Mythbuster Monday: You Shouldn’t Ride in a Snaffle With a One-Eared Headstall

On Mythbuster Monday, we tackle a variety of equestrian myths to either bust or confirm. Today’s discussion: You should not ride in a snaffle with a one-eared headstall.

It’s Mythbuster Monday, where Horse Nation dives into different equestrian myths and provides research-based evidence to either bust or confirm those myths. Today’s topic: Can you ride in a snaffle with a one-eared headstall?  How does it affect the mechanics of the bit? What is the proper set up for a snaffle? Read further to find out!

Myth: You should not ride in a snaffle with a one-eared headstall

Myth or Fact: Fact

Photo by DeAnn Long Sloan

A snaffle is one of the most popular and well-known bits used by equestrians and horses of all levels. It’s comprised of a mouth piece with rings (O-ring, D-ring, eggbutt, etc.) on both sides and can either have a straight or broken piece in the middle. The bit communicates direct pressure from the rider’s hands to the horse’s mouth. Even though we know any bit can be harsh in the wrong hands, snaffles usually are seen as a gentler bit, making them a versatile option for many disciplines.

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As riders, we each have our own preferences on tack and tack styles. The same holds true when it comes to our bridles or headstalls. In the western world, different browbands and earpieces are options — including one-eared and two-eared headstalls. One-eared headstalls are types of bridle that have one ear piece rather than a browband. This means that only one of the horse’s ears is placed into the headstall rather than two in a more traditional brow band.  Advantages of the one-eared headstall include enhanced communication, improved comfort, versatility, aesthetic appeal, and ease of use.

A one-eared bridle with a shank bit. Canva/CC

But, should one-eared headstalls be used with a snaffle bit?

According to Anti Gimmick Horsemanship, each headstall is designed for a specific purpose. Each holds the bit in different positions, allows for different pressure coming from the reins, and the correct setup will ensure the bridle does not slip over the ears and off while riding. Steve Kutie writes that one of the most unsafe techniques he witnesses in the warm up pen are horses riding in a snaffle bit with a headstall that does not have a throat latch and brow band. With this kind of setup, when the rider pulls on the reins, the headstall will lift off of the horse’s poll and many times slip off the ears. In contrast, if a rider uses a one-eared headstall with a leverage bit, the bit is designed to rock forward in the horse’s mouth, thereby taking the pressure off the crownpiece of the headstall.

Weaver Equine published an article discussing a brow band versus a one ear headstall. They write that a leveraged bit will pull slightly downward on the crown of the headstall when the reins have engaged the bit. This reduces the risk of the headstall slipping off over the ears, making a one-eared headstall appropriate. However, with snaffle bits, the opposite effect happens when the rider pulls on the reins. The headstall loosens slightly making a one-eared headstall an unsafe option.

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Schneiders Saddlery also weighs in on the appropriateness of a snaffle and one ear headstall combination. They do not recommend a one ear headstall with a snaffle bit because of the probability it will create a malfunction where the bridle slips off the horse’s head. They warn that snaffle bits are best used with a brow band and throat latch and to save the one ear headstall for curb style bits.

After diving into the literature, a snaffle should not be combined with a one-eared headstall. It may cause the safety issue of coming free from the horse’s head. The appropriate setting is to use a one-eared headstall with a leverage style bit.

Photos by DeAnn Long Sloan

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