can be effective. It is not recommended for use in everyday riding, but it can be a useful bit when additional control is needed. For use by skilled, educated riders only.
 
The cheeks – these have a hole at the top and bottom, through which a specially adapted bridle cheek piece runs. Connected to the bridle’s headpiece at the top and the reins at the bottom, it is easy to see how this bit has a strong action, causing it to ‘run’ upward upon the bridle’s cheek pieces.
This provides a strong upwards action that overrules the downward pressure across the bridle’s headpiece. Best used with two sets of reins, one set attached to the lower rings and the other to the large side rings, as a Snaffle bit would be. This provides a choice of action, so that the lower rein is only applied when necessary.

The mouthpiece – running gags can be made with a wide range of mouthpieces and Abbey England prides itself on being able to cater for individual requirements and request. The Running Gag shown here has a Waterford mouthpiece. With it multi-joints, it is helpful for horses that are prone to lean on the rider’s hands, or take hold of the bit and pull.  As the Waterford can fold around the horse’s mouth and jaw, its use should be restricted to skilled riders who have an independent seat and rewarding hands.

Abbey Arch Serrated Mouth American Gag, Lever Bits  (below) 









Useful for – these bits originate from the American Tennessee walking horses, who are encouraged to hold their head back, inwards and then down. Used in eventing for horses when in fast work, who of need to bring their head carriage downwards, but may not go well with a bit with curb chain fitted.
 
The cheeks – the very long shanks of this bit’s cheeks extend both above and below the bit. With the lower rein attachment so far below the mouthpiece, a strong lever action is created, with the mouthpiece as the fulcrum, as the rein contact is taken up. This initially brings the mouthpiece upward upon its sliding section of metal check, but then at the point at which this stops, it then applies a strong downwards action as the upper section moves forwards placing additional pressure across the bridle’s headpiece and downwards across the mouth. Two reins can be used, and this provides a milder Snaffle action when the stronger leverage one is not required. As the lower rein contact (the cheek’s bottom rings) is taken up, the mouthpiece is rotated forward in the mouth, and downward onto the tongue.

The long cheeks above and below the bit can aid with directional guidance and help keep the mouthpiece central. Care needs to be taken to ensure that the horse’s lips do not get pinched, as the lever action is brought into play. Bit Guards can help to prevent pinching, but importantly, remember to allow for a large size of mouthpiece to accommodate them, if they are being used.
 
The mouthpiece – shown here with an arched mouth, that is sometimes also referred to as a Mors I’Hotte (bite the hood). The American ‘Gag’ Leaver Bit can be made with a wide range of mouthpieces. Abbey England prides itself on being able to cater for individual requirements and request.

The arched mouth allows additional room for the tongue, and consequently brings it closer to the horse’s bars. The example shown here, has a grooved section, which will create a more defined – and therefore more acute – action upon the mouth. Again, this is a bit that should only be used by skilled and empathetic riders.

Available from 115mm (4.5”) to 160mm (6.25”) in a 12mm thick mouthpiece

SHOW JUMPING  

Bits such as:
Three Ring Jointed Bit (pictured below) 



Useful for – providing extra control of head and neck positions. It can be helpful for forward going horses, who do not go well with a curb chain. Somewhat of a ‘Marmite’ bit, as some riders love it, while other loath it.

The cheeks – shown here with three rings but often supplied with four. The lower the rein contact is, the stronger the lever action will be, as described above with the American ‘Gag’. Two reins can be used to provide a Snaffle action, as well as a Lever one, but never use Pelham roundings as they will not function correctly with the bit’s loose side rings. Sometimes a leather jaw strap will be attached to the top rings, passing behind the jaw. This will adjust the bit’s action.

N.B. Great care must be taken to prevent pinching of the lips, as the mouthpiece rotates around the rings with rein contact. Look for well-finished designs that have the two bore access holes shaped in such a way as to help prevent catching the lips. Also make use of Bit Guards, but remember to allow for a wider sized mouthpiece to accommodate this.

The mouthpiece – shown here as a single jointed mouthpiece, this will act with a squeezing action upon the horse’s lips, tongue and bares.

Available in a wide range of width sizes and mouthpiece dimensions.


Abbey French Link Cartwheel/Swivel Bit (pictured below) 








Useful for – show jumping, where it provides a choice of rein attachment points to provide a several fitting options.

The cheeks – these provide for a choice of different rein attachment position. This enables the bit to be used as a Snaffle, with a direct line of contact from the bit through to the reins, to the rider’s hand. Or, a Lever bit, where the rein is attached below the mouthpiece, creating a leverage action with the mouthpiece as the fulcrum. The round check pieces, which lay flat against the horse’s face, also provide additional directional action, helping to keep the mouthpiece central within the mouth. This can also assist with emphasises to the turning aid, giving more shoulder control and overall help with straightness. This is helpful when jumping a horse in a tight arena, and so popular with show jumpers.

The mouthpiece – shown here with a French Link, this removes the single nutcracker action of the single jointed. The use of a lozenge joint is a more popular choice today because of it laying upon the horse’s tongue and not digging downwards, as the bit’s contact it taken up and the mouthpiece is brought forwards and up.


Getting a Good Grip – Reins
Abbey England produces the famous EQUUS rubber tack accessories range. Included in these are the rubber grips for reins.

EQUUS rubber grip reins by Abbey England 

Supplied to saddlers for the production of rubber grip reins, these EQUUS grips with their bonded nylon web core covered in rubber, are of excellent quality and strength, providing the rider grip without bulk. Just the thing for seeing the competitors though the Badminton Lake.







Whether you are supplying a competitor, competing or spectating at Badminton Horse Trials 2023, all at Abbey England wish you an enjoyable and successful event.

Royal Warrant holder, Abbey England is one of Britain’s leading loriners suppling horse bits and other equestrian equipment.

Visit the website to see the full range of bits available from Abbey England or click HERE to become a retailer.