Bridle Bits

Bridle bits are designed for the more finished and experienced horses. They can come with solid rein rings for split reins or swivel connectors with rein chains, reins & romal. They might have a slobber bar connecting across the bottom of the bit or they might have slobber chains instead. They can be solid jawed or loose jawed. You'll find just about any style featured here.

As usual, all Gene's bits are plain steel with sweet iron mouthpieces and all feature his fine hand engraved sterling silver as pictured.
Available silver finishes are bright or antiqued. Steel finishes can be either gun blued or matte grey. With use, the matte grey finish will develop a natural brown rust much sooner than the blued steel.

* Photos of the bridle bits on this page are meant to show their general pattern. Many of them are pictured with custom options that are not reflected in the base price. A note has been made in each case.

Loose jawed mouthpieces connect to the bridle bits' cheeks in different ways and give varying degrees of play between mouthpiece and cheek. Gene offers a couple types of loose jawed joints in his bridle bits:

Square Clevis

Square clevis joints have a limited amount of looseness built into them and do not allow the cheeks to swivel around fully. Most riders feel this limited play gives a more refined connection between horse and rider allowing for the subtle signals a well trained horse needs to feel. All of Gene's loose jawed bridle bits can be had with square clevis joints.

Ball Swivel

Ball swivel joints made from stainless steel with stainless hinge pins allow full range of movement. Aside from giving a nice contemporary look to your outfit the stainless steel contruction eliminates rust and greatly prolongs the life of the bit.

Solid Jawed

Solid jawed bridle bits, just as the name implies, have no movement at the junction of the mouthpiece and the cheek. Easier to build and costing a bit less, this type of bit design has been a good ol' standby of many horsemen for many years.

Patterns on this page are shown with their base price which includes a standard ported mouth and no options.
Mouthpieces and options are shown at the bottom of this page.

California $1,150
LSC1/SSC1
Nice California style
bridle bit with 2" concha.
7" long.
Comes with slobber bar or chains.
* Narrow striping option pictured
Available in solid or loose jaw

San Angelo $1,150
LSC2/SSC2
Nicely proportioned
bridle bit with 2-1/4" concha.
6-3/4" long.
Comes with slobber bar or chains.
* Full overlay option pictured
Available in solid or loose jaw

Las Cruces $1,150
LSC3/SSC3
Uniquely designed Las Cruces style bridle bit. 2-1/2" long oval concha.
7" long.
Comes with slobber bar or chains.
* Narrow striping option pictured
Available in solid or loose jaw

Las Conchas $1,200
LSC4/SSC4
Make a bold statement with this
3" concha bridle bit.
6" long.
Comes with slobber bar or chains.

Available in solid or loose jaw

Cimarron $950
LSR5
Nice lightweight loose jawed
bridle bit similar to the Gutierrez
but made for split reins.
7" long.

Available in loose jaw only

Nevada $1,050
LSC13
Classic lines on this lightweight bridle bit made popular in the
Great Basin country.
7-1/4" long.
Comes with slobber bar or chains.
* Full overlay option pictured
Available in loose jaw only

Gutierrez $1,050
LSC7
Similar to the 'Nevada',
this lightweight
California style bridle bit.
6-1/2" long.
Comes with slobber bar or chains.
* Full overlay option pictured
Available in loose jaw only

Sevens $1,050
LSC11
Popular lightweight
Sevens pattern bridle bit
7" long.

French grey steel finish pictured.

Available in loose jaw only

Owyhee $1,150
LSC6
Open cut cheek puts an added flair on this unique bridle bit.
7-1/4" long.
Comes with slobber chains only.

Available in loose jaw only

Fresno $1,250
LSC8
Classic Fresno pattern bridle bit. Loose jawed mouthpiece
7-1/2" long.
Comes with slobber bar or chains.

Available in loose jaw only

Aztec $1,000
LSR6
This bridle bit was the result of bringing the basic design of the Owyhee to a split rein bridle bit.
7" long.
Antiqued silver w/
French grey steel finish &
SS ball swivel joint pictured
Available in loose jaw only

Santa Fe $1,050
LSR7
Traditional Santa Barbara style spade bits were the inspiration for this bit. Designed for split reins with a 2-1/4" oval concha.
Apologies to the purists.
7" long.

Available in loose jaw only

Santa Rosa $1,050
LSR8
Another 'split rein Santa Barbara' similar to the Santa Fe but designed with a deeper 2-1/2" concha.
7" long.
Antiqued silver w/
French grey steel finish pictured.

Available in loose jaw only

Sweetwater $1,050
LSR4/SSR4
Nicely proportioned bridle bit with
2-1/4" conchas. Similar to the San Angelo but made for split reins.
6" long.

* Full overlay option pictured
Available in solid or loose jaw

#1 Santa Barbara $1,300
LSB1
Traditional Santa Barbara style. Spade or ported mouth the balance and feel is hard to beat.
7" long.
Comes with slobber bar or chains.
* Wide striping option pictured
Available in loose jaw only

#2 Santa Barbara $1,300
LSB2
Another classic Santa Barbara
style bridle bit.
7-1/2" long.

Comes with slobber bar or chains.
* Full overlay option pictured
Available in loose jaw only

#3 Santa Barbara $1,300
LSB3
A little shorter version of the
Santa Barbara style.
6-3/4" long.

Comes with slobber bar or chains.
* Multiple options pictured
Available in loose jaw only

#4 Santa Barbara $1,300
LSB4
Oval and crescent variation of the Santa Barbara. Oval concha and bridle rings with crescent silver.
7" long.
Comes with slobber bar or chains.
* Multiple options pictured
Available in loose jaw only

#5 Santa Barbara $1,300
LSB5
Another variation of a traditional Santa Barbara.
7-3/4" long.

Comes with slobber bar or chains.
* Multiple options pictured
Available in loose jaw only

* Above pricing reflects mouthpieces #1 thru #5 only and no options. Mouthpieces #6 thru #13 have additional charges. Options such as rollers, hooded ports, rein chains, etc. will also have additional charges (below).
Call for pricing on silver inlay and any other options not listed.
Please make note of any preferences when you call or on your order form and we will price them separately.

Bridle Bit Options

Swinging Rein Rings

Mouthpieces (shown below)

Standard Ported Mouthpieces (No extra charge)
#1 thru #5 -
   Cricket -   $50
Copper Hood - $50

Specialty Mouthpieces
#6 Correction Mouth   $125
   #7 Half Breed w/ cricket only -   $125
     #8 Salinas complete w/ cricket & hood -     $125
#9 San Joaquin complete w/ cricket & hood - $150
#10 Baby Spoon (w/o braces)          $150

Traditional Spade Mouthpieces
#10 thru #13 Spades complete w/ cricket &
copper wire wrapped or beaded braces -   $225

Where available:

Solid jawed option -   less $50

Substitute swinging rein rings in place
of slobber bar or slobber chains - less $50

Rein Chains

Folded Link Rein Chains - $75

Wrapped Link Rein Chains - $100

Misc Options
Narrow Striping - add $50 - $100
Wide Striping - add $100 - $175
Full Silver Overlay - add $75
Silver Inlay - Price on Request

No Cost Options
You have several options to choose from at no cost to you:
  Width of mouthpiece
   Square clevis or stainless steel ball swivel joints
   Blued steel, french gray, or matte finished plain steel
   Bright or antiqued silver

Standard Ported Mouthpieces