Why are very few competition horses in snaffles??

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smirnoff_ice

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Random question i know, but i was watching some BSJA classes at Bold Heath the other day and they were all in fancy-looking bits. I didnt see a single snaffle. Never do on xc either. See a few in dressage, but then they move on to double bridles. Just wondering why really??
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Lou.
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ETS - when i say snaffles, i mean all of the milder bits.
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Depends on the BSJA!

At summerhouse on tuesday the vast majority were in snaffles. I have ben competeing without a noseband in a snaffle (he broke his lovely pink cavesson!)
 
cos i cant stop in one
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seriously, when i did BSJA with my ponies they were all fast, difficult little critters who i really couldn't stop when i was jumping, they where in snaffles etc to school in but as soon as a jump was up, they where off
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I ride xc in a snaffle as does my sister... I see a lot in snaffles and a lot in other bits, was interesting to see eric smiley saying about 1* and 2* riders using too many big bits, having seen him out the previous week in a snaffle and flash, not even a martingale in sight, whilst the amateur dealers were out with eevry gadget (bungee's etc) going jumping in them you can see hwo is the better rider!
 
I have two horses -one does everything in a snaffle, although I am told he needs something stronger for hunting.

The other one is extremely strong and loopy. He ran off with me XC once and really shook me up because I thought he was going to run through the metal posts they used to rope off. He currently jumps in a rubber pelham, but I find it is more effective if I keep swapping bits around. I don't think I will ever be able to hold him in a snaffle.
 
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Because people use them as a short cut from good schooling.

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I'm with you. I know poeple who put stronger bits in instead of schooling from the ground up. I turned one horse from a plank of wood into a responsive light mouthed animal in 6 sessions of hacking out as no menage to use.
 
Because Snaffles are not the be all and end all. My horse is well schooled, you are welcome to try & take a pull XC in a snaffle!
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Agree Nic01, not every horse suits a snaffle, buts how many actually NEED what theyve got in their mouths?
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How many of the issues could be prevented by spending more time educating....
 
To some extent I think it comes down to good schooling, but I also think a lot of competition horses are hotter than happy hackers and really enjoy their job, meaning you need more control. Better imo to have a stronger bit used lightly than to be hauling away with a snaffle.

I do think there are plenty of people who put a stronger bit in through laziness though.
 
I tend to agree with you on this, not in all cases, but in many I firmly believe that the majority of people show jumping don't do the flatwork schooling that is needed. There is an obsession about jumping & all their time is spent doing this. Then they moan about having no brakes & slam a pelham or similar in the horses mouth.

A show jumper spends 95% of its time on the ground, only 5% in the air so quality flatwork is a must.
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Well I must say that my horse needs a different bit for xc. havent quite worked out yet what will suit, but got a few to try. I hope that one day when we have been out to a few xc comps that he will go round in a snaffle, but in the mean time, he needs something stronger.
 
good schooling is the key, but like my last mare, the more conrfident and wise to what she was doing meant i just couldnt hold her safely in a snaffle-not that she was out of control xc...but that i needed to chedck her more.

new horse is in a french link snaffle and im hoping to keep in that as long as i can
 
I couldnt take my mare xc in a snaffle, she'd more than likely end up killing one of us! She's a hot headed girly whom likes her work to say the least! I do jump in a pelham, but I'm hoping that with enough effort we could atleast sj in a snaffle...One day....If we're lucky =p
 
My horse is hardly a compition horse, but i ride him in what he goes best in. He is not a fan of snaffles, he prefers something with poll action. I ride him in a loop ring snaffle, and occasionally a three ring gag.
He will refuse to have his bridle put on if he has been ridden in a snaffle previously. Once its on he will concentrate so hard on fighting the snaffle that we dont go forwards, as soon as poll pressure is there he becomes softer and more forwards.
I admit that it makes him easier, but it also makes him happier, so why continue trying the snaffle. If people think that im a bad rider because of it, oh well, maybe i am!!!
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I have 2 horses who both do everything in snaffles. My gelding has a loose ring french link and my mare a loose ring jointed happy mouth. I feel that I've spent time schooling them to be responsive to what I ask I wouldn't think twice though about using something stronger if I needed to if the horses were getting dangerously strong and not listening to me.

I have noticed too especially at Pony Club that everyone thinks a bubble bit is the thing to use even when half the time a snaffle would do. I don't BSJA so I can't comment on its for that but I understand that many eventers need a stronger bit than a snaffle for XC.
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Because people use them as a short cut from good schooling.

