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Post by kigerfan on Aug 20, 2009 12:49:31 GMT -5
I'm looking for information on snaffle bits. All of my other horses I always rode with light curb bits and they did very well in them but they were already fully trained horses, trained on the curb bit. I'd like to know all I can on snaffle bits. Please give me some information if you would. What size do you use on your horse, what are the good and bad points about a direct rain snaffle as opposed to the leverage snaffle with the shanks. Thanks for all your help.
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Post by lilnagy on Aug 20, 2009 14:04:39 GMT -5
well I am not an expert, but I do know the bigger the ring (like on an O ring or a D ring) the gentler the bit, and the thicker the bars in the mouth the gentler the bit. I start my young ones with a fat snaffle with big O rings, and then at some point move them to a Tom Thumb snaffle, which is a snaffle inside the mouth but has shanks like a western bit.
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Post by JoanMRK on Aug 20, 2009 14:47:56 GMT -5
I ride in a full cheek snaffle which is a very nice bit. Direct rein is better for the beginning stages as you can work from a hackamore to them and the horse understands better... I know there are a lot more people on here though that can explain it a lot better, so I think I'll let them! ;D I do know that the Tom Thumb has a bad reputation for being too harsh.
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Post by MustangsInNC on Aug 20, 2009 22:08:42 GMT -5
Snaffle does not mean the mouthpiece, snaffle means bit with no leverage. Here's the wiki definition: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snaffle_bitI ride every one of my horses in a full cheek snaffle. That is a 17 year old TB mare, a 27 year old QH mare, a 11 year old Belgian gelding, and a 3 year old Kiger stud. It's a great bit to start them in, it's got no leverage like a curb so there's no chance of sending mixed signals, and the full cheek part keeps it from sliding through their mouths. If you are planning on teaching neck reining, I believe it's preferred to have a shank bit. I don't neck rein, but I believe the shank and curb action are easier to "communicate" with when neck reining. As for Tom Thumb... I'll never use one again. I used to use them in the past, and figured my horse was just "stubborn". Then I read this article and realized how many of these exact problems I was having. Check it out: www.todayshorse.com/Articles/TroublewithTomThumb.htm |
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Post by fantasykiger on Aug 20, 2009 22:56:44 GMT -5
I use D-ring snaffle bits with broken mouth pieces on the majority of all my horses. The draft uses and O-ring with a straight mouth piece, she will pitch of fit with the broken mouth pieces that often pinch, to some degree. I don't imagine you will ever have to go beyond a D, O or fullcheek snaffle (personal preference) unless you plan to show one day. You can neck rein a horse in a snaffle bit, in my opinion. Our Arab' gelding is 11 yrs old and never advanced to a bit, he is ridden' in a bridle made from a rope halter and 12 foot lead rope, but he is just a trail horse and nothing more.
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Post by lilnagy on Aug 21, 2009 8:25:41 GMT -5
wow, I've not had any trouble with a tom thumb; I will be more aware now!
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Post by lilnagy on Aug 21, 2009 8:27:48 GMT -5
In reading that article though; I never tired to switch to a tom thumb while still direct reining. That does sound very confusing to the horse. I have used it AFTER the horse understandings neck reining.
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Post by stormyranch on Aug 21, 2009 9:43:53 GMT -5
WOW, that was a great article! I used to use a Tom Thumb a long time ago and I can remember my horse not responding well.
I also like to start with a full cheek snaffle.
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Post by JoanMRK on Aug 21, 2009 9:54:11 GMT -5
I don't imagine you will ever have to go beyond a D, O or fullcheek snaffle (personal preference) unless you plan to show one day. You can neck rein a horse in a snaffle bit, in my opinion. Our Arab' gelding is 11 yrs old and never advanced to a bit, he is ridden' in a bridle made from a rope halter and 12 foot lead rope, but he is just a trail horse and nothing more. I agree with Tiffany - I don't ever plan on doing anything else except riding for pleasure up in the mountains. I also ride Cali in a "haltermore" made by www.sunsethalters.com which is what sounds like Tiffany's arab rides in. I was just using Cali's haltermore last night and one of my girlfriend's commented that Cali is neck reining with it... she asked how I taught her to do that, and I had to say that's just how I ride and she caught on!  |
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Post by kigerfan on Aug 21, 2009 13:27:05 GMT -5
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Post by kigerfan on Aug 21, 2009 13:30:04 GMT -5
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Post by fantasykiger on Aug 21, 2009 16:37:01 GMT -5
I stay away from that much copper, only because with my experience that much copper your horse will spend alot of time sucking and munching on the bit, because they like the taste. So much so they end up with sores and chapped lips. Sorta' like that hard candy you can not resist even when you know your mouth will be sore days after having it in your mouth. You want your horse to like the bit, but not LOVE it.  forgot to note otherwise the bit itself is just fine |
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Post by kigerfan on Aug 21, 2009 19:37:50 GMT -5
That kind of got a giggle out of me. I had a curb bit on my other horses and it had a copper top and a copper roller in it. They loved the bit, played with it ALL the time. It was actually pretty funny the way they got to rolling the little roller. I really appreciate the input on all this, as I said, all my experience was with the curb bit.
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Post by kigerfan on Aug 21, 2009 20:08:43 GMT -5
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Post by DianneC on Aug 21, 2009 20:56:11 GMT -5
You have nice light hands so the sweet iron snaffle would be fine, or find one with just a little copper. I like an eggbut but full cheeks are good too. What I did find is that a regular snaffle can bother some horses after they have had some training. I think some Kigers have a lower palate, and my horses were gapping their mouths, and did better in a snaffle with an extra link in the middle, some are called french snaffles. But they were all started in a regular snaffle.
I saw that snaffle at Dover and liked the look of it a lot, you see that extra pice in the middle? but the price was too much for me. All my horses have used five inch bits.
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