What Is the Purpose of the Hinge in a Snaffle Bit?

While many horse owners consider any bit that has a split mouthpiece to be a snaffle bit, a bit with a shank is a member of the curb bit family regardless of the type of mouthpiece. In addition, there are many people who consider a snaffle bit to be kind to the horse. However, the type of mouthpiece and the rider's hands determine how easy the bit is on the horse.

  1. Equine Terminology

    • All curb bits have shanks.

      To understand how a snaffle bit or any bit works, it is first necessary to be familiar with a few parts of the horse's anatomy. The term "bars" refers to the toothless area between the front and back teeth of the horse. The horse's tongue lies over these bars. The "poll" is located at the second vertebrae of the neck, which is right behind the ears. The "palate" refers to the roof of the horse's mouth.

    Types of Bits

    • All bits can be divided into two main types: curb bits and direct action bits. Curb bits have shanks attached to the bit that magnify the actions of the rider's hands. The mouthpiece of a curb bit can be straight or broken or it can have a port, which is a raised portion. A snaffle is the best example of a direct action bit. These bits have rings that take the place of shanks. The rings can be round or oval or in the shape of a D. Both the shanks of the curb bit and the rings of a snaffle can be fixed and unable to move or loose and able to move back and forth. The mouthpiece of a snaffle can either be solid or jointed, smooth or twisted--each type will work in a slightly different fashion.

    The Way Bits Work

    • A snaffle bit is a direct action bit.

      Curb bits work by putting pressure on the horse’s tongue, bars and poll. When a rider exerts pressure on the shanks, the bit is pulled against the bars; the shape of the shanks will determine how fast the pressure is applied. At the same time, the bit also adds pressure to the tongue through the bit: the flatter the bit, the more pressure, as there is little or no tongue relief. A high port will also act on the palate. The poll also receives pressure through the headstall. When a rider pulls the reins on a snaffle bit, pressure is primarily placed on the bars, tongue, and the corners of the mouth. The design of the mouthpiece will determine the severity of the bit.

    The Hinged Mouthpiece

    • A jointed or hinged mouthpiece is probably the most common one found on a snaffle bit. The hinge of the snaffle acts like the port of a curb bit: when pressure is put on the rings, the hinge bends and removes some of the pressure on the tongue but increases it on the bars and corners of the mouth. However, too much pulling on the rings will allow the hinge to have a nutcracker effect on the tongue.

    Other Snaffle Mouthpieces

    • Certain rules can be applied to snaffle bits. A thin mouthpiece will be more severe than a thicker one. A twisted one will also be more severe than a smooth one. A three piece mouthpiece with a bone-shaped middle section removes some of the pressure on the tongue making it a bit that's very easy on the horse. Some snaffle bits even have keys or pieces of metal hanging from the center. These keys give the horse something to play with to alleviate some nervousness, especially in young horses.