A snaffle bit is the most common type of bit used in the horse community. It consists of a mouthpiece with a ring on either side and acts with direct pressure. A snaffle is not necessarily a bit with a jointed mouthpiece, as is often thought. A bit is a snaffle because it creates direct pressure without leverage on the mouth. It is a bit without shanks. The snaffle bit works on several parts of the horse's mouth including the tongue and bars, the lips of the horse also feel pressure. The rings also serve to act on the side of the mouth and the sides of the jawbone.
