The Snaffle Bit. Simple but effective.

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May 14 2010

Published by Russell under Horse tack and equipment

A guide to selecting the right bit for your horse.

Horse bits are a very important ingredient in the success of the horse and rider’s relationship . Literally dozens if not hundreds of different types of horse bit can be purchased so understanding how they work and how they can address your problems is critical to your relationship with your horse .

The various horse bit types are broken down into different categories based on the features they have and how they control the horse. Within such categories are sub-categories with bits having different variations on particular features plus additional attributes that enhance its basic features .

What are the categories?

At the top level of the horse bits categories sits Snaffles and Curb bits. The term Snaffle covers quite a broad category of horse bits. However they all exhibit a single common principle in that they allow control of the horse via direct force from the rider by the pulling of one or both reigns.

Physically a snaffle bit comprises a straight bar or mouthpiece with rings connected with different degrees of freedom to move at each end. The bit sits in the horse’s mouth resting on the gums not the teeth, in the space behind the front incisors and the molars behind, sometimes referred to as the “bars”.

These two main features of the Snaffle are key to the way the bit behaves . The mouthpiece can be in one solid piece or it may be “broken” or jointed in the middle . Solid mouthpieces often come made in moulded rubber or vulcanite which is softer on the horse’s mouth and often used for young horses whilst they are being trained to respond to the bit . The jointed bit is created so that the mouthpiece breaks in the middle when the rider pulls the reins inducing a “nutcracker” effect on the horses tongue which provides the control. The joint can be a single break or it can be two breaks resulting in the mouthpiece forming a “U” shaped instead of a “V” shape. This gives the horse’s tongue more room and can also be kinder on the roof of the mouth.

The severity of the action of the mouthpiece may be increased by changing the mouth piece from being a smooth material such as stainless steel to using twisted pieces. The effect on the horse can be signficant and as a responsible owner think first of your horse’s welfare and if in doubt ask for advice and don’t rush into a decision that you may regret .

Remember, there is a balance between being too soft on the horse and not firm enough.

Going for the soft option can lead to bad habits that are then more difficult to address later on. Being too agressive can cause your horse pain and discomfort and is just a bad idea in every way.

The rings positioned at each end of the mouthpiece of the Snaffle connect to the reins . Whilst simple in concept they still come in different forms with each type giving subtle effects which together with the mouthpiece provide varying types of control to your horse. To introduce you this variety we’ll cover some of the more common ring features seen on snaffle type horse bits.

Loose Ring Snaffles are where the rings connected to the mouthpiece are free to rotate and move back and forth causing your horse to chew and hopefully relax and not pull against you . A quite common problem however with Loose Ring Snaffles is that they can be pulled though your horse’s mouth, plus they can pinch the sides of the mouth . These problems can be addressed by another type of Snaffle. Fixed Ring Snaffles which are not free to rotate but can move back and forth. The Eggbutt and the D-ring Snaffle are popular examples. They have “D” shaped rings rather than “O” shaped and the straight part of the “D” functions to help prevent the bit being pulled through the mouth, ie. it forms a brace against the side of the mouth in both directions. The Eggbutt has a slightly softer edge to it’s “D” and is therefore kinder to your horse’s mouth.

The Full Cheek Snaffle Bit

The fixed ring effects can be further enforced by using a Full Cheek Snaffle Bit where there is a vertical piece of metal on each end of the mouthpiece as well as the ring. This piece provides a larger surface area in contact with the mouth sides compared to the D-Ring and EggButt. Often to help it stay in the vertical position “keepers” are used to hold it in place. Not only do full cheeks bit pull through they can provide a mild leverage effect and also encourage the horse to move in the direction required.

This is just a brief introduction to the features of Snaffle Bits. As you can see by careful understanding of your horse’s behaviour and how to control him, you can find a snaffle to suit your needs.