The Cameron Schoneberg short shank “hot dog bit” is an easy transition bridle from an O-ring snaffle for futurity trainer Ashley Schafer’s 2- and 3-year-old colts.
Shank: Short with Some Reverse Gag
“When the gag is in front of the shank, it gives you a different lateral feel. It kind of feels more like an O-ring, and obviously it’s not like an O-ring, but it gives you more direct contact. It gives you a little disconnect from the shank. When I have the gag on front, and when I pull on the side, I’m getting direct pull on their mouth, disconnected from the shank, whereas if the gag is behind the shank, when I pull, I’m getting everything right there, the whole shank all at once. I’ve always loved the junior cow horse bit, and the junior cow horse is the same way. The bit is connected to that front part and it sticks out farther than the shank itself.”
Mouthpiece: Smooth Three-Piece with “Hot Dog” Center
“I really like this one for my young horses. It’s a smooth three-piece, and the middle piece looks like a hot dog, so it gives them a little tongue relief, but not as much as a ported bridle. It’s also great for horses that are a little funny about their face. It’s not a lot of bridle, and it’s smooth, so it’s not something I’d put on my strongest horses. I really like it on my 2- and 3-year-olds when I’m stepping them up from a snaffle. It just has a good feel.”
Curb: Loose Rope with Rubber Wrap
“I don’t ever do my curbs super tight, just two or three fingers. I have a rope with some rubber on it, but you could do a rope with a chain if you needed a little more.”
