Is a snaffle bit right for my horse?

Here's one, not used and super-cheap, but still very reasonable.

6 5" Egg Butt Snaffle Copper French Link Bit Horse Tack | eBay

I don't really know, I started out with big horses. As they say, ignorance is bliss.....
My fil did say when he saw my mare for the first time that I was going to go broke putting iron on that horse, lol.

If his mouth had to be worked on that much, there is a good chance something is still wrong. A tooth may have been cracked in the process, another tooth may be coming in, or shifting.

Ears and poll also are to be considered. But you need to get equine dentist back out, or x-rays taken I think.

I think you should stick to a snaffle bit of one sort or another. A few reasons for this: Firstly, you said that the horse has been checked out by a vet and gotten the OK, so we can PROBALY rule out any physical problems for you horse. Second, get a bit that fits, if it is too small it is going to cause problems, like someone else said it would be like you trying to run about in shoes too small. Thirdly, shanked bits are for finer communication but have the drawback of potentially putting much more force onto the horse’s jaw if you don’t know how to use one, if you are a beginner, and don’t know exactly what any particular bit is exactly used for, don’t use it.

So my recommendation would be to get a snaffle bit that fits and forget any shanked bits for the time being. Mainly because if you are a beginner, and no offence meant here, I doubt you have the seat and hands to ride with a shanked bit and not be in danger of hurting the horse’s mouth (hell, heaps of people hurt their horses mouth in a snaffle bit hauling on the reins trying not to fall off much less a shanked bit). That’s not to say that one day you will, but for now, keep it simple. If the horse is still throwing its head once you have a snaffle bit that fits, and since the vet has given the all clear, I’d then be thinking of looking at what you are doing with your hands, this is what I personally think is the biggest cause of horses “not liking bits”. It’s my opinion too many people want to offset their responsibility to have good hands by telling themselves the horse doesn’t like a bit. That’s not to say horses might not like a bit, but in every case I have ever seen to date o a “horse not liking the bit” it has been what the person was doing with it, or what someone else in the past had done with it, that the horse didn’t like, not the bit. Bits will never be a substitute for learning to handle the reins properly.

What kind of horse do you have that takes a 6 1/2" bit? Geez!

Bit size is very important. Like others said, choose one that is the proper size to begin with and always stick with snaffles at the get-go. I also recommend an eggbutt french link. It's a good all-around bit that many horses seem work well in.

Good luck!

No offense taken to the beginner comments, I fully realize that I do not know what I'm doing! That's why I'm here asking questions and reading and learning the best I can. I want to do right by him and I definitely do not want to hurt him. :) He tossed his head as soon as he saw the bit, and I've only ridden him twice for a grand total of about fifteen minutes (once in his halter, once in the Dr. Cook's bridle) so I really do think he's had some bad experiences or perhaps has some residual dental issues. If nothing improves I will be giving the vet a call again.

With regard to the bit size, I was shocked! He looks like a normal horse to me, he measures at 16 hands and while he's big... he just doesn't look THAT big. It's mainly just his face LOL. He's still underweight though, so we shall see. We showed a picture to the lady at the tack shop and she thinks he's a draft cross based on his face size and the shape of his feet and ankles. She also said possibly Thoroughbred due to him having a slight attitude problem. I just say he's a brown horse when asked what kind he his. ;)

Thanks for the ebay link and for the drafttack.com referral. I'm glad to see that the snaffles are reasonably priced. At least I won't be out a ton of money if it doesn't work out.