Training Tips

May 2000 - Snaffle Bit Selection

Have you ever wondered if you have too much or too little bit? How do you know if the bit you have selected is right for your horse? These two questions are really fairly complicated to answer because in order to answer them, a few things must first be known.

1. What kind of problem does your horse have with respect to the bridle?
   Is he pulling, or "heavy"?
   Does he toss his head?
   Is he "behind the bridle?
2. What kind of bit are you presently using?
3. Does your horse need dental care?

The very first thing to rule out is if your horse needs dental care. If your horse has not had a dental check by a veterinarian in the last 6 months or more, have him checked as soon as possible. Young horses can lose teeth, "throw caps," be developing "wolf teeth," or have uneven wear patterns that can cause considerable discomfort. If any of these conditions exist with your horse, taking the steps for proper care and maintenance, while possibly not solving your immediate problem, can certainly help prevent future problems from occurring, as well as helping to insure that your horse stays healthy.

If your horse is pulling or "heavy," or if your horse tosses his head, chances are, you could benefit from evaluating the effects of the bit that you are using.

Even if your horse is heavy, there is a possibility that you might be using a bit that is "too much" for your horse.

How?

As improbable as it may seem some horses even though their mouths hurt, will lock up even harder when a bit is overly severe or intense. Any snaffle that is very thin such as a single twisted wire, or an extremely thin smooth wire, can be too intense for some horses to become comfortable with.

In order to evaluate whether or not you have the right bit, always take the time to follow the process described below.

1. If the bit that you are using is already a smooth snaffle, wrap it with "Latex". Latex is a wrap on, self-adhesive, rubber product that is available in most tack stores. The thickness of the wrap depends upon how thick your bit is, and if your horse's mouth is cut or bruised in any way. If your horses mouth or tongue is cut, rinsing it with a warm salt-water solution will help take the pain away, as well as help the healing process. If the cuts are deep, consult your veterinarian and wait for them to heal before going any further.
   
   If your horse's mouth is mildly cut or bruised, wrap the snaffle so that each side is about ¾ of an inch thick. If your horse's mouth appears to be healthy, wrapping each side one or two times around should suffice.
   
   
2. Ride or work your horse in the bit you normally use first. Allow ample time for your horse to warm up and start to work as he normally does. After you have confirmed that he still exhibits the same training pattern, change bits and re- work him. Allow plenty of time for your horse to realize that "something" is different. Generally, a horse that has a problem with even a "mild" smooth snaffle will notice the difference within 5-10 minutes of work. During this time give your horse a chance to notice a difference in the bit by slowing down your work pattern. If even a mild smooth snaffle is "too much" for your horse, what you will notice is that your horse will suddenly "gain confidence", or become slightly more responsive. If this is the case, keep wrapping the bit because you are in for a big surprise!
   
   Horse behavior will change dramatically when in chronic pain and then suddenly allowed to work in relative comfort. In a period of no more than a few days, I have seen some horses completely change from "heavy mouthed" to very responsive, and the change in their attitude is just as marvelous.
   
   My opinion, as to what causes some horses to be overly sensitive is that skin and tissue usually the bone structure that forms the bars of their mouths instead of being rounded, it is ridged much like a "fish back" snaffle. The tissue that covers these bones becomes very inflamed when relatively small amounts of pressure is encountered. I have found this to be prevalent when working any breed of horse that is excessively refined when compared to their breed standard.
   
   
3. If your horse is even heavier, or duller, after switching bits, your problem is not being caused by the bit you are using, but possibly being amplified by it.
   
   The sensation of a "heavy" mouth really has nothing to do with the tissue of the mouth being "numb" or insensitive, even though it certainly feels as if this is true!
   
   What we as riders associate as the feel of a "soft mouth," is really the flexion of all of the vertebrae of the horses neck, the rotation of the horses head, and the subsequent "loosening" of his jaw, as he addresses the bridle and yields to the bit. This implies that there are no "heavy mouths," just stiff-necked and stiff-bodied horses.
   
   The selection of a more "severe" bit will cause a horse to react quicker to any pressure exerted on his mouth. This can be beneficial or detrimental, depending upon the level of training that you are capable of. If you are used to controlling your horse primarily with your hands, a more severe bit will ultimately be a problem for you. If you understand that to soften a horse you need to be able to position your horse's body with your legs, then a different snaffle can certainly be a helpful tool.
   
   In evaluating what kind of bit might be better than a smooth, single jointed snaffle, I take into consideration what kind of horse my horse is. If he is primarily heavy on one side, I would tend to use a "Dr.Bristol", or "French mouth" snaffle. These bits have two joints, and the centerpiece, or key, is usually flat, as opposed to round. The benefit to having two joints is that the design of the bit allows the rider the opportunity to access each side of the horse's mouth in a more independent manner. When used with sympathetic hands and a reinforcing leg, this type of bit enables the horse to "soften" by having the ability to rotate his head and release his jaw. When rewarded by the rider for this response by a release of pressure from the reins, a positive training pattern can be established.
   
   If your horse is more or less equally "dull" on both sides of his mouth, switching to a "slow twist", or similar type of snaffle can improve his response time. Remember, the thicker the snaffle, the milder it is. The thinner, and more twisted the bit is, the more severe the effects.

For those of you who are reading this "Training Tip" and are interested in learning how to control, ride, and train your horse in a much more efficient and elegant manner, I would urge you to attend an Accel Level One seminar. You won't believe the difference it will make in your ability to ride, train, and enjoy your horse! (Regardless of the breed!)

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