'Why does my mule fight the bit?' - Part 3 Once you’ve fixed the teeth and your hands, the next thing to look at is the bit itself. A mule’s mouth isn’t a horse’s mouth, he’s got a donkey skull, a different palate, and he just plain doesn’t care about the bit the way a horse does. That’s why the snaffle bit is for foundation work and fixing problems, not for everyday riding. Once that foundation’s set, you move to a ported bit that fits the shape of his mouth and communicates clearly without pai