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Sprenger is a world leader in bit design and production. The German company has been making bits since 1872 and over the years has retained its commitment to ongoing product development while maintaining its standards to provide the very best in quality. It’s this quality that makes the company’s products firm favourites with leading riders including Charlotte Dujardin, Carl Hester, Laura Tomlinson and Michael Eilberg.
Sprenger offers a wide range of bits, easily recognised by the black ring at the cheeks and the white gold colour mouthpieces. Using a special material called Sensogan for the mouthpieces, which is less likely to tarnish, helps create a smooth and regulated process of oxidation. This enhances salivation over an extended period of time to give an even more delicate and sophisticated connection to the horse, thanks to the unique combination of copper, manganese (used to prevent muscle tension and support stress reduction) and zinc.
Lindsay Middleton, Sprenger’s UK bitting expert, offers some advice on dressage legal bits.
KK ULTRA. This is the ideal starter bit and should be in everyone’s tack room. Its sympathetic shape and unique middle link (which is angled forward by 45°) means that it gives a sensitive connection between the rider and the horse. I suggest that people try this bit before any others as it suits so many horses.
Dynamic RS bits. These use the same design of the KK, but a slightly different curve means that the rider gives a more direct action. Therefore, it’s suitable for horses that perhaps need something a little stronger than the KK.
Novocontact. The newest bit from Sprenger, it has a unique oval shape design which widens the contact area of the mouthpiece on the horse’s tongue, without putting pressure on the palate. I recommend the single jointed novocontact bits (like the one pictured below) for horses that do not take the contact confidently. They are also great for horses with sensitive mouths – as the rider is able to give precise but soft aids. The double jointed novocontact bits are good to use on horses that occasionally tend to pull against the hand, but are too sensitive to be ridden with stronger bits.
Duo. These are very gentle on the horse’s mouth and so good to use on young horses or those that back off from a bit. With a mouthpiece made in soft flexible plastic (food-safe and solvent free) it adapts to the horse’s mouth in an ideal way. The shape of the bit also allows more room for the tongue while encouraging chewing. The mouthpiece is reinforced with a steel cable to make it stable and to provide more security.
WH ULTRA. These double jointed bits were originally designed for stallions as the unique roller action helps keep a horse’s attention. They are great for horses who perhaps feel a bit numb to the bit, or who are a bit dry in the mouth as the roller aids salivation.
Not just bits
Alongside bits, Sprenger also manufactures a range of other high quality accessories including spurs and stirrups.
Sprenger spurs are designed and created for optimal comfort – giving a gentle but precise communication between horse and rider. More than 100 different models, in a range of materials, offer a wide range to suit individual requirements.
One of the most popular of these models, and as used by Charlotte Dujardin, are the Ultra fit Extra Grip Spurs. Developed with Klaus Balkenhol, these stainless steel spurs are covered in rubber to give a better fit and attractive look. The unique fit and design eliminates pressure and movement, providing correct spur performance while protecting the boot leather.
Sprenger’s stirrups are subjected to the highest quality standards, which involves a series of rigorous safety checks. The brand’s Bow Balance stirrups use the internationally approved System 4 technology – the four direction flexibility reduces the impact on a rider’s cartilage and ligaments without creating an unstable feeling – the stirrups support the release of the foot in case of emergency.
The Bow Balance design allows easy ‘pick up’ when mounting; a simple touch of the foot to the stirrup and it gently folds onto the rider’s foot and the widened tread made using two types of rubber provides a shock absorbing grip.
For more information visit www.zebraproducts.co.uk/Brands/sprenger
