Galop 5Knowledge
Contents
- 01WelcomeOverview
- 02How the horse learnsKnowledge
- 03Pied, spotted, additionsKnowledge
- 04The skeletonKnowledge
- 05The musclesKnowledge
- 06DigestionKnowledge
- 07SIRE, microchip and registersKnowledge
- 08Presenting in handOn foot
- 09Lunging and long-reiningOn foot
- 10Loading and stable bandagesOn foot
- 11The riding basicsIn the saddle
- 12TransitionsKnowledge
- 13The leg-yieldIn the saddle
- 14The dressage partIn the saddle
- 15Snaffle bitsKnowledge
- 16The jumping partIn the saddle
- 17The cross-country partIn the saddle
- 18RevisionRevision
The main snaffle bits
The bit carries your hands to the horse’s mouth. In Galop 4, you named the everyday snaffles; in Galop 5, you recognise the main ones, including those kept for particular cases.
In the exam programme
- Recognise and name the main snaffle bits.Specific part
A bit is made of a mouthpiece, the part that sits in the mouth, and two rings, where the bridle cheekpieces and the reins fasten. It rests on the tongue and on the bars — the toothless gap between the incisors and the molars — and touches the corners of the lips. The shape of the rings and of the mouthpiece changes how steady the bit is and how it acts.
Loose ring
The rings slide through the mouthpiece.
Eggbutt
An egg-shaped hinge: it does not pinch.
Dee ring
D-shaped rings, steady.
Full cheek
Two upright cheeks: very guiding.
Baucher (hanging cheek)
Small ring for the cheekpiece, large one for the rein.
Gag
The cords slide: it rises in the mouth.
Pessoa
The lower the rein, the stronger the action.
Straight bar
One piece, rigid.
Single-jointed
Jointed in the middle.
Double-jointed
A centre piece between two joints.
| Bit | How to recognise it | What to expect |
|---|---|---|
| Loose-ring | Two round rings that slide through the ends of the mouthpiece | The simplest: mobile, and mild if thick enough; it can pinch the corners of the mouth |
| Eggbutt | The rings are fixed to the mouthpiece by an olive-shaped hinge | Steadier; it does not pinch the lips |
| D-ring (Verdun) | D-shaped rings | Steady, with a little more steering thanks to its flat sides |
| Full-cheek | Two upright bars, one either side of the mouth | Strong steering, it helps a young horse to turn; keepers hold the cheeks in place |
| Baucher | A small ring at the top for the cheekpiece, a large one for the rein | Very steady in the mouth, with a slight action on the poll; useful for a horse that leans |
| Gag (releveur) | Rings with holes through which cords slide — the gag cheekpieces | It slides up in the mouth when you use it: a lifting action for a horse that leans on the hand |
| Pessoa | Several rings on each side; the rein fastens to one of them | The lower the rein is fastened, the stronger the action |
Did you know?
In French yards, the name Chantilly means a loose-ring snaffle to some and an eggbutt to others, depending on the club and the maker. At the exam, describe the bit rather than rely on its name alone.
The mouthpiece
- Straight bar: rigid and in one piece, it presses mainly on the tongue.
- Single-jointed: hinged in the middle, it follows the shape of the mouth better but, pulled hard, closes into a V on the tongue and bars.
- Double-jointed: a small centre piece between two joints; it spreads more evenly over the tongue.
- Material and thickness: stainless steel, rubber, synthetic, copper… A thicker mouthpiece spreads the pressure, provided the mouth has room for it.
Safety
The gag and the Pessoa act powerfully: they are for riders with secure hands, on the instructor’s advice, and are often used with two pairs of reins. In a dressage test, only certain snaffles are allowed: the discipline’s rules give the list.
Not a snaffle
The pelham
It has shanks, a curb chain and often two pairs of reins: it works by leverage, like a curb bit. The double bridle and the curb chain come in Galop 7.
No bit at all
The hackamore
It has no mouthpiece: it acts on the nose and the jaw. You mostly see it out hacking and in western riding.
Remember
A bit is never better than the hand that holds it. A mild bit in a hard hand hurts: it’s the hand that needs to improve, not the bit that needs to get stronger.