There are many reasons we choose different types of bits and they put pressure on different places of the horse’s mouth. There are entire books dedicated to this subject, but if you follow these general rules, you should be able to ride your horse in your current bit most effectively.

D Ring Snaffle Bit

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When riding with an English Bit, a bit without shanks it may or may not be a snaffle, your elbows should be to your sides and your hands in closer together than your elbows. Don’t allow your elbows to stick out to the sides like chicken wings.  Keep them close to your body.  The reason for this, is the bit is designed for optimum feel of the horse’s mouth and bit performance in this position.  Don’t twist your hands when pulling back, pull straight back by moving your fingers or if you need more pressure bring your elbows back to shorten the reins.  If you twist your hands to gain more rein you will no longer have a good straight connection to your horse’s mouth.   As with any type of bit, never break at your wrist.  Keep a straight line from your elbow to your horse’s mouth.

Snaffle Bit with 7" Shanks

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When riding with a Western Leverage Bit which may or may not be a snaffle a different principal applies. Training in a Western Snaffle is usually done with two hands.  A solid mouth piece is for one handed riding.  A horse doesn’t learn to neck rein right away there are steps taken to get there.   I’d like to talk about hand position for two handed riding with a bit that has a jointed mouth piece.  As with an English bit, your elbows should not be out like chicken wings.  The hand position is where there is a major difference, your hands should be out farther than your elbows for maximum feel of the horse’s mouth and performance.  The height of your hands will really depend on the bit and the horse, you will have to figure that part out on your own.  But keep in mind that a leverage bit increases pressure when you lift your hands causing your horse to break at the poll.  As with any bit, do not twist your hands when pulling up to the side or back.  Keep a nice straight line to your horse’s mouth without breaking at the wrist.

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The leverage bit needs less pressure from your hands than a non leverage bit.  Any bit can can be severe, it all depends on the hands of the rider.  A few more rules of thumb:

• The thicker the mouth piece, the gentler the bit.
• The thinner the mouth piece, the more severe the bit.
• The longer the shanks, the stronger the bit.

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This is a real simplistic explanation to a complicated theme, but it’s just a basic introduction. There are hundreds of variations of bits, that require an in depth explanation, in this introduction, I just wanted to touch on the most basic how and why of English and Western Bits.

Tags: English Bit, Horse Bits, Western Bit

2 Comments to Intro to English and Western Bits

Zahi Ben-Aroya
December 19, 2009

Hi Deanna
Thanks for an educating article. I, personally, prefer to go bitless, especially during trail riding.
BTW - I saw a jumping championship yesterday (from London) - the Norwegian rider was ridig lovely with an Hackamore…
Keep on the good work,
Zahi

Deanna Castro
December 22, 2009

Thanks Zahi!

Bitless is definitely a great way to go. I think that every horse/rider should aspire to being able to go bitless and bridless, it’s a true testament to the partnership between horse and rider.

Deanna

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