Understanding the Snaffle Bit

Q: Why is a snaffle a lateral bit?

Per Richard Winters: the broken mouthpiece + side rings allow each rein to pull on one side of the mouth independently. That mechanical advantage is for asking the horse to bend, yield, and turn laterally—not for hauling on both reins to stop. Pulled straight back, the horse just braces against the pressure.

Q: What size snaffle should I use?

Per Richard Winters: 5"–5.5" fits most horses. Some performance trainers use 6"–6.5" with heavier rings for better pre-signal and feel. Measure your horse's mouth at rest—the bit should sit with 1/4" of ring showing on each side, not pinching the lips.

Q: What about twisted-wire or thin-mouthpiece snaffles?

Per Richard Winters: these increase severity by concentrating pressure on a smaller area. Use them only with experienced hands and only for specific training stages—never as a default. Most horses do best in a smooth medium-thickness snaffle, with severity reserved for genuine training need.

Q: Can I use a snaffle for a finished horse?

Per Richard Winters: many disciplines and trainers transition to a curb or shanked bit for finished work. Others—particularly classical dressage and many performance Western trainers—keep horses in snaffles indefinitely. The snaffle is fully capable of refined communication when paired with skilled hands.

Q: How do I know if my horse's snaffle fits?

Per Richard Winters: look for one wrinkle at the corner of the lips, no pinching, and even contact when reins are gathered. If the horse fusses at the bit, gapes, or tosses head, fit, mouthpiece, or rider hands all warrant a check. Bit fit is as important as saddle fit.

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Understanding the Snaffle Bit

This snaffle is adjusted just below where it would cause a wrinkle in the corner

There is probably no bit that is more widely used, regardless of the riding discipline, than the snaffle bit. From Richard Winters Horsemanship

Hanging in your tack room is probably some form or style of snaffle bit. Perhaps you use it everyday. Or maybe it’s unused and gathering dust. There is probably no bit that is more widely used, regardless of the riding discipline, than the snaffle bit. Even though it is a commonly used piece of equipment, there are still many misunderstandings regarding its use. Here are some of my thoughts regarding the snaffle bit.

These are just a few snaffle bit variations available.

Generally speaking a snaffle bit has a broken mouth piece connected to rings on either side. There are different mouth pieces such as plain smooth, extra thick, extra thin, twisted wire, and a handful of other variations. The cheek pieces can be a simple ring, egg butt, o-ring, or full cheek. Most snaffles will be 5” to 5'” wide. This size will fit the vast majority of horses. In the last few years some performance horse trainers have been using 6” to 6'” snaffles with extra heavy rings.

They believe there is more “pre-signal” and “feel” with those larger bits.

Snaffle bits are lateral mechanisms and are made to be used laterally - side to side. Pulling back hard on both reins in a snaffle becomes increasingly less effective in controlling a horse’s movement. However, the snaffle is very effective in teaching a horse to give and yield his head (and thus his feet) laterally to the left and right. Most horses are started in snaffle bits and can learn to bend and turn as the rider uses each rein independent of the other.

The Snaffle Is A Safe Place To Start - If I am going to ride a horse that I know little about, a snaffle bit will allow me to evaluate where this particular horse is in his training and understanding. If I use a leverage (or curb) bit initially and the horse has never had one on, I’m probably going to create confusion and have trouble.

The Value Of A Chin Strap - “Why would I need a chin or curb strap? That’s only for curb bits where leverage is applied.” This is the perception of many. On a snaffle, a chin strap will be very effective in keeping the bit from pulling all the way through the horse’s mouth when using one rein. It need not be adjusted tight and is normally placed between the reins and bit. The one exception to the need for a chin strap is with the full cheek snaffle. Its design has two bars on each side of the ring that keeps it from running through the horse’s mouth.

Adjustments - There are different theories in regard to how tight or loose to adjust the snaffle in a horse’s mouth. I like my snaffle to hang a little lower than some riders are accustomed to. I adjust it just below where it would cause a wrinkle in the corner or my horse’s mouth. I don’t want constant pressure against my horse’s mouth that he can’t get away from. You might think that a lower hanging bit will allow the horse to get his tongue over the bit. I’ve found that adjusting it higher does not prevent a horse from getting his tongue over the bit; however, it does make it harder for him to get it back under. Most horses decide that the most comfortable place for them is to have their tongue resting under the bit.

Material - Snaffle bit mouth pieces are generally made of sweet iron, stainless steel, copper, or a combination of these. You’ll often see an iron or stainless steel mouth piece with copper inlaid in the bars. This is believed to promote salivation. A moist mouth is important to creating softness and suppleness.

Snaffle bits are ideal for teaching lateral flexion.

Back To Basics – Occasionally a horse will be brought to me for remedial training. The owners inform me that the horse constantly bolts and runs off. They have tried a dozen different bits and he is still out of control. I’d go back to a plain smooth snaffle bit and begin to re-teach this horse to bend laterally and think down to his feet. This would be done most effectively with a lateral type mechanism such as a snaffle bit.

Some people may characterize a snaffle as a mild bit and perhaps a spade bit as severe. I don’t think these generalizations are necessarily true. Mildness and severity are in our hands and the feel we apply to the mechanism. The tools we use are important to understand, yet any bit can be abused by those who lack understanding and horsemanship skills. The snaffle bit is a great tool. As your horsemanship improves, you’ll find this simple piece of equipment an invaluable part of your training program.

For more information about Richard Winters Horsemanship please go to wintersranch.com.

Key Article Takeaways

Per Richard Winters: the snaffle is a lateral bit—designed for side-to-side communication, not back-pulling.
Broken mouthpiece + side rings; 5"–5.5" fits most horses, with 6"+ used by some performance trainers.
Pulling both reins back hard in a snaffle is increasingly less effective as horse leans against pressure.
Snaffle teaches lateral yield—nose, neck, shoulders, ribs, hindquarters all follow.
Mouthpiece variations (plain, twisted, thick, thin) match training stage and horse sensitivity.

Questions readers commonly ask:

Why is a snaffle a lateral bit?

Per Richard Winters: the broken mouthpiece + side rings allow each rein to pull on one side of the mouth independently. That mechanical advantage is for asking the horse to bend, yield, and turn laterally—not for hauling on both reins to stop. Pulled straight back, the horse just braces against the pressure.

What size snaffle should I use?

Per Richard Winters: 5"–5.5" fits most horses. Some performance trainers use 6"–6.5" with heavier rings for better pre-signal and feel. Measure your horse's mouth at rest—the bit should sit with 1/4" of ring showing on each side, not pinching the lips.

What about twisted-wire or thin-mouthpiece snaffles?

Per Richard Winters: these increase severity by concentrating pressure on a smaller area. Use them only with experienced hands and only for specific training stages—never as a default. Most horses do best in a smooth medium-thickness snaffle, with severity reserved for genuine training need.

Can I use a snaffle for a finished horse?

Per Richard Winters: many disciplines and trainers transition to a curb or shanked bit for finished work. Others—particularly classical dressage and many performance Western trainers—keep horses in snaffles indefinitely. The snaffle is fully capable of refined communication when paired with skilled hands.

How do I know if my horse's snaffle fits?

Per Richard Winters: look for one wrinkle at the corner of the lips, no pinching, and even contact when reins are gathered. If the horse fusses at the bit, gapes, or tosses head, fit, mouthpiece, or rider hands all warrant a check. Bit fit is as important as saddle fit.