Introduction to Snaffle Bits
The Snaffle configuration by itself is a mild bit and one of the most universally used mouthpieces. It can be thick and mild on the bars and tongue or more severe if it has a thin twisted wire mouthpiece. It can be combined with many variations such as a Copper Roller, Dr. Bristol, Dog Bone, or Lifesaver mouthpiece (a few shown below). Whatever the configuration, (unlike a curb bit) it breaks in the middle in some way or another.
Because a snaffle breaks in the middle, most of the pressure is concentrated on the tongue and bars. (see Bars)
However, the jointed mouthpiece of a standard snaffle mouth can exert “nutcracker” pressure on the tongue (most common) and roof of the mouth if handled roughly. The propensity to cause pain in the hands of a novice rider must be clearly understood.
It is an ideal bit to start a young horse who might feel “claustrophobic” if a huge piece of iron is placed in his mouth, pressuring his tongue and palate as well. He is more likely to tolerate the more reasonable piece of metal more quickly.
One of the most basic forms of bitting, the direct, simple Snaffles (above) communicate with a horse in a direct way. One pound of pressure on the reins exerts one pound of pressure on the horse (1:1 ratio). (see Pressure)
Simple Snaffles work well on young, inexperienced horses to teach them to give direct response to direct pressure. When a rider pulls on one rein effectively pulling on one side of the horse’s face and pushing with the other, the horses can respond directly by yeilding to the pressure and turning in the direction of the pull. He gets direct communication, and the rider can easily feel any resistance.
They come in a variety of mouthpieces and rings.
Types of Snaffle Bits
O Ring Snaffles with single joint mouthpieces are the considered most forgiving of rider error and most commonly seen in early training. Owing to the loose ring design, ther is more signal to the horse of impending action when the rider takes up the reins. but have a more “muddied” signal to the horse than a Dee snaffle (below). Additionally, they are more easily pulled through the horse’s mouth than a bit with cheeks. They can sometimes pinch since the butt of the bit is not fixed in one position on the ring. The cheeks move laterally back and forth and the ring rotates through the bit butt (loose-ring). Rings of 2.5″ to 3″ are generaly legal for horse shows and are commonly seen in dressage and eventing. They are commonly found with rubber mullen mouths, eggbutt mouths, and sometimes twisted wire mouths (although the more complicated or severe mouthpieces are rarely combined with a simple O-ring configuration because the O-ring is usually considered a beginner bit). The red lines represent where the pressue occurs to the horse’s face. The O-Ring exerts the most concentrated pressure.
D-Ring Snaffles A fixed-ring Snaffle bit does not swivel on the ring. They have a fixed butt and better lateral cue because the side opposite the rein-pull exerts pressure to encourage the turn. The flat side of the cheek spreads the pressure over a larger area on the far side and makes it a little easier for a young horse to understand the request to give his head. (see the area between red lines at left). With an O-ring snaffle (above) the pressure is concentrated in a smaller area of the mouth.
Signal is sacrificed because the ring does not rotate. There is less movement to warn a horse that the rider has taken up the reins. Less signal is bad for novice riders, but clearer communicaton of the Dee snaffle is better for novice horses.
Single joint Dee Snaffles can become severe if too much pressure is exerted causing them to break into a “nutcracker”, stabbing the tongue or reaching the palate if jerked too hard from below.
Dee snaffles are less likely to pinch the lips than an O-Ring snaffle. They come in many types of mouthpieces, from eggbutt to thin twisted wire, and more complicated combinations. Simple mouthpieces with a Dee Ring are the universal bit of choice for almost any type of pleasure riding. If you are a beginnner who might still be inadvertently balancing yourself with your hands (reins), a smooth, D-Ring snaffle may be the bit for you – particularly if it has a curve in the bars of the mouthpiece. Curving the bars will help to alleviate the nutcracker clamp on the outside of the bars, making it an even milder bit for less experienced hands.
Not as often seen in dressage, show jumping or eventing, this bit has become more popular in western riding.
