258 DRIVING BITS— THE SNAFFLE. 



holes drilled in the ends of the mouth-piece and the ends 

 of the rings welded together. The rings should always be 

 large enough to act on the sides of the mouth without slip- 

 ping through or giving. 



The measurements of the average size bit of this type are 

 as follows : Thickness of mouth-piece at heaviest point one- 

 half an inch, at lightest point three-eighths of an inch. Di- 

 ameter of rings from outer circumference two and one-half 

 inches. Thickness of rings one-fourth of an inch. The 

 plain snaffle is distinctly an undress bit, suitable for all 

 forms of simple harness, sending horses to the blacksmith 

 shop, exercising, rough work, etc. 



The Twisted Snaffle is similar in all respects to the 

 simple ring snaffle with the exception that the surface of the 

 mouth-piece is twisted instead of being smooth ; in conse- 

 quence its effect is more severe and should not be used by 

 an inexperienced person. 



The Double-Ringed Snaffle is formed by the addition 

 of a pair of rings placed around the mouth-piece on the in- 

 side of the rings of the ordinary snaffle. To these inner 

 rings, which are the same size as the outer ones, the cheek- 

 pieces of the bridle should be fastened and the reins to the 

 outer ones, and not to both. When the outer rings have 

 cheek-pieces the steel of all four rings is usually round, but 

 without the cheek-pieces all four rings are generally made flat 

 sided. The mouth-piece is the same as that in the simple 

 snaffle, the diameter of the rings being about three inches. 

 This bit when used by an experienced person is the most 

 effective form of the various styles of snaffles. It is appro- 

 priate for all kinds of use, except where other designs are 

 advocated. 



