Horse Illustrated's Online Bit Guide: Loose Ring or O-Ring Snaffle

Horse Illustrated’s Online Bit Guide: Loose Ring or O-Ring Snaffle

Loose-ring snaffle pictured on top

O-Ring or Loose Ring Snaffle:

One of the mildest bits, the plain snaffle features a smooth, simple mouthpiece and round bit rings which may be highly decorated for use on young western performance horses. The plain snaffle is often of loose ring design, meaning that the bit rings move freely through the mouthpiece.

Loose ring snaffles help prevent a horse from pulling and leaning on the bit for support.
If an O-ring snaffle begins to chafe the corners of a horse’s mouth, use rubber bit guards or switch to a smooth D-ring or eggbutt snaffle.
When an O-ring snaffle is used on a young western horse, a leather curb strap is often used to prevent the rings of the bit from sliding into the horse’s mouth.

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15 years ago

Abigail Boatwright

Abigail Boatwright is a freelance writer and photographer based in Texas, and is the editor of Horse Illustrated’s sister publication, Western Life Today.

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View Comments

Katie says:
June 25, 2009 at 6:29 pm
I used one once their great
Galadriel says:
July 8, 2009 at 11:36 pm
My favourite bits.
Brianna says:
November 14, 2009 at 6:40 pm
The O-Ring isn't a very good bit unless you have bit guards. Loose ring snaffles are great though!
Samantha says:
March 18, 2010 at 12:35 am
The second bit in the picture isn't a loose ring snaffle, it's an offset western dee. Also, in the vast majority of cases, loose ring bits only chafe the horses mouth and requiring bit guards, if the bit is 1. incorrectly fitted 2. incorrectly adjusted 3. the rider is see-sawing or otherwise being heavy-handed.
lilly says:
August 8, 2015 at 5:55 pm
Brianna Huntigton Beach, CA
11/14/2009 6:40:56 PM
The O-Ring isn't a very good bit unless you have bit guards. Loose ring snaffles are great though!....
AN O RING AND A LOOSE RING ARE THE SAME BIT. SO THEY R EITHER GREAT OR NOT VERY GOOD CANT BE BOTH THEY ARENT THE SAME BIT. DO YOU EVEN HAVE HORSES I WONDER ?