Past Article:

A Bit of Understanding

The fitting of your snaffle bit is one of the most important keys to success in your riding.  Whether you are riding for fun or planning some kind of competition work, you will most likely start riding your horse in a snaffle. Going into a tack shop and seeing rows and rows of bits can be very confusing. What kind of snaffle should you get? What difference is there in the thickness of the mouthpiece – does it matter? Yes. One size doesn’t really fit all!

Every horse’s mouth is shaped differently.  There are many factors that govern your choice of bit.  Generally the rule of thumb is that the thicker the mouthpiece the milder the bit.  However, this is not always true.  The correct bit will not only take into account the horse’s way of going but also the size and shape of his mouth. We all know that pulling harder or getting a more severe bit is not the answer.  When your horse is wearing a snaffle that he can accept, you will have less resistances and more control. Did you know that most Arabs have thicker tongues and fleshier lips than other breeds?  Perhaps the nice thick mild snaffle is just too much of a mouthful.

What to Look for in the Fit of Your Snaffle

When making an assessment as to whether your bit actually fits your horse, take a moment to stand back and observe how your horse is accepting the bit when bridled.  His mouth should be closed around the bit without the noseband holding the bit up or his mouth shut.  There should be several small wrinkles on the corner of his mouth without any signs of excessive pulling up of the lips of the bit.  The bit should be clear of the front teeth resting on the bars of the mouth, which is the space between the front and back teeth. If he is continuously grinding his teeth or trying to move the bit in his mouth, you can be sure that either your bit is hurting in some way or his teeth need some attention.  Make sure that your bit is clean and in good condition. There should be no sharp or worn edges on the mouthpiece.   If you think the problem could be his teeth your veterinary surgeon should be able to advise you

From the Outside

• Look and see if your horse has his mouth closed comfortably around the bit.  
• Check that there are just a couple of wrinkles at the side of his mouth.
• If you have a loose-ring snaffle, slide the rings around and make sure the corners of the horse’s lips are not being nipped

From the Inside

• Does the bit lie comfortable across the mouth in a fairly straight line?
• Is there room for your horse’s tongue to lie comfortably under the bit?
• Is the joint of the bit being pulled across the tongue and catching the
• tongue against the bars of the mouth?
• How much room is there for the roof of the mouth when bridled?
   

What Signs Tells You Something Could Be Wrong

• Does your horse resist taking the bit when you attempt to bridle him?
• Is he grinding his teeth or moving his tongue around as if trying to re-position the bit is his mouth?
• When you ride is your horse always snatching the rein from your hands or tossing his head up when you try to take a contact?
• Does your horse put his tongue out to the side?
   

As a clinician and a judge I have often found that by correcting the position or changing the type of snaffle, what was thought to be an issue of control or a training problem either disappears or is dramatically improved. 

It is for this reason that I completed the DVD ‘A Bit of Understanding'.  In this DVD I use four very different types of horses and show some close up shots of the differences between their mouths.  Interestingly, you will see that the bit that fits a 14.2h.h. Arab stallion also fits a 16.2h.h. German Warm Blood.  There are some interesting trailers where you can test you observation skills and then check your answers with the answers on this website.

You can purchase this DVD directly from the Products page of this website.