The Peter Pletcher Bit — hand-forged copper-alloy D-ring snaffle

The Peter Pletcher Bit fitted on the horse — lighter front end, rate & balance, soft acceptance and quiet control

The Peter Pletcher Bit — copper mouthpiece, D-ring stability and double-jointed custom fit

The Peter
Pletcher Bit

★★★★★ 4.9 / 5

Hand-forged copper alloy · Double-jointed D-ring snaffle

$299 $349 Founding-release price · ships in 6–8 weeks 14% off

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A double-jointed copper-alloy mouthpiece on fixed D-ring cheeks. Warm in the hand, soft in the mouth, and shaped entirely by hand. Made for the horse that leans heavy and won't carry himself: it softens the jaw and brings back the lightness, ride after ride. The founding release is fifty numbered pieces, each fitted before it's made.

One of only fifty in the founding release — hand-forged to order and shipped in 6–8 weeks. Fully refundable until your piece enters the forge.

Arrives in the quilted Calloway & Hale "First Forge" bit case, with a microfibre polishing cloth.

Forged for the ride. Kept for life.

For the horse that leans heavy and won't carry himself. The bit that brings the lightness back.

Some horses want to lean on the hand and never quite carry themselves. The warm copper teardrop softens the jaw and invites the horse to mouth and accept the contact rather than brace against it — and within a few rides he comes lighter and rounder, balanced and carrying himself again. That's the change you feel early, and the trust you keep for years.

How it rides

Quiet control, and a lighter front end.

The Peter Pletcher dee is the hunter ring's quiet favourite for a reason: it asks softly, rates honestly, and never deadens the contact.

Rate & balance

The teardrop double-joint spreads pressure across the tongue and bars, so a light feel rates and rebalances the horse — without the bite of a single-joint nutcracker.

A light, lifted front

Steadied by fixed D-ring cheeks, the bit encourages the horse to carry himself up and in front of the leg — the soft, balanced frame the hunter ring rewards.

Soft acceptance

Warm copper invites the horse to mouth and salivate, so he stays relaxed through the jaw and soft to the hand, stride after stride.

The difference is in the detail

Copper Alloy

Not plated. A warm, soft copper alloy that horses mouth and salivate to — the foundation of acceptance.

Teardrop Link

The signature curve. Spreads pressure across the tongue and bars instead of pinching at a single point.

Dee Cheek

Flat-sided rings that won't pinch the corners, holding the bit steady and adding gentle, clear lateral guidance.

Stainless Centre Link

A single loose stainless link joins the two copper bars — the double-jointed action spreads pressure evenly across the tongue, with none of the nutcracker bite of a single joint.

Hand Finish

Every edge drawfiled and burnished by hand so nothing rubs at the corner of the lip.

Balanced Weight

Heavy enough to sit still and quiet in the mouth, light enough to never deaden the contact.

Ring Gauge

Generous rings sized to lie flat against the cheek and protect the lips from pinch.

Release Mark

Each bit stamped C&H with its number in the founding fifty. Yours, and only yours.

From the
forge.

A small house, a short first release, and an object made the slow way. Here is exactly what you are buying.

Mouthpiece: copper-alloy bars on a loose stainless centre link
Cheeks: stainless steel D-ring
Finish: hand-drawfiled and burnished
Sizing: fitted to your horse before forging
In the box: the bit, the quilted "First Forge" bit case, and a microfibre polishing cloth

Each bit is forged, jointed, and finished by hand in small batches — the copper mouthpiece and stainless steel cheeks worked, the joint set and rounded, then every edge drawfiled and burnished so there is no seam or sharp corner against the lip. There is no production line — the founding release is fifty pieces, numbered in the order they are made.

Copper develops a living patina as it's used — this is normal and part of why horses accept it. Rinse and dry after each ride, and bring the shine back with the included microfibre cloth — though many riders leave the patina. Store it in its quilted "First Forge" case between rides. The stainless rings are maintenance-free, and a copper bit outlasts the rider.

Measure your horse's current bit from inside ring to inside ring, or the mouth width with a bitting wand. Most warmbloods sit at 5"–5¼"; ponies and finer horses 4¾". Unsure? Join the waitlist and we'll fit you personally before your release piece is made.

How the reservation works

From order to delivery.

1
Reserve
Claim one of the founding fifty — $299, fully refundable until it enters the forge.
2
Fit
Pick your size, or choose "fit me" and we'll size it to your horse personally.
3
Forge
Your bit is hand-forged in copper alloy and stamped with its number in the fifty.
4
Deliver
Your numbered bit ships 6–8 weeks from order — in its quilted "First Forge" case with a polishing cloth.

The Peter Pletcher Bit