As the colt progresses, the rider places greater emphasis on the use of his legs and weight, and applies the reins less. He is ridden in the hackamore for a year before putting him in the bit. The particular bit that is used is usually the spade bit. The spade bit has been called a severe and cruel bit, but it is only so when used improperly. Properly used, by a skilled horseman, on a horse whose mouth has been prepared, it is an excellent bit.
Many bits consist of a straight bar, or a bar with some sort of port in the middle of it.
The bar rests on the bars of the horse's mouth, the space on the gums where there are no teeth. The spade bit has a bar, and behind it is a mouthpiece that rests on the tongue. When used on an undisciplined horse by an undisciplined rider, this can cause great pain to the horse, to his tongue, the bars, and to the roof of his mouth. But the spade was not designed to be used so rudely. This horse has been taught to respond so well to the rider's legs and weight that very little use of the reins is necessary.