Snaffle Bit Education
By Ty Ayers
When it comes to California, the things you may think of are our beaches, Yosemite, smog, and the Napa Valley. I, Ty Ayers, call Napa Valley my home. California is also known for its great snaffle bit horses and the horsemen that train and show them. These horses seem to last a long time. The snaffle bit is the tool of the trade and originated on the west coast with western horsemen.
I start all my horses in a smooth snaffle bit with a martingale. Good feel is a must with a snaffle bit, as it works both sides of a horse’s mouth and not the bars of the horse’s mouth. The first 30 to 60 days is when a horse can learn control of their body in all the correct positions that they will ever need to know. A big mistake is trying to teach or advance too early.
O" Ring Snaffle, "D" Ring Snaffle, and Single Twisted Wire Snaffle.
The snaffle bit is all about balance and body control; not just the front end but also the hindquarters as well. With the western pleasure horse you must work on all aspects with determination for the first 60 days, with much give and take. By doing so you will find your horse become supple, flexible, and begin to hold his own frame. The snaffle bit has a lot of contact with corners of the horse’s mouth and we are looking for as much cushion in the entire horse as possible. With this comes the balance of the horse’s front and hindquarters, and in your seat and hands.
The Full Martingale.
At about 60 days it’s time to remove the martingale so the horse does not start to depend on it. The horse should be able to hold their own frame at this time. Many people do not understand the difference between a martingale and a tie down. The tie down for the pleasure horse is a big mistake and will inhibit the entire feel in the horse’s nose. With the martingale you have some help, but not a crutch to rely on.
When I first start my horses in the snaffle bit there are many things I keep in mind. First and foremost, I never use a split ear headstall, as the horse can shake it off, rub it off, or even sweat it off. Always have your snaffle bit in a full headstall with a brow band, throat latch, and most importantly a leather or raw hide snaffle bit curb. The curb will keep your horse from pulling the snaffle bit through their mouth and will save the feelings of the corners of your horse’s mouth. In addition, it keeps your horse from running off from the snaffle bit.
Sometimes at 90 to 120 days I will let one pack a single twisted wire snaffle bit set. This is used when I feel that I need to ask the horse for a little more cushion or if the horse is trying to get a little heavy on my hands. With a single twist you really cannot do any harm to your horse’s mouth when used properly. At first some horses may be a bit wary of this change, so for their peace of mind I will go back to utilizing the martingale for a few days. Again, do not use the martingale in a tie down fashion, keep it the same as your use with the smooth snaffle bit.
My favorite snaffle bit is the “O” Ring snaffle bit. For me, it has the most feel of any of them. I believe you can really work the corners of a horses mouth and your horse can get away from added pressure. The “O” Ring snaffle will always give and take more than any other. To add even more feel, make sure your leather reins hook up with Hondos.
My next choice is the “D” Ring snaffle bit, which can be more stable in the horse’s mouth. I go to the “D” Ring if I have a horse that needs to be pulled on just a little more or one who has a little bit of trouble staying away from my hands.
Elevator Snaffle Bit by Les Vogt
I use the elevator snaffle bit on a horse that has learned to four beat. I use it to get his shoulders up and drive his hind quarters underneath him. I prefer this bit more than any other in order to fix such problems. Go to a six inch bit because it does not roll around in their mouth much. This bit also helps with the natural arc of their neck and you can’t hurt your horse with this masterpiece when used properly.
Another bridle many people try to use is the snaffle bit side pull. They teach a horse to start to balance himself against your hands, therefore causing you to loose all of the body control and cushion that you have worked on. Thus, you don’t have the feel of the horse’s mouth. Any long periods of time with either a tie down or a snaffle bit pull side can set your horse back months.
Many people have also been told about draw reins, which can also get you into trouble causing the horse to become very heavy in the front end. This can cause a horse to start to four beat.
Ty Ayers, with full set single twisted wire snaffle bit and martingale
That is a stride when a horse loses control of his hindquarters which we never want to happen and can stay with him for life!
With the pull side there is no way to keep your horse’s shoulders lifted as you do not have that correct feel with his mouth. They can really make a horse stiff in the poll, as a horse carries about 40% of his weight in the front of the girth. This means we really have to keep the front supple and it cannot be done with draw reins or side pulls. The other 60% must be driven up under the horse again, as we need all of the cushion to work together as one unit. That way their stride should always improve.
Now we come to the double twisted wire snaffle bit, which in my opinion, no good horseman should have in their tack room! The double twisted wire snaffle bit has destroyed so many horses over the years. Your horse can get their tongue caught between the wires without you knowing or feeling it, thus resulting in cutting your horse’s tongue or cutting it off. Once a tongue is damaged, your horse will never pack a snaffle correctly again in their life in most cases.
With all of the great sires of today for the National Snaffle Bit Association (N.S.B.A.), the horses just keep on getting better. For the N.S.B.A. Pleasure World, we have so many out there such as, Zip’s Chocolate Chip, Blazing Hot, Invitation Only, and One Hot Krymson to name a few.
Kurt Tate, with smooth snaffle bit set without martingale
When you start with a stock like this, it makes you wonder how much better it can get. The two and three year old N.S.B.A. Futurity Classes have become the largest western showing events in our history. Over the last decade they have more than doubled by entries any payouts of prize money. The Non-Pro and Youth now have dominating awards. However, always remember these are snaffle bit events. I hope I was able to explain a few tips that can help you along the way to meeting your goals. I would like to thank Mr. Kurt Tate, of Yuba City, California, who is a fellow horseman and
The snaffle bit side pull
trainer.
