Bit questions?

macy.hj said:

For my horses, I just use a plain single jointed snaffle. That's pretty much all I've ever used, except using a curb bit on my old trainers western pleasure horse, and I'd like to think I have pretty soft hands.
What are your opinions on a twisted snaffle bit? I know a couple gals who use them, and I've heard some different things about them. I'm not planning on ever using them, just wanted to know. Of course, even a snaffle could be abusive in the wrong hands. Technically, you could hospitalize someone with a spoon 🤷‍♀️ One of the trainers at my barn uses it, and it truly has helped her and her horse.
What do you think, and what bits do you use on your horses?

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As a general rule of thumb, I do not like to use bits that have a twisted mouthpiece. I feel like if I have to use something that has BITE, then I have not done a good enough job training my horses to be soft. But with that said, there's always exceptions. I don't ride my horses in snaffles all that much, since they are older and more finished, but I will use a snaffle when we have on our English attire.

As another general rule, I don't like using bits that only have a single joint. I feel I do better and my horses do better with a double joint (such as a dogbone center or similar). I feel it functions better inside their mouth and can get more flex from it. So the snaffles that I do use have the double joint.

Red goes good in just about anything, as does Dexter. Lilly I am still learning some of what she likes. She does tend to LEAN on the snaffle quite a bit when I ride her English so (here's an exception!!!) I do use a twisted mouthpiece on her snaffle in the English bridle, for now. It helps just enough that she doesn't lean and we can have a more successful ride. At some point, I'd like to put her back in a smooth bit but this is what's working for right now for us.