The Shires Loose Ring Copper Lozenge Snaffle is a highly versatile, double-jointed bit designed to provide a soft, anatomically friendly contact. It is widely used for general schooling, hacking, and introducing young horses to training.
Key Specifications:
- Premium stainless steel loose rings and bars with a solid copper central lozenge.
- Mouthpiece Thickness: A comfortable 16mm profile.
- Cheek Ring Dimensions: Standard 65mm loose rings.
How it Works:
- Warming Copper Lozenge: The central joint features a smooth, rounded copper lozenge. Copper naturally oxidises and warms up rapidly inside the mouth. This creates a pleasant, sweet taste that encourages dry-mouthed horses to salivate, relax their jaw, and soften their contact.
- Anatomical Tongue Clearance: The double-jointed lozenge is explicitly shaped to lie smooth across the contours of the tongue. It eliminates the sharp "V" shape or palate pressure of a single joint. This makes it an ideal fit for horses with low palates or fleshy tongues.
- Slightly More Positive Action: Compared to a flat French link plate, the rounded lozenge applies a marginally more precise, distinct pressure directly onto the centre of the tongue when the reins are engaged.
- Discourages Bracing: The free-sliding loose rings allow the mouthpiece to adjust independently to the movement of the jaw. This subtle mobility makes it very difficult for strong or clever horses to clamp their teeth, lock onto the bit, and lean down to haul the rider forward.
This bit is fully legal for British Dressage (BD) and FEI competitions.