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A NOTE FROM THE TOM BALDING BITS & SPURS FAMILY Being part of the Tom Balding Bits & Spurs team is being part of a family. You feel loved and valued from the moment you walk in the door and are greeted with smiles, to the moment you are sent off for the day with well wishes for a good evening. Personal hardships are surrounded with support and personal accomplishments are celebrated. Each member of the team shares Tom's passion for the outdoors, family, community, and personal growth. The office and shop are not open over holidays or weekends, but instead the time is encouraged towards exploring the world, growing personal hobbies, and being with family and friends. We invite you to learn more about each team member on our 'meet the staff' page. As a customer you are highly valued and always treated with the utmost kindness, respect, and quality craftsmanship. Without you each of us would not be able to be a part of the Tom Balding Bits & Spurs family. We are all very grateful for the continued support as we look ahead to 2016! From our families to yours, we genuinely wish you a Holiday season filled with...

What we're made of Understanding the materials used in your horse's bits   When we put something in our mouth it has a distinctive flavor and creates a reaction in us. We might spit it out, find it somewhat bland, or savor the flavor as long as possible. Your horse's mouth also reacts to a mouthpiece's different materials. Below is a quick and dirty list of materials used in bit mouthpieces and how they effect your horse. Please keep in mind that these are statements based on the majority and do not always apply to all horses. Just like you have (or are) that strange friend who likes to eat a lemon like an apple.... your horse could have unique tastes. Our mouthpieces are made of sweet iron and copper, as these two materials are easily accepted by most horses.  Sweet Iron: Sweet iron is a mild steel that tends to rust over time. Rust on a mouthpiece is a good thing as it tends to increase a horse's salivation; much a like a piece of candy would in your mouth.   Copper: Copper offers a sweet taste that horses enjoy. It is better at increasing salivation than sweet iron; allowing an ease in acceptance. Copper is often formed into...

Not in a pinch... What it means when "non pinching" mouthpieces and bits are termed We have all heard it...."this bit is non pinching", "this is a pinch proof design", "pinchless designs are the only way to go", etc. What exactly are they saying? Lets look at this from a different angle. What is a pinching bit? A pinching bit is one that allows a horse's lip or cheek to get between moving parts, creating a "pinch". This can be very painful and cause negative behaviors in the horse.... can you blame the horse? A non pinching, pinch proof, or pinchless design would be one that does not allow for the space to get a lip or cheek in. To accomplish this a maker will need well thought out designs and precision execution of the builds. Quality material and craftsmanship should not wallow out, eliminating wear and spacing issues. Can anyone claim to have created a 100% pinch proof bit with moving parts? No. Our designs are non pinching; however, hinging parts that are used incorrectly can fold in on themselves enough to cause discomfort. Think of a hinged door; it is possible to pinch your finger in between the door and...

2015 customer survey results What did you have to say about Tom Balding Bits & Spurs? We have summarized your responses in a per questions style. Also, all questions or directional responses have been answered. We cannot thank each of you enough for participating in this live feedback! Your comments and suggestions are being worked into our daily operations as you are reading this.   Q: Please rank our four core values in importance to you. A: #1 Attention to craftsmanship, design, and materials. #2 Quality and pride in everything we do. #3 Care and respect for one another and the community. #4 Elite product that sets the standard in our industry.   Q: Do you agree with this statement? "We craft state of the art bit and spur designs backed by industry leading technology and innovation for riders seeking a balanced product that offers ease of use, quick response, better movement, and longer product life. We work directly with world class professional riders and trainers to ensure all your needs are met. We are the best, and thought often copied we are never duplicated." A: 97.91% agreed with this statement and 2.09% did not.   Q: How many times...