An eggbutt snaffle joins the ring to the mouthpiece with a rounded, barrel-shaped hinge. Nothing slides through a hole, so the bit cannot pinch the corners of the lips, and it stays where you put it. It is the steadiest of the ring snaffles and one of the most popular bits in the shop.
Who it suits. That stillness suits a horse that fusses or chews at a busy bit, and a young horse learning to take the contact forward. A horse with a sensitive mouth often settles in one because the mouthpiece doesn’t shift about. It suits the leaner less well. A fixed bit gives a horse that sets his jaw something to brace against, and a loose ring is usually the better choice there.
Eggbutt or D-ring? In the mouth they behave much the same. The difference is on the outside. The flat sides of a D-ring lie against more of the face, so an opening rein gets a little more support on a turn. For more steering again, a full cheek is the next step. For a fixed bit that hangs from the bridle and sits stiller still, look at the hanging cheek.
Mouthpieces. Almost every snaffle mouthpiece comes on an eggbutt cheek, from single jointed to mullen and ported, in stainless steel, sweet iron, titanium, copper alloys, synthetics such as Nathe and Sensogan, and leather. Eggbutt bradoons for the double bridle are here too. If your horse already goes well in a mouthpiece, keep it and change only the cheek. Our guide to snaffle cheeks compares the options.
Measuring. Lay a bit that fits flat and measure the mouthpiece from the inside of one cheek to the inside of the other. If you have nothing to copy, pass a length of dowel through the mouth, mark it at each lip corner and measure between the marks.
Fitting. Because the cheek is fixed, the lips should just touch the butt ends, snug but not tight. An eggbutt that is too wide slides across the mouth when you change the bend, and on a jointed bit that lets the joint drop lower. Aim for half to one wrinkle at the corners and check the fit again with a contact, as some mouthpieces draw up more than others.
Many of the metal eggbutts can go on our 30 day trial; non-metal ones are sold outright. Ring 01405 861800 if you’re between sizes.
It gives a steady, fixed bit that cannot pinch the lips. It suits horses that fuss with a moving bit, and it is a common first bit for a young horse.
On an eggbutt the ring is fixed to the mouthpiece, so the bit stays still. On a loose ring the ring runs through a hole, so the mouthpiece can turn and move. Horses that fuss usually prefer the eggbutt; horses that lean often go better in the loose ring.
They feel much the same in the mouth. The D-ring’s flat sides give a little more help with steering, which is useful out hacking or on a horse that drifts.
Snug, with the lips just touching the butt ends and no gap for the bit to slide. Aim for half to one wrinkle at the corners of the mouth.
Not sure of the width? How to measure a horse bit