No matter if your riding English or Western, chances are good that your first experiences were on either your own horse(s) or using a schoolmaster horse with a snaffle bit. These bits are designed to sit comfortably between the top and bottom teeth in their rear opening, and rubber lip guards may also be added for extra safety against pinching their lips.
What Is a Snaffle Bit? Snaffle bits are popular forms of horse bits designed to be gentle on their host animal’s mouth. Comprised of either one single bar, two or three joined pieces connected by large rings on either side and possibly even four individual rings, snaffle bits make communicating with horses easy for riders and can even help train young horses and new riders quickly and effectively.
Even if you do not initially start out using a snaffle bit, chances are high that somewhere along your learning path, it will become part of your riding education. Understanding how a snaffle bit operates will be useful in developing effective rein aids while also avoiding being either too ineffective or hard on your horse’s mouth.
Though most snaffle bits provide similar action, finding one your horse likes may require trying various types. Finding the ideal bit, even among snaffles, may take some trial-and-error.