Comments on: Snaffle Bits for Gaited Horses

By: Zab

Zab — Wed, 28 Sep 2016 03:18:17 +0000

Lovely reading. I have a gaited standardbred, and in lack of access to the gaited world with trainers and stuff, I went with a good non-gaited trainer. Now my horse performs a flatwalk, saddle rack, rack, trot and canter. On cue. He started out with a nearly dead pace. We have used various bits and bitless options, however it has never been with regards to gait, or to get ”brakes” or flex the poll on him. He’s currently in a mullenmouth o-ring. Never been shod in a ”gaited” manner – it’s regular shoes or barefoot for us.
He’s a horse first, gaited second.

By: Heide

Heide — Mon, 10 Aug 2015 15:12:50 +0000

I have two gaited horses, ride one in a snaffle and the other one in a bit less bridle and they both gait well.
I asked a natural horsemanship clinician when to put a horse in a leverage bit and the answer I got was “when they know everything they need to know in a snaffle first” and when I got to that point I went without the bit all together

By: Galadriel

Galadriel — Sun, 17 May 2015 16:56:32 +0000

Now that I had a chance to read through the article properly I’m very pleased to hear a reasonable point of view. I wish there were more people who this way in many of the different worlds of riding, especially Western with their forced frames!

By: Galadriel

Galadriel — Sat, 16 May 2015 23:58:05 +0000

I love snaffles.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 09 May 2015 10:28:54 +0000

I had a Peruvian who never had a bit in her mouth. Each horse is different. If a snaffle keeps your horse happy I don’t see any issue with staying withvit.

By: Julie

Julie — Fri, 08 May 2015 19:34:04 +0000

I’m pretty sure that’s my horse in the picture. We were doing a gaited dressage class at the KMSHA International. I usually ride her in a kimberwick but she did just as well in the snaffle. She is very light in the mouth so a light hand is important in keeping her happy. She gaited just as well in the snaffle as in any other bit I’ve ridden her in.

By: Piros

Piros — Fri, 08 May 2015 16:04:55 +0000

I train Paso Finos with a single snaffle bit. They respond to the snaffle very well. Lightness is not just the bit, that is just one element. It has to be everywhere in your horse and you. And it comes with proper training.

By: Ann

Ann — Fri, 08 May 2015 13:56:54 +0000

You bring a great commentary for any type of riding. If it ain’t broke don’t fix it. Soft hands are primary in all training as well as a “soft” mind set. Time is your best friend.

By: Eileen Elmore

Eileen Elmore — Fri, 08 May 2015 11:30:32 +0000

We ride our Peruvian horses with no bit using a very simple hackamor…they are awesome,willing and responsive….We ride through very diverse areas including beach,rivers,mangrove swamps…and they gait beautifully.