What could be the reasoning behind using a three ring bit, but with only one rein on the snaffle ring? As in, no rein on the curb part of the bit that would provide leverage. Curious as I saw this setup recently at a show. I suppose it could be because they decided the horse just didn’t need the leverage that day, but could there be another reason? Does anyone use the bit in that fashion all the time? It seems like one might as well just use a loose ring with the same mouthpiece at that point, although I guess the check piece being attached to the top ring is slightly different than a regular snaffle.
Hopefully the horse only needs the snaffle but if not you can throw another set of reins on post-scooling without having to switch bits?!
A mouthpiece the horse likes that you don’t own in a snaffle bit?!
Or the horse goes well with the Baucher-like feeling of the rein on the snaffle only?
There is still that slight amount of leverage because the cheek piece attaches to a higher ring, apposed to a loose ring in which the cheek piece and rein would be attached to the same ring. We have a horse that flats like a champ, but we need another rein for jumping. Instead of switching bridles, we just add the second rein before we add fences.
Because it works fine for what they are doing at that particular point in time?
Some horses just like it. Bitting is definitely more of an art than a science.
[QUOTE=Highflyer;8520470]
Some horses just like it. Bitting is definitely more of an art than a science.[/QUOTE] Isn’t that the truth! Not to mention that horses don’t always go well in the bit they “should” like, or that would appear to be most suitable for them.
[QUOTE=walktheline;8519974]
What could be the reasoning behind using a three ring bit, but with only one rein on the snaffle ring? As in, no rein on the curb part of the bit that would provide leverage. Curious as I saw this setup recently at a show. I suppose it could be because they decided the horse just didn’t need the leverage that day, but could there be another reason? Does anyone use the bit in that fashion all the time? It seems like one might as well just use a loose ring with the same mouthpiece at that point, although I guess the check piece being attached to the top ring is slightly different than a regular snaffle.[/QUOTE]
My horse goes in a 3 ring with only a snaffle rein. He used to go in the same bit with two reins (first and second ring). My trainer wanted to try less bit because I would get nervous out on XC and bottle him up, so we pulled the second one one day. He goes well in the set up now, so we just left it rather than risk changing it to just a loose ring.
