In ancient times, mouthpieces were made from solid leather belts: they have not survived till now. Later, bridles started to be made with metallic details that were fastened to each other with hinges. The psalia, at those times, were made from bones or horns. The oldest psalium was found in Crimea, at the Kamenka archaeological site. The part of the bridle was dated 3rd millennium BC and looked like a bone disk with studs.

Iron and bronze psalia appeared in the 1st millennium BC and differed in shape depending on the people who made them. Scythian psalia were C- or S-shaped and often decorated with embossed heads of various animals. The Sarmatians made dumbbell-shaped psalia with bronze cones at the ends, and the Greeks made mobile details that consisted of several rings. Rich warriors’ horses could also have silver psalia.

Snaffle-bits with lunula-shaped psalia were used by rich horsemen: for example, by high-ranking members of the armed forces or rich city dwellers. Sometimes, the harness was decorated with golden inserts.

By the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC, psalia gradually fell out of use. They were substituted with large metallic rings with which the snaffle-bits were fastened to the reins. The mouthpieces were replaced by one-piece cannon-bits and bridle bits consisting of several rings.