1 or 2 joints in a bit

F

firstponyMinto

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 February 2010
Messages
154
Location
herts
Visit site
Hi, just wondered what other people think to a 2 jointed bit? i.e french link, peanut etc rather than a single joint. I always thought a double joint was kinder, as the single joint has a nutcracker action & so can hit the roof of the mouth, but my friend says the double link can be quite strong on the mouth/tongue.
confused.gif
 
im a french link person all they way - where the horse permits... however any bit in strong/wrong hands can be harsh.
 
I prefer a double jointed bit but I know plenty of horses that do go well in a single joint. I think the position of the joints has a lot of significance though - as does the shape of the central part (i.e. lozenge vs flat link , large or small etc).
 
I also thought 2 joints were kinder as they don't have the nut cracker action, part of the reason my youngster has a french link full cheek.
I don't know about it being stronger on the mouth but i have been told the more joints there are in a bit the harder it is for the horse to lean on it which is why i have the other strong pony in a waterford.
 
Double jointed for the same reasons as you!!!
If anything the single jointed is more severe on the tongue as due to the nutcracker action, it puts pressure on the sides of the tongue! A french link is much kinder in the mouth I think.
 
They can be strong but it depends upon the position and shape of the joints. You can't simply say that one or two joints are kinder. It also depends upon the conformation of the horses mouth. The reason many go better in a double joint is not to do with strength but to do with the joint hitting the roof of the mouth because they have a low mouth.
 
nice to hear a lot of you prefer the 2 links, my cob has a smallish mouth ( low roof ) which is why I use a french link so it dosen't bang him, but it's a filet baucher so it acts a bit on the poll? for a bit more control! unless I've got that wrong?
 
Also there's the Dr Bristol that looks a little like a French link, but is actually designed to put pressure on the tongue, and so could be considered to be harsher than a single joint? However, there's no getting away from the adage that a bit's only as kind as the hands it's attached to.

I have seen Dr B's being sold as French Links in the past, and felt sorry for the poor horses...

I rode in a Dr B on an intermediate horse that was strong XC and it was perfect for him - feather-light brakes when I needed them and soft mouth retained for all other activities...
 
Exactly a Dr Bristol can be very severe, especially if the flat link is angled into the tongue!

People need to consider the diameter of the mouthpiece too when considering strength of the bit. A very narrow french link mouthpiece can be quite strong.

Then there are scissor snaffles and twisted snaffles and so on just to further complicate things!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top