Reconsidering the Snaffle

Like Carl, I like non-jointed mouthpieces. I have gotten the best results with them.

I still sometimes bring out a single-jointed or three-piece mouthpiece bit, particularly when I am working with a new horse and trying to reach a greater understanding with him. I always eventually go back to the solid mouthpiece, however. I have a few bits that have a solid mouthpiece with a bit of an arch shape – a mullen-mouth. Some horses like it better, perhaps because its shape allows more room for the tongue.

I have some snaffles with solid mouthpieces and some curb bits with solid mouthpieces. I use them both, but I do use the curb bits more often. I seldom opt to use the leverage on a curb bit, but instead hook straight on and use the bit like a snaffle. However, the leverage is there should I choose to adjust my lines and take advantage of it.

Unfortunately, bitting can be a trial-and-error thing. Your hands, your methods, the horses’ temperaments, the shape of their mouths… Really, we can only tell you what has worked for us. I don’t believe there is a “best bit” out there but my favorite is the military elbow bit with a straight mouth. I like this one better than the Liverpool because my fidgety horse can’t get ahold of the bit shanks when they are swept back like this, but it is essentially the same bit.

Bits are tricky. Of course we can’t say exactly what the horse feels. I look for a quite mouth. many trainers look for chewing as a good sign that the animal is thinking, but at work a relaxed animal should have a comfortable relaxed mouth. Of course I have had mules with tongues flying every which way.

I have used many straight and a few mullen mouthed (curved) bits. Lots of liverpools, but not all. I use the leverage much as others have described. To help balance out different horses with different responses to the same pressure. I would prefer to train horses without the leverage if I can. When I add leverage to a trained horses I get an immediate response.

Are you dealing with horses that are young? or green? or are you just trying to improve the communication? The difference to me is a green or young horse is both up on the bit, but also not very responsive overall. A mature horse that is well trained can be a little more “forward” or “up on the bit” than other horses it is working with, but will be super responsive to lines or commands at the same time. With a young or green animal I treat them very differently than an animal that I feel is very responsive.

I case you are looking at bits, you can find a mullen mouthed Liverpool. Also I recently bought a couple of mullen mouth, eggbut snaffles for the young mules. I like those bits so far.

As with everything, lots of great work horses work with a jointed snaffle. For me it is a problem with how I perceive the bit. If I can’t rap my head around the pinching, then it isn’t going to work that well for me; regardless of what the horse actually feels. I have been working with two green Fiords and one of them is wearing a jointed snaffle. The horse is only doing “ok” and I keep meaning to change the bit. I want to put blinders on it too.