I saw a rider schooling in a three-ring snaffle, but set up in a configuration I’ve never seen before. The cheek piece was attached to the large middle ring, and the reins to the bottom ring. The top ring was not attached to the bridle and pointed towards the horse’s nostrils in this setup.
Is there a specific reason for this option? It seems like it might have some gag action through the middle loose ring, but none of the leverage action.
Sounds like a mistake to me. If the reins pull the “shank” as far as it will go in that setup, the top ring would be touching the mouthpiece and pushing it down onto the bars of the horse’s mouth. Certainly not an elevator effect and probably not a desirable action at all.
Or maybe I misunderstood.
I can’t think of any logical reason someone would do that. Nor can I imagine many horses tolerating it.
Just a small point of clarification, a three-ring is not a snaffle. It’s an elevator - totally different action from a snaffle.
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