Horse Tack Review

Mikmar Bit Co.

The founder of the Mikmar Bit Company, Frank Evans, had been around horses all his life. He grew up on an 800-acre farm in Kansas which had between 100 and 300 head of horses and mules. TrophyFrank EvansHis family moved to California in 1924. In 1943, he opened the Buckeye Ranch in El Cajon, California and professionally trained horses for well over 50 years. He was awarded the highly prestigious Judges Emeritus Award by unanimous vote from the American Horse Show Association. He was also a senior judge, and at one time held 12 judging cards including Arabian, Morgan, Quarter Horse, and Western. In 1971, he was one of 22 people selected by the International Arabian Association to draw up the judging rules for Arabian shows. Frank EvansTrophyIn his career he had numerous National Arabian trail horse champions and an Appaloosa (pictured at left) who was World Trail Horse, English Pleasure and Western Pleasure champion. Like many great ideas, this one came in a flash of inspiration. Frank was all too aware of the problems that can happen in a horse's mouth at the hands of an inexperienced rider. He knew about bits - that the snaffle bit put pressure on the bar or tongue. The hackamore put pressure on the nose and jaw, and the leverage bit put pressure on the bar or tongue and the jaw. Frank kept thinking he needed something to soften the impact on the mouth, which inspired him to add a soft rope over the nose to actuate the bit, but soften the jolt. Old Ad Frank made history that day. The word spread fast and soon the Mikmar bit was in use in amateur and professional training circles, helping to train world and national champions. Frank went on to build a worldwide reputation as a trainer of champions, and a leader in competition circles. But it was his Mikmar bit that revolutionized training, and fulfilled the Frank Evans goal - to protect the horse while training the rider.

Number of products made by this manufacturer: 12