When starting the Method, Clinton encourages horsemen to use a snaffle bit to train their horses. “If you want to get the most out of the Method and want a truly soft horse, you should start the Method in a snaffle bit. In my opinion, there is no comparison to a snaffle bit’s ability to soften and supple a horse,” Clinton says.
Snaffle bits are designed to encourage lateral flexion, and lateral flexion is the key to vertical flexion. In other words, the softer you can get your horse from side to side, the softer he’ll be when you pick up on two reins and ask him to give to the bit vertically.
The snaffle bit Downunder Horsemanship offers for sale is a combination of a D- and O-ring and has a 5-inch mouth piece with 3-inch rings. Because of its design, it will not pinch the corners of the horse’s mouth like many other snaffle bits do. The bit is made of sweet iron, which encourages the horse to salivate. This keeps your horse’s mouth soft and more responsive to your rein cues during training sessions.
The snaffle bit comes in three styles: smooth, twisted and square. If you have a horse that is light in your hands, choose a smooth snaffle. For a horse that leans on the bit, use a twisted or square mouth snaffle to make leaning uncomfortable for him. Once the horse responds, go back to the smooth snaffle.
Learn more about Clinton’s snaffle bit of choice on the Downunder Horsemanship shop.
