Read the following article and have a good ride. Not Breaking A snaffle is a mechanically simple bit that allows you to communicate with your horse in simple terms. A snaffle bit transmits pressure in a direct line from your hands on the reins to the rings and mouthpiece of the bit to the horse's mouth. On a snaffle, there are no shanks. Shanks are the vertical sidepieces on a curb bit to which the reins attach.
Shanks create leverage action.
The snaffle bit operates via direct pressure only. The mouthpiece of a snaffle can be jointed or solid. A snaffle is customarily used with a brow band headstall that has a throatlatch. Often a noseband is used with a snaffle. The snaffle is useful for teaching a horse to bend his neck and throatlatch laterally so that he can be turned in both directions.