They became the majority of Cortez's Conquistadors, bringing with them their Arabian barb type horses and their Arabian designed bits. It is interesting to note that many of the old Californian type bits used today such as the Santa Barbara still have silver overlaid Islamic religious symbols such as seven buttons, half moons and stars. For the last one hundred years or so most North American bit makers have been using these designs without realizing their historical significance. Today both English and Western bits work by applying pressure. We apply pressure until the horse drops his head, relaxing his jaw and yielding to this pressure.
Different horses respond and accept pressure from different areas.
That is why we have so many different bits. Horses also respond to different pressure points better at different stages in their training. It is up to the person riding or training the horse to find out which particular pressure point or points he will respond to most favourably. Meaning which pressure points he not only responds the lightest from but carries himself in a steady, relaxed manner. My bits are known for their balance.