Are French Links Kind?

[wrangler]

I recently started a mare in a french link, because I have been told that they are very kind bits, because of the lessened nutcracker action. This mare seemed to really like the french link.

A few days ago, I saw somebody said a french link is quite aggressive because the edge of the link digs into the tongue.

Is this true? Would you say they are harsh or kind?

 

[J&S]

Maybe they are confusing it with a Dr Bristol. Looks much the same but the plate/link turns and would do what you are describing.

 

[Uliy]

I had a bit fitter out early this year and she explained that the French link wasn’t as kind as I thought it was and distributed the pressure over only a thin bit of the tongue as you describe. I changed my bit to one with a lozenge, which my mare seems to prefer. However, I’m no expert!

 

[[153312]]

I think it terms of kindness, it's roughly:

(Least - most)

Single jointed snaffle < French link < double jointed with lozenge/roller.

With of course variation according to the horse's individual preferences/mouth conformation.

 

[Kaylum]

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/french-link-snaffles.785953/

 

[dominobrown]

Depends on the horse, however a lozenge or a turtle top is probably „kinder“

 

[Meowy Catkin]

https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/threads/french-link-snaffles.785953/

This article was on that thread and is worth posting here.
https://www.horse-care.co.uk/french-link-v-dr-bristol/

We can begin our education with a persistent misconception, one that was and may still be, taught in the national Pony Club manual – the grass roots of the British Horse Society for many.

I am referring to the French-link and Dr. Bristol mouth pieces where the received wisdom is that the former is ‘kind’ and the latter, ‘severe’.

• By looking more closely at the situation it can readily be seen that in fact the situation is reversed.
  
  It is the narrow edge of the French-link that presses into the horse’s tongue and not that of the Dr. Bristol. Later we provide a further link to an article providing exray images of the horses mouth.

 

[holeymoley]

As far as I believe it’s all about pressure points. A single joint will put pressure on the corners of the mouth, whereas a french link is more so the tongue. For mine, he prefers a french link and I feel it’s kinder for him with the shape of his mouth, he much prefers the evenly spread tongue pressure as opposed to one pressure point.

 

[Cowpony]

I've just changed one of mine out of the French link she had before I took her on. She has a very narrow jaw, and I felt the link was catching on the bars of her mouth. I think a lot of people forget about the width of the link and the relative width of the horse's mouth.

 

[sbloom]

There are many many double link bits now, not just the French link, they are all different and will suit different horses with different shaped mouths.

 

[Zuzan]

Double jointed bits are not a good option as the double joint effectively transfers the pressure to the bars if you are using standard / conventional rein aids.

If you follow the French classical method then the contact is on the corner of lips towards the base of the ears and the nutcracker action is avoided as the bit folds parallel to the tongue and upper palate.

 

[Tihamandturkey]

I've just changed one of mine out of the French link she had before I took her on. She has a very narrow jaw, and I felt the link was catching on the bars of her mouth. I think a lot of people forget about the width of the link and the relative width of the horse's mouth.

Exactly

My ISH has a small mouth with large tongue - I've tried literally every type of snaffle inc French Link and Peanut - she will tolerate a JP Korsteel curved single joint for lunging but I use ported bits for riding - Kimblewick for exciting stuff or Pelham with 2 reins for roadwork and schooling (barely any curb rein taken up).

She's happy out and I have given up on any thoughts of dressage ?‍.

 

[Jaqa]

Agree. I changed my first horse out of a eggbutt snaffle into a french link for a while and found it seemed more severe by the reaction even though by conventional taught wizdom it should have been less. She had a reasonably narrow head, so the fit does need to be taken into account (and also how heavy you are with your hands- I have a feeling horses that pull on the bit, or people who are not stable with their hands are probably going to cause more problems with single jointed snaffles due to the nutcracker action). Interestingly my instructor predicted it would be harsher even though most people say it isn't. I used it for a while when having some issues, then once sorted ended up putting her back into the original small ringed eggbutt snaffle with minimal curve in the bit which by all accounts should have been the "wrong" bit for a horse with a sensitive mouth but she seemed to like it, happily let me put the bridle on when that was the bit on the bridle and worked well. I've also been told by many people I shouldn't have my TB in an eggbutt snaffle due to them often having low palettes and they should be in french links, but he's in a medium thickness Korsteel eggbutt and he doesn't seem to object to it. Different horses seem to have their own preferences I guess.

 

[wrangler]

Thanks everyone for your responses I wanted to switch her bit because she is a baby, so I tried her in a lozenge, and a single jointed eggbutt and she disliked both. I tried her in a myler mb02 eggbutt and she loved it! I also have soft hands, and she is soft in the face, so maybe the french link didn't bother her. I am obviously keeping the french link in case any of my horses need to use it, but for now she loves the myler!

 

[bambooiscute]

I think the thin plate digs into the tongue, but it is needed for some horses. I would much rather use a french link than a slow twist. I think a french link is one step more aggressive than the lozenge. I would rather start a horse in a lozenge, but its not terrible to use a french link.

 

[Zuzan]

........... (and also how heavy you are with your hands- I have a feeling horses that pull on the bit, or people who are not stable with their hands are probably going to cause more problems with single jointed snaffles due to the nutcracker action). ...

As above the other issue is the direction of contact. The contact should be on the corners of lips in a direction upwards towards the base of the ears..

If the contact is back (even a light contact) then the nutcracker action will apply pressure to the upper palate / roof of the mouth and on the bars.

This is a fundamental problem with current conventional teaching .. it fails to acknowledge the basic physics / geometry of direction of contact.

 

[My Boys M&D]

As above the other issue is the direction of contact. The contact should be on the corners of lips in a direction upwards towards the base of the ears..

If the contact is back (even a light contact) then the nutcracker action will apply pressure to the upper palate / roof of the mouth and on the bars.

This is a fundamental problem with current conventional teaching .. it fails to acknowledge the basic physics / geometry of direction of contact.

Zuzan, can you elaborate on this...by direction of contact are you taking about the rider's hand position or the type of bit?

 

[Goldenstar]

How severe a horse finds a bit depends on many variables and is personal to that horse .

 

[Zuzan]

Zuzan, can you elaborate on this...by direction of contact are you talking about the rider's hand position or the type of bit?

Both really.. direction of contact though is primarily the relationship of the rider's hands to the mouth. The way the bit moves in the mouth is the type of bit but can be influenced by the hand to mouth relationship.

Quite hard to do without demonstration .. but the nearest I can do is suggest you ask a friend to place a bit in between thumb and fingers and you hold the reins (or vice versa) .. in a way that emulates the horse's mouth .. the fingers forming the upper palate and the thumb the lower jaw / bar. A Backwards contact on the bit will pull the bit against the thumb (the bars) and the bit will break into the fingers (upper palate). If the contact is upward .. at same angle as the thumb is held the bit acts on the skin between the thumb and forefinger (the corner of the mouth / lips and will break so the joint points down towards the end of the thumb and parallel to it.. You can play with this by changing the angle at which the hand is held .. pointing forward etc. This is an approximation and in reality you need to see this in action / in a lesson to really see this.

 

[sport horse]

Is this true? Would you say they are harsh or kind?

It all depends on the riders hands.