The snaffle bit is the training bit of choice when it comes to true horsemanship.
To be honest you can use this bit for the rest of your horse's life.
It can be used not only for training, but performance horse events, trail riding showing, etc..
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This is the first bit I pick up when it comes to horse training.
The design is really simple, its a mouth piece usually jointed in the middle and connected by two rings.
Each side of the bit works works independently mostly on the corners of a horses mouth.
It allows your horse to follow a simple and direct feel from the reins.
It has a one to one ratio meaning that one pound of pressure in your hands equals one pound of pressure being applied to your horses mouth.
Unlike a 7 inch shank bit with a 7 to one ratio you'd be applying 7 pounds of pressure to you horse's mouth, unless you know what you doing.
To ride with something like that your hands must be very light & you must be very experienced.
So basically you don't need anything other than a snaffle unless you are an experienced horseman.
With a snaffle bit I like to use a half inch leather curb strap, not a curb chain.
The strap is the to prevent pulling the bit through the horses mouth.
It is also less severe than a curbed chain I actually never use a curb chain on any of my horses.
I always use leather, I just think that leather is more natural and more comfortable to my horses.