Ring Bit

This Mexican bit is adorned with lavish pierced decoration featuring lions, lizards, and vegetal scrolls. In addition, small pendants shaped as closed fists, with the thumb placed between the index and the middle finger, are hanging from the curb ring, the slobber bar, and the rein buckles. This gesture is called in Spanish the mano de fica (fig hand). It is an obscene gesture still used in some countries that derives from ancient Mediterranean cultures, including Rome, where it was used in domestic rituals for warding off the evil spirits of the dead. Many amulets in the shape of this fist, for averting the evil eye, have been found in Roman sites. The symbolism and protective use of the mano de fica survived into the modern period, and was introduced to the Spanish colonies in the Americas. Mano de fica pendants can be found on several Mexican equestrian objects from the 18th century and later, such as bits, spurs and anqueras (leather cruppers used for bullfighting).

The ring bit is a strong instrument distinguished by the fact that the curb chain has been replaced by a ring attached at the top of the mouthpiece, going around the horse’s lower jaw. Typical of the Islamic world, ring bits were introduced to Spain during the Arab presence, and were then used by the Spanish for their light cavalry (used in the genette or jineta riding style). The Spanish in turn brought ring bits to the Americas, where they remained in use until the late 19th century.