Old Horse Bridle Bit detected after work tonight

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Found this with the Deus tonight on this farm I live on. The farm goes back to almost 1800. I was using Gary's Ulimate program tonight.
The object detected I dug up is an old horse bridle bit. I wonder if it was used when they had big draft horses to do their farm work before tractors were invented?
Here's an example:
Horse Bridle Bit Example

 

[Charles (Sabre)(Tx)]

Neat find Tony! If only they could truly tell us just how important they were back in the day.

Charles

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Neat find Tony! If only they could truly tell us just how important they were back in the day.

Charles

Yes. I wonder if the farmer looked and looked and just couldn't find that bridle bit and had to buy another.
Or did tractors come out and he figured, "Well, I guess I don't need this anymore," and just chucked it?

 

[pplinker]

Looks very old, wish there was a way to date it.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

It doesn't say "Made in Japan, or China" so that's a good thing. LOL

 

[PryorCreekJoe]

The bit you found is know as a "Hard" Bit. Hard Bits were used for riding horses who were a bit more cantankerous and needed to be controlled more. The center "hump" would dig into the horses mouth somewhat to control him. The easier horse to control the smaller the "hump" on the bit. Work horses typically used a "Soft" bit which was two pieced and hinged in the center.

 

[D&P-OR]

Very interesting Joe, thanks for that information.-------Tony---you won't loose your keys with that baby using it for a key chain holder!------Congrats on that very neat find.--------Del

The bit you found is know as a "Hard" Bit. Hard Bits were used for riding horses who were a bit more cantankerous and needed to be controlled more. The center "hump" would dig into the horses mouth somewhat to control him. The easier horse to control the smaller the "hump" on the bit. Work horses typically used a "Soft" bit which was two pieced and hinged in the center.

 

[Tony N (Michigan)]

Very interesting Joe, thanks for that information.-------Tony---you won't loose your keys with that baby using it for a key chain holder!------Congrats on that very neat find.--------Del

The bit you found is know as a "Hard" Bit. Hard Bits were used for riding horses who were a bit more cantankerous and needed to be controlled more. The center "hump" would dig into the horses mouth somewhat to control him. The easier horse to control the smaller the "hump" on the bit. Work horses typically used a "Soft" bit which was two pieced and hinged in the center.

Or I could clean it up and attach a silver chain to each side and hang it around my neck. It's be a great conversation starter with the ladies. LOL.