Using the right breakaway bit at the right time can make all the difference—but what to use? And when? And why? Women’s Rodeo Championships Commissioner Linsay Rosser-Sumpter shares some of the bits she uses, whether starting a new horse or fine-tuning an experienced one. Watch the full video here.

Getting started with the D-ring snaffle

“With a new horse, I first like to see how they feel. I was lucky to ride for Bobby Ingersol when I was younger and he gave me this D-ring snaffle. I ride everything in it to get a feel for the horse.”

Staying soft with a spoon bit

“If the horse is pretty light-mouthed, I like to use a broken-mouth spoon bit. Marc Gilkerson built this one. It’s got a nice soft feel and it’s not super aggressive. When it comes to curbs, I like to use leather. I really want my horses to be soft and supple and I don’t like to have to pull to stop or back up. I like to have a lot of feel in my horses, so I start them soft and slow.”

Breakaway bits for competition

“When it comes to bridles to compete in, in every roper’s arsenal should be a Petska chain bit. They feel great on a lot of horses. It does have a chain curb, so there’s a little more bite to it. I like to use this bit on some younger horses”.

“I have another bit I really like to use that has a little gag—a Tristan Mahoney bit. It has a little bit of pull to get a horse’s attention and a lot of left and right.”

Use a mechanical hackamore with caution

“Everybody is going to have a mechanical hackamore, but you have to be careful. They can be pretty aggressive. If you have a pretty broke horse, you can throw one on. But you can really get a horse’s attention with it so you need to be careful.”

This is just a peek at Linsay Rosser-Sumpter’s bit collection. Watch the full video of her favorite breakaway bits on Roping.com.