Parelli Snaffle Bridle (Complete Set)

Headstall Leather

You might not know that Pat worked in a saddle shop as a young man and learned the differences in types of leather. This is why you usually see oil-tanned leather such as harness leather or latigo on most of his headstalls because when horses sweat, it easily rots most other kinds of leather.

Sweet Iron Snaffle

Not too thick or too thin, the 5 1/4" sweet iron snaffle bit is at the center of this bridle, making it a versatile communication tool thanks to the design, which allows the rings to swing without pinching.

It is a single-jointed, loose-ring snaffle designed for riding on a casual rein (FreeStyle Riding). Made from sweet iron (as opposed to stainless steel) with fine copper inlay (to encourage salivation), it offers the horse a sweet taste. The loose rings allow the horse to adjust the bit position as desired. The snaffle bit is intended for teaching, controlling, reinforcing, and refining lateral flexion and is a great tool for your Porcupine Game when riding. 

It is to be used mainly with a sideways pull for lateral flexion. It is thin to discourage leaning, designed for control, and used with one rein at a time.

Chin Strap

Designed to prevent the snaffle from sliding through a horse’s mouth, should he or she resist, the chin strap is a classic western piece of equipment that you attach to the snaffle. When used with a snaffle, the chin strap is not designed to be a curb that is tight or applies pressure. Features: Stitched leather with brass buckles (except on the Natural West version).

Pat Parelli was raised in Northern California and worked on big ranches in Oregon, Nevada, and California. Many of the cowboys there, also known as Buckaroos, rode their young horses in a hackamore with the mecate rein, a 22-foot rope made of horse hair. Soon, a new trend was started using the mecate rein with a Snaffle Bit. The advantages were that the loop rein stayed on the horse’s neck. If you dropped it, unlike when using split reins, you always had a 12-foot lead rope on the ground fixing fences or doctoring cattle.