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I'm with you. I know poeple who put stronger bits in instead of schooling from the ground up. I turned one horse from a plank of wood into a responsive light mouthed animal in 6 sessions of hacking out as no menage to use.

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I think you need to come ride my horse then as I must be really bad at it.

I think there is a lot of ignorance as to how bits actually work. Just because it isn't a snaffle and looks complicated does not mean it is a strong bit.
 
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Because people use them as a short cut from good schooling.

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LOL - Kat, fancy coming and taking my horse, who this winter has been consistently scoring between 65% and 69% in novice tests so is clearly not terribly badly schooled XC or SJ in a snaffle?

I know you didn't mean it the way it sounded, but I would not rate your chances at jumping a nice round in a snaffle, whereas I think you'd be fine if he was in the pelham he has for jumping. He stops jumping if you put him in a snaffle....
 
I used to have a horse who was nicely schooled to Advanced Medium dressage (in a french link snaffle), and who would hack happily in his dressage bridle. However take him jumping and you had no chance. This was an impeccably schooled horse on the flat. But he had to jump in a kimblewick or pelham; far kinder to him than pulling his face off in the snaffle. I don't see anything wrong with jumping a horse in a stronger bit if it is necessary, and if the rider knows how to use it and has independent hands.
 
I agree, i think its different bits for different horses, not every horse should be in a snaffle.
I have an extensive bit collection, through trying to find a bit my horse was comfortable in, and it turns out he prefers things with poll action.
I also agree with the comment about prefer to taking a tweak on a strong bit, than having to haul on a snaffle.
 
i am also amazed at the bits u see in use at shows but not one fits all! i love to see a horse going nicely in a snaffle but the reality is a bit is only as soft as the hands its in and the horse its on, i tried in vein to keep mine in a snaffle but i had no control and so much 'weight' in my hand it cant have been pleasent for him, he now has a combination bit and im able to ride with a much lighter contact and enjoy sj/xc!
 
horses can not be categorised like that. true it would be lovely to have a horse that liked and went well in a snaffle. but its not the case.
i have spent 2 years contantly schooling my mare to the best of her ability as i bought her as a 5yr old that had jumped and jumped. i schooled her in a snaffle for this time. using loose rings, waterfords every type of snaffle going. and she went well in them all.
but as soon as you start to jump, its a waste of time. as a result i have to alternate my jumping bit every 6 weeks or so just to keep her alert and stop her taking a hold. i still do all my flat work in a snaffle.
so every horse is different and has different ways of going.
it is unfair to say all horses that arent in a snaffle arent schooled 'properly'
 
I ride one of mine in a Myler snaffle (dressage legal one) for everything (incl. XC). I tend to compete all mine in basic mild bits if possible and always have with all mine except one of my other current ones who's in a kimblewick
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Im unsure why so many dont wear snaffles nowadays. I have actually been told at BSJA comps that I should put my horse in a more lifting bit to get him more "up in front" which I do understand but since he's not strong, Im trying to school him to be more up first!

Personally I think PC should try to recommend more chilled out bits. WAY too many little kids are on NOT strong ponies in dutch gags on the bottom ring! I think it just makes the parents happier
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I've noticed this, lil 12hh ponies with reins on bottom of 3 ring gag with kid equiped with spurs and a whip!!!!!
The strongest bit I had when I was a kid was a kimberwick, never given spurs (still haven't properley ridden in any!!!!) and have only now gone onto stronger bits for xc for my beast, who does everything (including fast work at home) in a french link, loose ring snaffle, but xc at comp i have absolutely no chance of stopping him!!!!
 
Just caught up with this!
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I wasn't having a go at anyone or anything - just pondering away as i do!
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I don't compete (apart from the odd fun show and unaff dressage), so don't really have a say.
Only experience i have is putting Murph in a 3-ring gag on the bottom ring and he started bolting. Put him back in a snaffle and everything was fine.
Molly was put in a pelham when she was on working livery. She just got stronger and stronger. We got her back and she's now doing really well in a Sprenger KK french-linky snaffley thing.
And Mo did a lot of SJing before we got her, and was always in a snaffle. Same XC/fun rides. Never had a problem with breaks.
Oh, and Dolly's in a happy mouth snaffle thing too.

That's what suits them, so i'm happy. And i totally agree that a 'stronger' bit is way better than ragging the mouth off a horse in a snaffle. Was just wondering IF people just stuck harsh bits in for a reason or just to save time getting their horse responsive.
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Thank you for the replies though!
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You have answered my random thinking of the day!
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