CORRECT USE OF THE SNAFFLE BIT IN NATURAL GAITED HORSES
* Lucio Sergio de Andrade
There’s nothing better than starting this article transcribing parts of the book published by one of the most famous manufacturers of bits in the United States; the Miller family.
"Often, horses ridden with the snaffle feel a steady pressure on the reins. It's a constant pain on the control points in the mouth."
"The snaffle is not the kindest of the bits as renowned."
"The snaffle is a limited bit, good for horses with little or no training."
"Usually the snaffle is misused, especially regarding the long-term time of its use."
The word “natural” in the title of this article means that there is difference in the use of snaffle bit for natural and unnatural gaited horses. If the gait is not natural, it hardly will be possible to teach a horse a broken gait, training with a snaffle bit. The reason? The snaffle is not the ideal bit to develop vertical flexion and collection. However, it must be understood that if full flexion is achieved – poll, neck, body and legs -, the horse may be well ridden with a snaffle bridle. One of the smartest statements is that “there is no severe bit if the horse is well-trained, because the rider will not depend, primarily, on the rein command, he (or she) will ride easily with the leg and seat pressure.”
The snaffle may be considered an amateur bit, for novice horse and rider, due to the type of rein (direct – the rider pulls one rein to turn right or left, releasing the opposite rein), and the main effect of its jointed mouthpiece – pressure on the lip’s corners. A secondary pressure occurs on the bars and tongue. The snaffle is a good bit to develop lateral flexion. Since the snaffle is a bit without shank, it acts with a direct pressure without leverage on the mouth.
The two main components of a standard snaffle are the joint mouthpiece and the ring. The following photos show the standard snaffle models for gaited horses:
The Loose Ring Snaffle - The mouth piece rotates, making the horse relax the jaw and chew the bit. It may pinch the corners of the mouth and a bit guard should be used.
The Dee-Ring Snaffle - The ring is in the shape of a D letter, keeping the bit more fixed. It does not pinch the corners of the mouth.
The Dee-Ring Full Check Snaffle - It has long arms, called the checks, that have a lateral guiding effect and prevent the bit from sliding into the mouth, what may happen, especially during the breaking phase.
When the rider pulls the reins, riding with a snaffle bridle, he (or she) must understand what the horse feels. The main pressure is felt stronger on the lip’s corners, following the pressure on the bars and tongue. If the pressure is continuous, and the poll flexion is not yet well developed, the immediate reaction is to raise the head and throw the muzzle forward, as a way to alleviate the discomfort of the mouthpiece pressure. This action can be understood as a resistance force, which will be greater if the poll flexion is not fully developed. Firstly, the poll must be softened by the use of the hackamore.
So we can say that the snaffle bit exerts a lifting of the head. The correct position of the head is vertical to the ground, forming a 90 ° angle. This head set offers the best comfort to the horse on the bit, because the mouthpiece will make pressure on the correct control points. As a result, the hind legs will be able to engage easier and more efficiently. The horse will be prepared to gait with flexion and collection.
Correct position of thehead. Note thevertical angle in relation to the ground. The poll is flexed, the neck is arched, bending correctly.
In relation to the curb bit, the snaffle acts much more on the tongue. Some horses put the tongue over the mouthpiece, trying to reduce the discomfort of a continuous pressure, which may cause a wound.
According to the severity of the action the snaffle bit may be mild, moderate or severe; the thinner the mouthpiece, the more severe the action. The references of measure for the diameter on the corners of the mouthpiece: around 0.4 inch - severe; around 0.6 inch - moderate; above 0.8 inch - soft. The action of the mouthpiece is like a “nutcracker”. If the mouthpiece is not jointed or double jointed, the action may be mild.
In addition to the mouthpiece diameter, the height and width also determine the correct fitting of the snaffle. Improper adjustment causes discomfort. There is a reference for the height – the bit should create one or two wrinkles in the lip’s corner. In regard to width, the mouthpiece should be no more than ½ inch wider than the horse’s mouth.
The most commonly used material is stainless steel, mainly because of its durability and it’s nicer looking. The disadvantage is that steel is of little taste and causes reduced salivation. Saliva is a lubricant for a better action by the mouthpiece. Iron is easily accepted, because of its sweet taste. Copper stimulates salivation and may also be used in combination with stainless steel, by fixed or mobile parts. Among the non-metallic materials, the most common is rubber, but it has the disadvantage of excess friction.
As a general rule for gaited horses, I recommend the use of a moderate action snaffle bit, after the breaking with an adequate leather hackamore. The ideal method to introduce the snaffle bit is to combine the hackamore with the snaffle bridle. So, the transition is soft, and the double reins will make pressure on different control points – nose, chin, mouth. The poll flexion, previously developed by the correct use of the hackamore, will be easily kept, and after a few weeks the next transition will be done, from the snaffle to a curb bit with a jointed mouthpiece (a snaffle with shanks) and chain. Then, the next transition will be to a regular curb bit, being the mouthpiece with a port, to put pressure on the roof of the mouth. The next article will explain the correct use of the curb bit, the professional bit, to finish the training.
We must remember that the bit is the best way of communication between horse and rider. If there is anything wrong in the mouth, the horse will “tell” you by some reaction. If there is any resistance to the rein commands, on gait, turns, halts, backing, etc., the horse is communicating with the rider, and a bit transition may be needed. The horse must be comfortable in the mouth, always.
*Author: Lúcio S. Andrade - Graduated in Animal Science, writer (30 printed books and 20 digital books about gaited horses), publisher of Gaited Horse Digital Magazines and an experienced judge of four beat gaited horses, mules and donkeys.
Website:www.fourbeatgaitedhorses.com Email:luciozootec@gmail.com
