snaffle
The tried and true snaffle bit is one of the most useful aids in developing a responsive and supple mouth on your mule. [1]
Young and inexperienced horses need to be able to bend to varying degrees so the use of a direct reining device such as a snaffle is very important. [2]
The two main categories that bits fall into, are the snaffle bit and the leverage bit. [3]
The snaffle bit works on several parts of the horse’s mouth; the mouthpiece of the bit acts on the tongue and bars, the lips of the horse also feel pressure from both the mouthpiece and the rings. [4]
Simply put a snaffle is made up of a mouthpiece and rings that allows the rider to bend the horse to the right or left (for example pulling the right rein will direct the horse to the right). [3]
A bit for a horse, consisting of two bars joined at the center, as by a joint. [5]
The beauty of the snaffle is its simplicity and straight forward design; every pound of pressure /pull from the rider’s hand equals the same amount of pressure to the horses mouth. [3]
The loose ring snaffle is a jointed or broken snaffle bit on which the rings are free sliding. [2]
It consists of a bit mouthpiece with a ring on either side and acts with direct pressure. [4]
No shanks extend below the mouthpiece and there is no curb engaged when the reins are activated. [1]
A bridle] utilizing only a snaffle bit is often called a “snaffle bridle,” particularly in the English riding disciplines. [4]
We recommend starting with D-ring snaffle bits as opposed to loose ring snaffles because the loose ring snaffles may pinch or cut the mouth of a young horse. [2]
This often results in a rider purchasing a jointed mouthpiece bit with shanks, because it is labeled a “snaffle,” and believing that it is soft and kind because of the connotation the snaffle name has with being mild. [4]
Pressure from the rein is not how you collect your horse. [2]
A bridle that carries two bits, a curb bit and a snaffle, or “bradoon,” is called a double bridle. [4]
Sources:
[1] SNAFFLE
[2] Training ~ Bits
[3] The Snaffle Bit
[4] Snaffle bit - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[5] snaffle - definition of snaffle by the Free Online Dictionary …