How To Warm Up Bridle Bits

2011 - Volume #35, Issue #1, Page #27

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Putting a frozen bridle bit in a horse's mouth is like putting your tongue on a flagpole in winter. It's uncomfortable to say the least, and may cause lip, tongue or gum injuries.
    Horse owners now have some simple options to protect their animals.
    The electric Bit Blanket wraps around a bit and is secured by a Velcro closure. Plug it in and in the amount of time it takes to groom and saddle a horse (10 to 20 minutes), the bit is warm and comfortable for the horse.
    "It only uses 4 watts of energy like a nightlight," says Jamie Sturgess who developed and sells Bit Blankets from New Hampshire.
    The 6-in. wide heater comes in red, green, blue and black and accommodates all size bits. The polyester blend fabric is stain resistant and waterproof. Bit Blankets sell for $39.95 and have a 60-day money-back guarantee and 1-year warranty on defects.
    Another option is the Bitten Bit Warmer, which has a similar design with the same type of fabric and also fastened by Velcro. It's portable, however, as it heats with heat packs slipped inside the pouch with the bit.
    "Some facilities don't allow boarders to use electricity," says Pat McFarland of the Bitten Store, who worked with a horse owner to develop the bit warmer. McFarland's husband, Martin, was familiar with warmers when he lived in Alaska. Disposable or reusable packs heat the bit up in 10 to 20 minutes. The reusable packs have liquid and a metal disc to click to activate it to create heat. The pack can be boiled between uses to return it to liquid and use again.
    The warmers come with a lanyard and sell for $24.95 with shipping. Reusable heat packs cost $4.95. Bitten Bit Warmers come in six colors (burgundy, blue, green, mocha, black and purple) and have a 90-day money back guarantee and lifetime warranty on defects. Since they are 5 in. wide, they also work on mini horse bits.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Bit Blanket, 16 Peaslee Court, Hampstead, N.H. 03841 (ph 603 329-3044; www.bitblanket.com) or Bitten Bit Warmers, Bitten Store, P.O. Box 18413, Boulder, Colo. 80308 (ph 888 661-9091; www.bittenstore.com).

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How To Warm Up Bridle Bits LIVESTOCK Horses/Mules Putting a frozen bridle bit in a horse s mouth is like putting your tongue on a flagpole in winter It s uncomfortable to say the least and may cause lip tongue or gum injuries Horse owners now have some simple options to protect their animals The electric Bit Blanket wraps around a bit and is secured by a Velcro closure Plug it in and in the amount of time it takes to groom and saddle a horse 10 to 20 minutes the bit is warm and comfortable for the horse It only uses 4 watts of energy like a nightlight says Jamie Sturgess who developed and sells Bit Blankets from New Hampshire The 6-in wide heater comes in red green blue and black and accommodates all size bits The polyester blend fabric is stain resistant and waterproof Bit Blankets sell for $39 95 and have a 60-day money-back guarantee and 1-year warranty on defects Another option is the Bitten Bit Warmer which has a similar design with the same type of fabric and also fastened by Velcro It s portable however as it heats with heat packs slipped inside the pouch with the bit Some facilities don t allow boarders to use electricity says Pat McFarland of the Bitten Store who worked with a horse owner to develop the bit warmer McFarland s husband Martin was familiar with warmers when he lived in Alaska Disposable or reusable packs heat the bit up in 10 to 20 minutes The reusable packs have liquid and a metal disc to click to activate it to create heat The pack can be boiled between uses to return it to liquid and use again The warmers come with a lanyard and sell for $24 95 with shipping Reusable heat packs cost $4 95 Bitten Bit Warmers come in six colors burgundy blue green mocha black and purple and have a 90-day money back guarantee and lifetime warranty on defects Since they are 5 in wide they also work on mini horse bits Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Bit Blanket 16 Peaslee Court Hampstead N H 03841 ph 603 329-3044; www bitblanket com or Bitten Bit Warmers Bitten Store P O Box 18413 Boulder Colo 80308 ph 888 661-9091; www bittenstore com

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