Last updated: October 8, 2026
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Walk into a tack store and you’ll find a whole wall of bits, many of which look nearly the same. But a small change in the rings, the shanks, or the mouthpiece can make a big difference in how a horse feels the rein.
Once you know what the rings, shanks, and mouthpiece do, it’s much easier to tell these bits apart and understand what you’re putting in your horse’s mouth.
Table of Contents
The Main Types of Horse Bits
When people talk about bit types, they’re usually mixing up three different things: how the reins act on the bit, what the cheeks or shanks look like, and what the mouthpiece is like. That’s why bit names get confusing fast. A D-ring, a twisted wire, and a pelham aren’t the same kind of category at all.
The first question is always how the reins act. A snaffle works off direct pull, with no leverage involved. The rein attaches to a ring at the mouthpiece, and the horse feels about what your hand puts on the rein.
On a curb, the reins attach below the mouthpiece on shanks. Rein pressure rotates the shanks, applying pressure to the mouth, chin groove, and poll. A jointed mouthpiece doesn’t make it a snaffle if the bit works by curb leverage. Either way, the bit is just one part of the bridle, and how the headstall and curb strap are adjusted affects how it works.
| Feature | Snaffle | Curb | Pelham, kimberwicke, gag |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rein action | Direct | Leverage | Varies by design and rein position |
| Rein attaches | To the bit rings | To the shanks | Depends on the design |
| Main pressure | Tongue, bars, and lips; cheeks with some designs | Mouth plus chin groove and poll | Depends on the design |
| Common examples | D-ring, loose ring, eggbutt | Grazing bit, ported curb, spade | Pelham, kimberwicke, gag |
Snaffle Bit Types
One thing that trips up a lot of riders is calling every jointed bit a snaffle. That’s not what makes a snaffle a snaffle; it’s the direct rein action. A snaffle can have a jointed or a solid mouthpiece. Most snaffle types are named for their rings, or cheeks, and each one has a reason you’d pick it:
- Loose ring: The rings slide through the mouthpiece, so the bit moves a little in the mouth. It’s a common choice when you want a bit that isn’t fixed in place and encourages a horse to mouth it.
- Eggbutt: Fixed, oval-shaped rings hold the bit steadier, and the rounded joint is less likely to pinch the corners of the mouth than a loose ring.
- D-ring: D-shaped rings stay fixed, and the flat side helps keep the bit from pulling through the mouth and adds a little steering help. You’ll see plenty of them around racing barns.
- Full cheek: Long cheekpieces above and below the rings help with steering and keep the bit from sliding through the mouth. Use properly fitted bit keepers to secure the cheeks and reduce the risk of snagging.
- Baucher: A hanging cheek attaches to the headstall and holds the mouthpiece steadier in the mouth.
The rings aren’t the whole bit, though. Each of the types of snaffle bits comes with different mouthpieces, and that can change the feel considerably.
Curb Bit Types
You’ll see curb bits in Western riding and in some English setups, including double bridles. Their action depends on the mouthpiece, the shank design, and how the curb strap is adjusted. In general, the longer the shank below the mouthpiece compared with the part above it, the more leverage the bit has. A curb strap or chain engages under the chin and helps control how far the bit rotates.
- Grazing bit: A curb with swept-back shanks, often paired with a low-port mouthpiece. Its action depends on the shank dimensions, the mouthpiece, and the curb adjustment.
- Tom Thumb: A jointed mouthpiece with short, straight shanks. It’s often sold as a Western snaffle, but the shanks make it a curb, and many riders who buy one don’t realize it works by leverage.
- Ported curb: A solid mouthpiece with a raised port in the middle that gives the tongue some room. Low ports are common on everyday Western curbs, and high ports are generally kept for well-trained horses.
- Spade bit: A tall, spoon-shaped port and decorative shanks, used on finished bridle horses that have spent years in training.
Pelhams, Kimberwickes, and Gags
Some bits combine direct and leverage action, or use a design that changes where the rein pressure goes. They’re often grouped separately because they don’t fit neatly into a simple snaffle-versus-curb explanation.
