Loose Ring Snaffles

How does a loose ring work?

The rings pass through a hole at each end of the mouthpiece and turn freely within it. When you take up the rein, the ring slides a little before the mouthpiece follows. That small amount of play is exactly what the loose ring is known for: the bit speaks slightly more softly, and slightly later, than a bit with fixed rings.

For your horse it means he can move the mouthpiece a fraction himself — a little forward or back on the tongue — and find the position that feels most comfortable. Many horses appreciate that freedom. It also explains why loose rings are often recommended for horses that clamp onto the bit or lean against a still one: there is less to take hold of.

Which horse does it suit?

A loose ring snaffle is a good choice for:

• Horses that set against the bit or look for support in your hand
• Horses that chew little and stay dry in the mouth — the movement invites mouth activity
• Riders working on lateral aids; the loose ring makes the distinction between left and right clear
• Everyday work, in dressage and beyond

It suits horses less well if they become unsettled by movement in the mouth, constantly reposition the bit, or twist a great deal. Those horses usually benefit more from the stillness of an eggbutt or D-ring snaffle.

Mind the corners of the mouth

This is the one real point to watch with this cheek type. Because the rings pass through the mouthpiece, a gap is created where the skin at the corner of the mouth can be caught. In horses with thin skin or a lot of movement in the contact, you see this as bald patches or sensitivity.

Bit guards solve it: they sit between the bit and the corner of the mouth and close the gap. They also make the bit sit a little more still, which some horses prefer. Do bear in mind that they take up room — re-measure your bit size when you start using them, because a bit that fitted perfectly can become tight with guards.

Planning to compete in bit guards? Check your national federation's tack rules first for your discipline. Anything not listed is not permitted. Ask us and we will look it up for you.

Ring size

A detail often overlooked on loose rings: the diameter of the ring varies by model and by brand. Large rings hang more stably and weigh a little more; small rings are lighter and sit closer to the mouth.

On ponies, young horses and horses with a short jaw, a large ring can press against the cheek or reach towards the eye. Look at this deliberately when fitting. Stübben offers many models in smaller ring sizes as well — useful if this is where you get stuck.

Finding the right bit size

A loose ring snaffle should extend roughly half a centimetre beyond the corner of the mouth on each side. Too narrow and it pinches; too wide and it slides back and forth, dragging at the corners — and with loose rings that is especially noticeable, because the mouthpiece is already mobile. More on size, thickness and materials on our snaffle bits page.

Which mouthpiece?

The loose ring determines how the bit sits in the mouth; the mouthpiece determines what your horse feels. You will find loose rings single-jointed, double-jointed, unjointed and anatomically shaped, in thicknesses generally between 12 and 18 mm.

One thing worth taking with you: thicker is not automatically softer. In a horse with a thick tongue or a low palate, a thick mouthpiece fills all the available space. And the familiar claim that a single-jointed bit pokes into the palate like a nutcracker does not hold up under radiographic study — the joint actually moves away from the palate under rein tension. To go deeper, read our page on which mouthpiece suits your horse.

For young horses

Honestly, a loose ring is not our first choice for a horse just starting out. The mobility that experienced horses appreciate is mainly confusing for a young one: the bit never sits in quite the same place twice. An eggbutt or full cheek gives a calmer, more predictable point of reference at that stage — and a full cheek cannot be pulled through the mouth.

Once your horse is steady in the contact, moving to a loose ring is a logical next step.

Check your bit for wear

Specific to this cheek type: where the ring passes through the mouthpiece, wear develops over time. Run a finger over that area regularly to check for sharp edges or burrs, and whether the ring has developed too much play. A worn loose ring can rub at exactly the point where the corner of the mouth sits.

Our brands

You will find loose ring snaffles from Sprenger, Trust, Stübben, Metalab, Horka, QHP, Feeling, Jump'in and Kentucky, among others. Beris we are happy to order in for you — let us know the model and size you are after and we will arrange it.

Advice from people who ride

Choosing a bit is not something you do from a list. In our 400 m² showroom in Lemelerveld — on the N48 between Raalte and Ommen — you can lay ring sizes, mouthpieces and thicknesses side by side and feel them in your hand. Rather talk it over first? Send us a WhatsApp message and hear back personally from someone who rides.