Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

Trading curb for snaffle -- how to adjust?

From: Betty

Hi, Jessica (and all).

ON the recommendation of some people, I decided to get a "regular" headstall (instead of the one-eared I've been using) with a throatlatch, and an eggbutt snaffle bit.

My 1st question is: How do I know I've got the bit attached correctly? I.e., not backwards????

My 2nd question is: How do I make sure that it fits Misty correctly? Both the bit itself and how it hangs in her mouth from the headstall.

I'm not used to this setup on her, and I'm unsure. I think I will try it on her several more times while lunging before I ever ride with it, and I will ride in a "controlled" situation for several times when I DO use it.

I also have another question/comment. I put the new bridle on today while I was lunging her, without the reins, to see how she would do wit h it. She wasn't too sure she wanted it in there, but did OK with it. She really messed with it for several minutes--maybe 10--by opening her mouth really wide, banging it around, etc.

Is this normal with a new bit? I can't remember how she did when I first got her, because there was so much trauma just associated with actually getting the bit IN, that once it was in, I didn't pay attention.

Also, it seemed to me that the bit moved around in her mouth, or maybe it was that the headstall moved around. Anyway, it seemed to be a lot less stationary than her current Tom Thumb, even using a one-eared headstall with that bit.

I did not have the throatlatch tight; only on the loosest notch. I was always told not to have that tight for the horse.

BTW, this new headstall does NOT have a noseband.

Thanks in advance!

Betty

Hi Betty! That's two questions in one -- let me take them in order. ;-) First, if you look at the bit closely (I assume you're talking about a single-joint snaffle), you'll notice that the cannons (the parts that go into the horse's mouth) aren't perfectly straight -- they bend very slightly. You want them to curve away from the headstall, not toward it -- so that if the headstall is on Misty and you are attaching the bit to it, you want it attached like this: {_ (I'm NOT good at ascii art, but the straight horizontal line is meant to represent the cheekpiece of the headstall, and the { mark is meant to show the way the bit cheeks should curve. If you attach it so that it curves like this: }_ then it is in backward, and Misty will be miserable.

Okay, question two! Snaffles fit differently and adjust differently than curbs do. Curbs hang a bit lower in the horse's mouth -- when your snaffle is adjusted properly, you'll see a wrinkle in the corner of Misty's mouth, on each side. If you see several wrinkles and she opens her mouth, the bit is too high. Snaffles need to be higher in the mouth than curbs, because when they are adjusted lower, they can bang on the horse's teeth AND they make it easy for her to put her tongue over the bit, which is NOT comfortable for her.

The throatlatch should be loose -- good for you! And she shouldn't really need a noseband; I know that you're not the kind of rider who would want to tie her horse's mouth shut, and the only other use for a noseband is to give you somewhere to attach a standing martingale. Since you don't use one on Misty, she doesn't need a noseband, so no problem there.

Now it's my turn to ask questions! First, about the longeing -- I hope I'm reading your question wrong, and you aren't longeing her from her bit! If you are, please don't -- get a longeing cavesson for her (you can probably find one at EquineAffaire, and if not, you can get one through the Miller's catalog for $30). If I've misinterpreted and she is just wearing her bit and headstall while you longe her with her cavesson, I apologize -- but I had to ask. ;-)

My second question is this: WHY a snaffle? I thought you were training her for Western Pleasure classes, and since she's not a QH futurity prospect, why not stay with the bit she knows and likes? That old saying is perfectly true -- "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." And sometimes the "fix" can make things much worse, so I have another saying to add to that one: "If it ain't broke, don't break it!" Anyway... if you really want her in a snaffle, be sure that it fits her mouth. It should go through her mouth from side to side and (when it's held straight across) leave about a quarter inch of space on each side of her mouth. The other thing you need to think about is whether it fits the INSIDE of her mouth. If she has a low palate or a thick tongue, as so many horses do, Misty may not ever be comfortable in a single-joint snaffle. Check this -- ask PJ to help you when she comes to visit -- and if Misty's mouth isn't really designed for the snaffle you have, think about getting a French-link snaffle, which is more comfortable and much more gentle, instead.

Good luck!

-Jessica

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