Meeting Dale Myler - Busting the Snaffle Myth
Basics of How a Snaffle Works
When riders mount up we have high hopes that today our training will
lead us to achievements with our horse that we have been striving to
accomplish. Have you ever hoped for greater obedience, smoother transitions,
rhythmic gaits or a perfect jump course? Do you want your horse to remain in
his frame through out your training or maybe you want just a calm and fuss-free
trail ride?
I know I do. I have the same goals and aspirations as every other horse
owner and rider out there. I began like so many other horse crazy girls taking
weekly riding lessons. My mother drove three friends and me to Fox Hill Farm in
Westchester County, NY. In the late 60’s
we all learned to Walk-Trot-Canter while using a Pelham bit with double reins.
Even though my six-year-old hands were small, I learned to articulate the two
reins. The lesson horses and ponies I was trained on were content and I never
even knew it.
In the 70’s the market became flooded with snaffle bits and this style
of bit has remained dominant ever since. We all thought that snaffles were
gentle because they were broken in the middle. Talk to a lobster, what does it
think of a nutcracker? I have shown horses, competed dressage and eventing and
if I were completely honest with myself I would have to admit that not one of
my horses, even my highest-level horses would remain stable in the bridle for
more than 3-4 strides. Every horse I owned went in a snaffle and I was proud of
that fact. The problem was that each and every one required continual
adjustments; a fiddling of fingers, a wiggle a reminder to stay put in the
bridle. I became a master at fiddling them down. I could disguise any horse as
round. But the truth was they were constantly evading the bit and coming out of
the frame; the frame that I worked so hard to achieve. The real trouble began
when an amateur rode my horse. Without the ability to fiddle and correct my
horse’s frame, the real frame was exposed. I wasn’t alone in this problem; a
majority of riders were and are in snaffles.
All of this changed for me sixteen years ago this January when I was
introduced to an extremely charismatic and intelligent man named Dale Myler. I
remember being reluctantly dragged to a one-hour seminar taught by this guy in
a cowboy hat. I was thinking what could he teach me? Sixty minutes later I was
again reluctantly dragged, this time away from Dale whose knowledge and insight
I could not get enough of. Dale managed in the first fifteen minutes of his
presentation to completely knock down the foundation of all my years of English
training and bitting horses. Dale explained to all of us how a bit mechanically
works in a horse’s mouth. Dale did not just talk about Myler bits, but every
bit type we asked about. Later on he explained that he and his brothers were
simply building a better mousetrap. Most importantly he explained how painful a
snaffle bit could be in a horses mouth.
Dale explained that if a horse is in a snaffle bit every time the rider
shortens their reins, turns or collects their horse, they are negatively
correcting their horse by nut crackering their tongue with every adjustment.
Dale also explained that when a horse is properly in the bridle, the snaffle is
in its most painful position. I was appalled! I began to wonder if my horses were
in pain when I rode them. My thoroughbred loved to tuck his head to his chest,
a classic evasion. I also began to
ponder that if they were comfortable in their mouths, how much easier training
them might be. Would my horses remain in the bridle, on the bit or stable in my
hands for longer than three strides? Would I no longer have to fiddle, vibrate
or put my horse’s head back right? I was desperate to find out. After hearing
Dale speak I went home that afternoon, and headed to my tack room to toss out all
of my snaffles. Riding would have to wait a few more months, I happened to be seven
months pregnant. I could still use the phone so I called and scheduled Dale to
come and teach a mounted bitting clinic that June.
After I gave birth to my daughter Neena in March of 1999, I was ready
to ride in the June clinic. I convinced ten of my closest friends to bring
their horses for Dale to analyze. The bit he chose for my 15-year-old
thoroughbred Pi created the most amazing difference in my horse’s comfort. It
was a bar bit with a fairly high port. In Myler speak a 33D with rein holds. I
was immediately able to feel an increase in his stride. I could create the
impulsion I had been trying to achieve for years. I was able to close my leg
and move him up to meet my hand with out my horse evading his bit. Very quickly
he began lifting his back up and stabilizing his head in the bridle. His body
was ultimately able to relax in the proper frame and I was able to move on with
his training. It was exhilarating. After
that, I have never looked back. I have worked to understand the differences in
the mechanics of bits and how they affect the head, neck back and hind end of a
horse. I strive to match the correct bit with a horses training level,
temperament and the goals of its rider.
Since that day sixteen years ago, Dale and I have worked together
bitting numerous horses at his clinics and I myself have bit hundreds of
horses. . I have helped riders achieve greater success in training and competition
by removing from their horses any unnecessary mouth pain. My mission is very simple;
I want to make as many horses as comfortable as I possibly can.
Let’s talk about the basics and the mechanics of snaffle bits.
Types of Snaffles
- Jointed Snaffle
- Unjointed Snaffles - Mullen
- Snaffles with cheeks
- The Gag
How does a jointed snaffle work when you engage the bit by taking up contact?
- Nutcrackers and pinches the horse’s tongue
- Takes away the use of the tongue by pushing it down below the bars.
- Pinches the corners of the lips
- Traps the lips up against the molars
How does an unjointed snaffle work when you engage the bit by taking up contact?
- It puts pressure on the lips, tongue and bars
- Very little pressure on the tongue if there is a port on the bit.
How does a snaffle with cheeks work when you engage the bit by taking up contact?
- It puts pressure on the sides of the face when turning.
- Full cheek bits connected to the cheek pieces with bit loops give pressure on the pole of the horse when engaged. This encourages the horse to break properly at the pole and lower his head.
- Nutcrackers and pinches the horse’s tongue
- Takes away the use of the tongue by pushing it down below the bars.
- Pinches the corners of the lips
- Traps the lips up against the molars
How does a gag snaffle work when you engage the bit by taking up contact?
- Somewhat takes away the use of the tongue by pushing it down below the bars.
- Straight pull on the lips as the bit rises up the gag cheeks.
- Extreme pressure on the horse’s pole.
Flaws in the snaffle action
- Joint of the snaffle is always off center
- One side lifts and the other side catches
- Worst pain when a horse is properly in the bridle in a frame.
- It’s action can only raise a horse’s head up
- It hits a horse’s palate when you lead them with the reins over their head.
How Horses Evade snaffle Bits
- Put their nose to their chest when you take up contact.
- Stick their nose out and down – pulling the reins out of you hands when you try to take up contact.
- Throw their head up high and fight when you take up contact.
- Stick their tongue out the side of their mouth when you take up contact.
- Open their mouth and put his tongue in his throat when you take up contact.
- Twisting their head to the side when you take up contact.
- Ring their tail when you take up contact.
Myler 04 Level 2 - Comfort Snaffle
- Even lift on both sides of your horses mouth.
- Will not collapse and pinch your horses tongue.
- Has a low port to allow tongue relief.
- The bit is built on a curve to enable your horse to swallow more easily.
Be sure to look for our next Blogs in our Bitting and Training Series where you can learn about:
1. The three keys to horse training.
2. How bits function in a horse’s mouth.
3. The differences between bits.
4. And I will guide you on choosing a bit that will help you train your horse.
We are responsible for the well being of the horses in our care. If we expect 100% effort from them while we ride, we owe it to our horse to be sure they are as healthy and comfortable as possible.
Happy Holidays,
Hope Birsh
Please contact me with any questions about bitting training your horses. I would also love to see video of how your horses are training and any challenges you might have that I can help you with.
