I have the same slow-twist, sweet-metal snaffle in two versions, one is a D-ring, the other is a loose-ring. I used the D-ring for showing my hunter, the other one for schooling at home. Now I’m considering this bit for a different horse and honestly, I don’t know how the two bits differ in terms of their use. What IS the difference between them, in other words does a D-ring act differently than a loose ring? Thanks in advance!
The D ring is just going to be a little more stable in the mouth since the mouthpiece is fixed to the ring. I find that the loose rings are more “talkative” bits, if that makes sense. When your hand moves, the bit moves more than it would in a fixed ring such as a D or an eggbutt.
I’ve heard loose rings allow the bit to fit/angle more naturally to a horse’s mouth, but the lip pinching and rattling bother me and I hate adding even more stuff to their bridles so the rubber guards don’t do for us.
Loose rings allow the bit to move a little more in the mouth so encourage horses to play with the bit to achieve a softer contact. Due to the movement they are also beneficial for horses that tend to lean.
Personally I use loose rings on all my horses have never had any of them rubbed by one.
D rings, on the other hand, will be more stable in the horse’s mouth as the rings are fixed to the mouthpiece. This is often useful for horses that are unsure of the contact or hide behind the bit. The d ring will also offer better steering, as when the rein on one side is pulled, the straight edge of the opposite D will push into the horse’s face, much like the action of a full cheek snaffle.
Hope this explains everything!
The other posters explained well. I find I don’t use loose rings very much. I like a feel of my horses mouth and for my horse to accept that feel. A D ring or Mullen mouth are my favorite bits. I think it gives me a better connection with my horses.
It really depends on what you are looking to do and what the horse is doing in your hands. And it depends on the shape of your horses mouth. I have had a few that do not like a standard snaffle and prefer a mullen mouth or for a horse with a softer mouth a double jointed snaffle because they have small mouths. Even my vet when floating one of my horses teeth will comment about how small his mouth is…
double post… computer is not happy tonight.
When my horse was green, we started him with a simple western dee snaffle. It gave him clear direct contact and directions while I was installing the power steering. Once I got that in and needed to start accustomin him to a more finesse ride, I found that a loose ring encouraged him to soften and play with the bit more, rather than lean or brace on it. Particularly, I have found that my horse leans on the dee when turning, something he does not do in the loose ring.
