Snaffle bits place pressure on the tongue, the corners of the mouth, and the bars of the mouth. The picture in the right is an O-ring snaffle. Ring snaffles apply direct pressure from the reins to the horse's mouth.

On which of the horse's pressure points do bits act?

BITS work on pressure not pain. Bits affect seven pressure points on the head: poll, roof of mouth, nose, tongue, bars, chin groove, corners of lips.

What action does a snaffle bit have?

Action. The snaffle bit works on several parts of the horse's mouth; the mouthpiece of the bit acts on the tongue and bars, the lips of the horse also feel pressure from both the mouthpiece and the rings. The rings also serve to act on the side of the mouth, and, depending on design, the sides of the jawbone.