The Shires Slotted Cheek Port Mouth Kimblewick (also commonly known as a Uxeter Kimblewick) is a classical single-rein leverage bit engineered for strong horses and ponies that require precise braking power but dislike the continuous pressure of a jointed mouthpiece. It pairs traditional D-shaped Kimblewick cheeks featuring discrete, built-in rein slots with an unjointed, ported metal bar and an accompanying double-link stainless steel curb chain. This configuration allows riders to easily fine-tune the exact amount of mechanical leverage and poll pressure they need, making it a highly popular choice for children riding strong ponies or for adults during fast work like hacking, hunting, and jumping.
Key Specifications:
- Mouthpiece Design and Material: Solid, unjointed bar with a low, supportive tongue port in high-grade, high-polish solid stainless steel (tasteless, rust-resistant, and highly durable).
- Mouthpiece Thickness: 16mm (offering a balanced, stable surface area across the bars).
- Cheekpiece Style: Slotted D-ring Uxeter Kimblewick shanks with integrated top bridle loops and two internal rein slots.
How it Works:
- Tongue Relief Port: The defining feature of the ported mouth is its central arch. This arch spans cleanly over the middle of the horse's tongue, relieving direct pinching or clamping pressure on horses with sensitive or thick tongues. Instead, the bit evenly transfers the rider's initial hand aids onto the wider, less sensitive bars of the lower jaw.
- No Nutcracker Effect: Because the mouthpiece is completely unjointed, it cannot collapse or fold upward in a "V" shape. This keeps the bit flat and stable, entirely preventing painful pinching of the lips, bars, or the roof of the horse's mouth.
- Adjustable Single-Rein Control: The "Slotted Cheek" (Uxeter) design allows the rider to choose between two different levels of mechanical leverage using just one pair of reins:
The Lower Slot (Maximum Leverage): Buckling the reins into the bottom slot creates a longer lever arm. When tension is applied, it promptly pulls the bit forward, creating downward poll pressure to lower the head while drawing the curb chain tight against the chin groove for immediate braking power on strong horses.
The Upper Slot (Minimum Leverage): Placing the reins in the top slot diminishes the lever arm, delivering a milder blend of poll pressure and mouth contact that functions similarly to a stable hanging-cheek or D-ring snaffle for everyday work.
This bit is not legal for British Dressage (BD) or FEI Competitions but is widely permissible for Showjumping and Cross Country phases.