The Snaffle Bit, Part 2

Developing contact: theory and practical use of bits

by Alice Trindle

Last month we embarked on the study of contact and examined how that picture related to the ideas behind the use of various bits. I hope you were able to give some of the visual aids a try in attempting to picture and feel contact. Finding that all-important handshake, with a connection somewhere between a gorilla grip and a clammy wimp, is not easy! Then to combine that feel with good posture, rhythm, timing, balance, and clear intention just adds to the complexity of developing this art form called horsemanship. Let’s see if we can take it one step at a time and examine how to develop contact by using the snaffle bit.

The Snaffle Bit & Contact

As we discussed in the previous article, the snaffle bit is an excellent choice for most horses in schooling the development of contact in that it is both a lateral and longitudinal communication tool. I also cautioned that in the wrong hands the snaffle bit can be very harsh, so don’t be fooled by its simplicity of design.

If it were a perfect world, where we all had the time to truly study the horse and ride every day to further enhance our abilities at communication, we would most likely follow the training progression of our Spanish and Mexican friends. In these traditions, the horse is schooled in a bosal, or sereta, to develop self-carriage, self-confidence, and yes, contact. Unfortunately, most of us don’t have the time, nor the understanding of these tools, to effectively use them as instruments to develop a connection from the back of the horse, up through the poll, and back to our sensitive hands. Consequently, we humans pull, the horse resists, and we tumble into a downward spiral regarding communication. (Note: I will talk about the use of the bosal in the next issue, for those who can invest the time!)

What all of us can learn from the Vaquero traditions is that the snaffle bit can be used by those of us who are mere mortals, but to develop true contact, the prerequisites of good attitude, rhythm, balance, timing, and focus must be adhered to by both horse and human! Much has been written about being “on the bit” or “on the aids,” also called “contact of the aids” or “developing a soft feel.” All authors seem to agree on one factor: you must have a strong foundation in the basics. So before we begin to talk about how to develop contact by utilizing the snaffle bit, let me offer three reminders:

1. Remember that attitude (a willingness to yield in a respectful manner) plus movement (the better the horse goes forward, backward, sideways, and crosses the hindquarters, the better he will do everything else) equals positive communication.
2. Recall your Horseman’s Protocol before every transition. (Breathe and become present; think-picture-focus, which sets up your posture; allow; and reward just before it happens!)
3. Use the Dressage Training Scale as a development tool for the horse and for you.

Let’s start with some specifics of developing contact by using the snaffle bit in combination with your other aids.

It is absolutely critical that your horse understand the basics of positive attitude and rhythmic movement before you start fiddling with his mouth. There needs to be some understanding of the driving power coming from the hindquarters, not being dragged along on the front end. It is not so much a question of "When do I start to ask for contact?" but rather, "What have I prepared for prior to asking?"

I can ask for a softness at the poll early in the development, as evidenced by one or two wrinkles in the jowl area, accompanied by a slight raising of the poll and re-balancing of the horse’s weight to the hindquarters. As we continue on, this will develop into true contact and one day being "on the bit." (See Jane Savoie’s recent article here.)

Begin on the Ground

I begin to develop contact in all my horses by executing some work-in-hand exercises. In other words, I start on the ground. It is important to remember that you are communicating to a very delicate and sensitive spot on the horse. The corners of the mouth, bars, tongue and palate are all affected when we ask the horse to give at his poll, grow his neck upwards from his shoulders, and shift his balance slightly to the hindquarters. Can you just imagine how that snaffle bit would feel in your mouth?

Remember as you practice your work-in-hand exercises, and then apply them up into the saddle, that it is important to keep these thoughts in mind:

1. First, the reins should act as an extension of you. They are somewhat elastic, with your fingers willing to hold and release; they are not part of your tug-of-war human mentality. No pulling allowed!

2. Second, recognize that you have an active rein and a supportive rein. They have different functions and feelings for the horse, particularly when accompanied by your other aids.

o The supportive rein is typically on the outside of the bend; it suggests to the horse to carry himself longitudinally from back to front, and it captures the balance when moving laterally. For example, in a leg-yield, balance moves from the inside hind to the outside rein; in a half-pass, balance moves from the outside hind to the inside fore.

o The active rein is usually on the inside of the bend, and mainly serves the purpose of keeping the proper bend. In younger horses, it provides direction. There are many other combinations and functions if we really want to get technical, but for developing beginning contact, let’s just keep it simple. (For review, read Riding Essentials by Francois Lemaire de Ruffieu.)

Once your horse can carry himself with a softness in his poll, moving with a small measure of back to front energy, and accomplishing the beginning work-in-hand exercises, you are well prepared to start asking for contact while in the saddle.

Use Your Aids

Always start with forward motion and think of your aids in this order: seat, legs, then hands. My seat asks the horse to prepare for a little half-halt; in my mind, I hear, “Get ready…get prepared…listen up.” My legs encompass the horse like a bow-legged cowboy, gathering the horse's belly up into his back. And finally, my hands squeeze the reins, talking to the tongue with my ring finger having the supportive rein in a more constant caress and the active rein sponging more actively. In the beginning, I will carry this contact only a few steps, and then reward by releasing both ring fingers. As we progress, I will continue in the same manner, using the half-halt, but ask the horse to carry this contact primarily through the supportive rein.

In the end, developing contact is critical to every discipline for riders who truly wish to athletically prepare their horses and keep them as fit, balanced partners into their later years. The snaffle bit can allow us to find that initial connection, which, combined with other aids and applied with focus, can create a beautiful picture. Start slow, reward often, and feel for the contact – the connection!