The Full Cheek Snaffle is actually a Dee snaffle with cheek bars that prevent the rings from pulling through the horse’s mouth when lateral pressure is applied. The effect is to give even more lateral guidance.
The top wing can be strapped to the headstall using a bit keeper to concentrate pressure onto the tongue and bars of the mouth. The bit keeper is also a must if the horse is participaing in any kind activity that might catch the cheeks of the bit.
It often helps when you are having trouble getting a horse to flex laterally using a regular snaffle bit. The pressure is spread over an even wider area of the face. This bit is also very popular for lunging a horse.
Seen in almost all disciplines, this bit is very popular for young horses who needsthe benefits of its decisive lateral cues.
Eggbutt Snaffles take their name from the slightly oval (egg shaped) connection where the butt of the bit meets the ring. They are considered the mildest of mouthpieces. They can be O-ring or D-ring or shanked. The description has to do with how the butt of the bit fits onto the cheek and its diameter from cheek to break. Eggbutt horse bits have the fattest bars at the ends and gradually taper to the center. Because they are “fat” and smooth they exert the least intense pressure on the bars of the horse. However, some horses object to the “heaviness” of an eggbutt bit. In those cases you might change to a lighter-weight smooth snaffle with good results.
Most often seen in show hunter and less often in dressage (where the O-ring dominates). Sometimes seen in equitation, show jumping, eventing and occasionally in western riding.
Types of Snaffle Bit Mouthpieces
For mildest effect, the mouthpieces should be smooth, not too thin, and without leverage, so they don’t apply pressure on the chin or magnify pressure on the bars. They can be used by a majority of riders with slightly educated hands and reasonable balance, as they won’t easily damage the horse’s mouth.
However, there are drawbacks to a simple, smooth snaffle. Because the pressure is dispersed, it may take more “pulling pressure” to achieve a response from your young horse. That may cause more pressure damage to the bars of his mouth when they contract and clamp the sides of the bars. They may apply too much tongue pressure for a horse who understands how to soften and bend and doesn’t need so much presssure there.
Some experienced trainers start with a twisted wire snaffle specifically to lighten the pressure required for clear communication (the pont of pressure is more intense, therefore the horse responds more quickly with less pull), then return to a smooth snaffle after the horse is yielding lightly. see Twisted Wire Snaffle
Snaffles are also a poor rating (slowing) and stopping bit. With no curb action, the horse is not so easily stopped as you might wish.
Dog Bone Snaffles, Life-saver Snaffles (3-piece) are a very good starter bit and a “kinder-gentler” bit for inexperienced hands. The extra link in the middle spreads the pressure inside the mouth more evenly over the bars and tongue, reducing inadvertent tongue or palate pressure caused by too heavy a hand on a conventional snaffle (nutcracker effect). Some 3-piece mouths also have a copper roller to quiet a restless horse and relax tension in the neck and spine as he plays with and salivates over the roller. (see Copper Bits)
Curb Strap
It is recommended that you use a curb strap (see Curb Chain) with a snaffle to keep the bit centered and to keep it from slipping through the horse’s mouth when you pull from the side. (Do not confuse the use of a curb strap for centering the simple snaffle bit with the use of a curb strap on a curb bit. Centering is passive. The curb strap of a curb bit is a very active pressure.) It is also a good idea to use a regular brow-band headstall that keeps the bit evenly positioned on either side of the mouth. And last, but not least, usually one wrinkle is desirable at the horse’s lip when you fit the bit. A young, green horse may take a longer length for a little while as he gets used to his first bitting experiences, but ultimately, one wrinkle is the standard. (see Bit Fitting)
Truism: There is no substitute for Solid Ground Training. Teaching your horse to yeild to pressure BEFORE he experiences the bit or rider is paramount to his success.
As horse and trainer progress and acquire more experience, you can start using bits with thinner mouthpieces and/or longer cheeks (shank snaffle in diagram left) (see Shank Snaffle Bits). However, although shanks and an active curb strap are the most frequent answer to a horse who lacks a good, solid “whoa”, shanks are not always the best answer. Often the better answer is to go back to basics and re-school the stop using all of the verbal, seat and leg cues as well as the bit.