Your E-mail:
Get the latest news, tips and
free advice every month
Do you use any form of permanent identification on your horse?


Printer Friendly Bookmark and Share

HorseChannel's Online Bit Guide: Loose Ring or O-Ring Snaffle

O-Ring or Loose Ring Snaffle
Loose-ring snaffle pictured on top
O-Ring or Loose Ring Snaffle: One of the mildest bits, the plain snaffle features a smooth, simple mouthpiece and round bit rings which may be highly decorated for use on young western performance horses. The plain snaffle is often of loose ring design, meaning that the bit rings move freely through the mouthpiece.

  • Loose ring snaffles help prevent a horse from pulling and leaning on the bit for support.
  • If an O-ring snaffle begins to chafe the corners of a horse’s mouth, use rubber bit guards or switch to a smooth D-ring or eggbutt snaffle.
  • When an O-ring snaffle is used on a young western horse, a leather curb strap is often used to prevent the rings of the bit from sliding into the horse’s mouth.

Next bit >>

Back to HorseChannel's Online Bit Guide.


 Give us your opinion on
HorseChannel's Online Bit Guide: Loose Ring or O-Ring Snaffle

Submit a Comment   Join Club
Earn 1,000 points! What's this?
Reader Comments
The second bit in the picture isn't a loose ring snaffle, it's an offset western dee. Also, in the vast majority of cases, loose ring bits only chafe the horses mouth and requiring bit guards, if the bit is 1. incorrectly fitted 2. incorrectly adjusted 3. the rider is see-sawing or otherwise being heavy-handed.
Samantha, Mission Viejo, CA
Posted: 3/18/2010 12:35:58 AM
The O-Ring isn't a very good bit unless you have bit guards. Loose ring snaffles are great though!
Brianna, Huntigton Beach, CA
Posted: 11/14/2009 6:40:56 PM
My favourite bits.
Galadriel, Lothlorien, ME
Posted: 7/8/2009 11:36:36 PM
I used one once their great
Katie, Clarington, OH
Posted: 6/25/2009 6:29:25 PM
View Current Comments

Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Email:
Horses USA
Buy Now
Quarter Horses
Buy Now
Young Rider
Buy Now


Hi my name's Warlock

Visit the Photo Gallery to
cast your vote!
Information on over 200 dog breeds