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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 415
| I don't know if it is a regional thing, or what, but curious what you consider a "snaffle"?
I always thought a snaffle referred to a bit with no leverage (shanks) and used direct rein pressure. I do not consider a shanked bit with a two piece mouth to be a snaffle, I consider that to be a shank bit with a two piece mouth. Seems like I see a lot of "snaffles" advertised that are not snaffle bits at all.
Can we just clear this up please and all get on the same page? |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
  
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | CheckItOut - 2014-08-29 9:59 AM I don't know if it is a regional thing, or what, but curious what you consider a "snaffle"? I always thought a snaffle referred to a bit with no leverage (shanks) and used direct rein pressure. I do not consider a shanked bit with a two piece mouth to be a snaffle, I consider that to be a shank bit with a two piece mouth. Seems like I see a lot of "snaffles" advertised that are not snaffle bits at all. Can we just clear this up please and all get on the same page?
I'm old school and I agree with you, you said it so well  |
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  More bootie than waist!
Posts: 18425
Location: Riding Crackhead. | Southtxponygirl - 2014-08-29 10:05 AM CheckItOut - 2014-08-29 9:59 AM I don't know if it is a regional thing, or what, but curious what you consider a "snaffle"? I always thought a snaffle referred to a bit with no leverage (shanks) and used direct rein pressure. I do not consider a shanked bit with a two piece mouth to be a snaffle, I consider that to be a shank bit with a two piece mouth. Seems like I see a lot of "snaffles" advertised that are not snaffle bits at all. Can we just clear this up please and all get on the same page? I'm old school and I agree with you, you said it so well
I agree with you guys. I recently judged a rodeo queen contest and at horsemanship we asked each girl what bit they were using. A couple of them called their shanked bits with broken mouths "snaffles". I didn't ask the other judges their thoughts on it but it did affect my scores. |
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 Experienced Mouse Trapper
Posts: 3106
Location: North Dakota | Can we just clear this up please and all get on the same page?
Haha! Solving world hunger would be easier! There will never be a time when EVERYONE agrees about anything, even if it's black and white.
Lazy man terms: anything with a broken mouthpiece is a snaffle! It depends who I'm talking to and how much knowledge they have.
Edited by LMS 2014-08-29 10:25 AM
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 415
| LMS - 2014-08-29 10:22 AM
Lazy man terms: anything with a broken mouthpiece is a snaffle! It depends who I'm talking to and how much knowledge they have.
True that. However, it would help if we all got on the same page when it comes to buying and selling bits. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | I do not refer to every bit with a broken mouthpiece as a snaffle, but I will use the term "snaffle mouthpiece."
I think this terminology is coming from all the bit makers I use. When they have their mouthpieces listed to build your own bit, regardless of what bit/shanks you're putting it on they have the mouthpieces listed as smooth snaffle, square snaffle, twisted snaffle etc.
They don't list them as smooth 2 piece, square 2 piece, twisted 2 piece.
Maybe some people are confusing the difference in the two? Or maybe this is what they actually mean and they're just not saying like this? |
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 Expert
Posts: 4625
Location: Desert Land | To Me, a "snaffle bit" is an O, D, full cheek, etc - no shank or leverage. But I do use the term "snaffle Mouth" with to me is a 2 piece jointed mouth piece that can be on any type of bit. For example, a lifter bit with a smooth snaffle mouth. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 415
| BamaCanChaser - 2014-08-29 11:15 AM
I do not refer to every bit with a broken mouthpiece as a snaffle, but I will use the term "snaffle mouthpiece."
I think this terminology is coming from all the bit makers I use. When they have their mouthpieces listed to build your own bit, regardless of what bit/shanks you're putting it on they have the mouthpieces listed as smooth snaffle, square snaffle, twisted snaffle etc.
They don't list them as smooth 2 piece, square 2 piece, twisted 2 piece.
Maybe some people are confusing the difference in the two? Or maybe this is what they actually mean and they're just not saying like this?
I have noticed that some catalogs and bit makers even use this terminology. I still do not think it is correct.
And I'm certainly not arguing, because really I can probably figure out what kind of bit a person is talking about no matter what terminology they use to describe it.
Just purely curious to see the differing opinions on the subject out there.