- Pelham: A curb bit with a second ring at the mouthpiece, usually ridden with two sets of reins. The top rein acts more like a snaffle, and the bottom rein adds curb action.
- Kimberwicke: A D-shaped ring used with a curb chain. Where the rein sits on the ring changes how much leverage it has.
- Running gag: The cheekpieces of the bridle run through holes in the bit rings, so rein pressure slides the bit up in the mouth and adds poll pressure.
- Dutch gag: A bit with several rings stacked below the mouthpiece, also called an elevator or three-ring bit. Moving the rein to a lower ring adds more leverage.
A hackamore isn’t a bit because it has no mouthpiece. Its action depends on the design, and a bosal works differently from a mechanical hackamore with shanks.
Bit Mouthpiece Types
The mouthpiece matters just as much as the cheeks or shanks. Two bits can look similar from the outside and feel quite different to the horse because of what’s between the rings. A solid mouthpiece generally bears more on the tongue, while a single-jointed one can shift pressure toward the bars and lips. Double-jointed designs distribute pressure differently, depending on the center link and the horse’s mouth.
- Single-jointed: One joint in the middle. When the reins tighten, it can fold with a nutcracker action.
- Double-jointed: A small center link or rounded lozenge between two joints. It lies flatter over the tongue and doesn’t fold the same way a single joint does.
- Mullen mouth: A solid, gently curved bar with no joint that spreads pressure across the tongue.
- Ported: A raised section in the middle that gives the tongue some room.
- Twisted: A twisted surface that’s more severe, especially when the twist is thin and sharp.
- Roller: Small rollers on the mouthpiece that a horse can move with its tongue.
Thickness matters, too. A thicker mouthpiece spreads pressure over more area, and a thin one concentrates it. But thicker isn’t automatically kinder, since a horse with a small mouth or a thick tongue may not have room to carry a fat bit comfortably.
Racing Bits
Racehorses mostly go in snaffles, and the D-ring is the one you’ll see most around the barn and on the track. But in a racing barn, nobody picks a bit off a strength chart. You’re trying to get a particular horse to do a particular job, and one horse may settle and rate fine in a plain D-ring, while another needs a different setup because of the way he grabs the bit or carries his head.
Strong horses sometimes go in a Dexter ring bit, which adds a ring around the lower jaw for more brakes and steering and is most often seen on flat racehorses. The Citation bit, named for Triple Crown winner Citation, pairs a loose-ring snaffle with a second, thin jointed snaffle and a special noseband. Bitting expert Richard Brown told Horse & Hound it has a reputation as one of the most severe bits available, and it isn’t for novice riders.
How to Choose a Bit
Start with the horse, not the bit. Think about what the horse is doing, where he is in his training, and what you’re trying to fix, if anything. Then choose the simplest bit that gives you the communication and control you need. A smooth snaffle is a common starting point, but thicker isn’t automatically more comfortable, so make sure the horse has room in his mouth to carry it.
The bit has to fit without pinching or crowding the mouth. Too narrow, and it can pinch; too wide, and it can move around too much. Have the horse’s teeth checked, too, since sharp points can make any bit uncomfortable.
Your hands matter, but so do the bit’s design and fit. Heavy hands can make a mild snaffle painful, and soft hands don’t make every severe bit suitable. If a horse pulls, tosses his head, or won’t stop, check for discomfort, fit, dental issues, and training problems before reaching for a stronger bit. An experienced trainer can help you sort out what’s really going on.
About Miles Henry
Racehorse Owner & Author | 30+ Years in Thoroughbred Racing
Miles Henry (legal name: William Bradley) is a professional horseman based in Folsom, Louisiana. He holds Louisiana Racing License #67012 and has spent over three decades managing Thoroughbreds at premier tracks including Fair Grounds, Delta Downs, and Evangeline Downs.
Expertise & Hands-On Experience: Beyond the track, Miles has decades of experience in specialized equine care, covering everything from hoof health and nutrition to training protocols for Quarter Horses, Friesians, and Paints. Every guide on Horse Racing Sense is rooted in this “boots-on-the-ground” perspective.
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