Double mouth / Y mouth bits

[Snowfilly]

I acquired a y mouth snaffle with two mouthpieces yesterday in a job lot of heavy horse gear, and I’m curious as to what the point of them was - I’ve only ever seen them in old books before.

Does anyone know how and why they were used?

(Don’t worry, it’s not in a usable state and it’s going to a collector I know, it won’t be near a horse.)

 

[Cortez]

"Y" or "W" mouth snaffles are extremely vicious bits that purported to stop hard-pulling horses, mostly used for hunting and polo I think. Glad it won't be near a horse.

 

[chaps89]

http://thebitguide.com/snaffle/mouthpieces/double-or-y-jointed/

Sounds fairly horrific! Do you have a photo of it, Google isn't turning anything up?

 

[AFB]

http://thebitguide.com/snaffle/mouthpieces/double-or-y-jointed/

Sounds fairly horrific! Do you have a photo of it, Google isn't turning anything up?

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/a-W-or-double-mouth-loose-ring-snaffle-bit_fig5_228234389 - stock photo but horrid things

 

[Snowfilly]

I can’t post pics on this site for love nor money!

It’s got two thin mouthpieces that look like fairly standard jointed snaffles, one joint to the left and the other to the right. Loose rings.

 

[Gloi]

Ow! I remember in the tack room at a farm I used to keep my pony there was a similar one to this,( but with Wilson snaffle type double rings) on an old set of Shire ploughing harness.

 

[Gloi]

Found a picture, it was just like this. Not sure I would like to be driving a shire who needed that!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

A pony at the RS I used to work for had an ex driving pony in a double ringed snaffle. Normal mouthpiece but two rings as in the photo Gloi posted. Never could work out what the point was.

 

[milliepops]

if they are 2 rings like the above that's a Wilson snaffle. The scorrier/cornish is similar but the rings are set differently. The extra rings squeeze the horse's cheeks as the pressure is applied.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I always wondered what the purpose was. He had double ended reins as well so one to each ring.

 

[rabatsa]

I always wondered what the purpose was. He had double ended reins as well so one to each ring.

That sounds like someone did not know how to use the bit.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

This was back in the early 60's. The pony was an ex driving pony. The owner was from a big horsey family, involved in both polo and hunting originally.

 

[Maryann]

I used a 'W' snaffle as my regular bit on a horse that had raced and had braking issues. He was a bit precious about bits generally but went really sweetly in it and the brakes were good enough for everything but hunting.

 

[Cortez]

I used a 'W' snaffle as my regular bit on a horse that had raced and had braking issues. He was a bit precious about bits generally but went really sweetly in it and the brakes were good enough for everything but hunting.

Well of course he did! The bit is like a medieval torture instrument, he had no choice!