I would not call a bit a shanked lifter with a snaffle mouth, ever... but if someone described one that way, I would know what they meant.
However, when people list a bit for sale as a "snaffle" that is clearly a shank bit... well if we could clean that up a bit, I wouldn't complain :)LOL! |
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 The Bling Princess
Posts: 3411
Location: North Dakota | A snaffle bit to me is anything with a broken mouthpiece, shanked or not. I usually refer to them as an "Ed Wright Short Shank, medium shank, long shank," etc. |
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 Proud to be Deplorable
Posts: 1929
| They are all broken mouth curb bits. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 330
| What is IN the mouth does NOT make a bit a snaffle or a curb.
What is OUTSIDE the mouth where the reins connect make a bit a snaffle or a curb.
It would help if the tack catalogs STOPPED calling bits with shanks and jointed mouthpieces snaffles - they are not.
Snaffles are bits where rein pressure is a direct 1 to 1 ratio on the mouthpiece and the bars, tongue, and lips are most affected. What is in the mouth can be one joint, two joints, no joints, ported, etc.
Shank or leverage bits are bits that depending on the length and shape of the purchase and the shank, will apply an amount of increased pressure more than a direct 1 to 1 ratio and in multiple areas on the horse including the bars, tongue, roof of the mouth, the poll, and the chin. What is in the mouth can be one joint, two joints, no joints, ported, etc. Shank/leverage bits are to be used with a curb strap or curb chain to be used effectively (which is another thing that drives me batty is when I see leverage bits with no curb chain!)
So OP, I agree with you! This DRIVES ME NUTS! |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | This is my BIGGEST pet peeve. Especially when very well respected trainers/riders misuse the term. How is anybody new supposed to have the correct information when even idolized professionals can't get it right?
A few years back, BHN had a "what's your favorite bit" article where WELL KNOWN trainers and riders talked about their favorite bits. EVERY. SINGLE. ONE had a picture of a curb bit, and then a nice explanation of why "this snaffle" is their favorite. I couldn't believe it.
The mouth piece has NOTHING to do with whether or not a bit is a snaffle or not. If the mouthpiece, headstall, and reins all connect to the same spot - it is a snaffle. If they don't, it isn't. One break, two breaks, no breaks, chain, whatever. It makes no difference. Snaffles work off of direct pressure, curbs work off of leverage. |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 415
| Yes I do wish at least all of the catalogs could get on the same page.
Also, I wonder if I took up reining and went to a Snaffle Bit class with a long shank two piece mouth and said, "but I consider this a snaffle"... would they let me compete?? LOL! Food for thought! |
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 Veteran
Posts: 137
Location: ILLINOIS | I also consider an o-ring, d-ring and the like "snaffles". I call the middle piece how I see it. Twisted broken bit, smooth broken bit, dog bone, broken o (the oring in the middle of the break where the dog bone would be), etc. Thats how I learned it when I was little. Thats how I consider it. Probably wayyyy different than others but its how I look at it. Lol.
What drove me nuts the other day was a bit advertised as a sliding gag snaffle. Smh. Really threw my brain for a loopty loop. Lol. |
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The Resident Destroyer of Liberal Logic
Location: PNW | CheckItOut - 2014-08-30 10:56 AM
Yes I do wish at least all of the catalogs could get on the same page.
Also, I wonder if I took up reining and went to a Snaffle Bit class with a long shank two piece mouth and said, "but I consider this a snaffle"... would they let me compete?? LOL! Food for thought!
LOLZ! A person would get laughed out of there so fast. |
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Red Bull Agressive
Posts: 5981
Location: North Dakota | CheckItOut - 2014-08-29 9:59 AM I don't know if it is a regional thing, or what, but curious what you consider a "snaffle"? I always thought a snaffle referred to a bit with no leverage (shanks) and used direct rein pressure. I do not consider a shanked bit with a two piece mouth to be a snaffle, I consider that to be a shank bit with a two piece mouth. Seems like I see a lot of "snaffles" advertised that are not snaffle bits at all. Can we just clear this up please and all get on the same page?
Anyone who calls a shanked bit a snaffle is speaking the language of ignorance. Snaffles have no leverage, regardless of mouthpiece. |
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