bit for youngster - I need some guidance.

[Angua2]

I have my 4 yr old TB (ex racer) in a french link cheeked snaffle, She seems happy in it and so far the only issue we have is that the steering is still a little wobbly.

My RI seems to think that this bit should have keepers, and that this would help the steering issue or that i should change the bit to a baucher.

I am a little worried.... as if we used keepers then it would totally change the positioning of the bit in her mouth and, in my mind, make what I deem to be essentially a kind bit a little more severe. My concerns over the baucher ( although this is a compromise so not to have the keepers) is that it does tend to have an element of poll action, something that I didn't feel that my mare was ready for as she already has a tendancy to resort to a high head carriage if she is tense or worried.

I seem to be between a rock and a hard place. While I agree with the RI that we need to push the girlys schooling I do not want to achieve this at the cost of something else.

 

[laura_1983]

i would go for putting keepers on your full cheek, youngster at my yard is ridden in same bit with keepers on and she's going extremely well, it'l help with your steering to have the cheeks of the bit held a little more secure and shouldnt change the position of the bit in your horses all that much. i would avoid a bit with poll pressure on a youngster unless you need it for control or brakes as you'l just make her hold her head even higher if she objects to it.

 

[madhector]

The baucher doesn't put poll pressure on at all, it is designed to sit slightly differently in the mouth to an ordinary snaffle.


from wikipedia -

The baucher has an eggbutt-like ring at the mouthpiece for the rein, with an upper cheek that has a ring at its end, to which the cheekpieces of the bridle are attached. The mouthpiece does not slide on its ring (which would have put the bit in the gag bit category instead of the snaffle). This bit lies flat against the horse's face, and is quite fixed in the mouth and concentrates pressure on the bars. However, contrary to common belief, this bit does not create poll pressure

 

[laura_1983]

thanks madhector, iv not used a baucher before and havent seen one used either, my answer to angua was going by what she said about it, though to look at one without using it i would have presumed it was a poll pressure bit.

i like learning about bits, dont ask me why, just always been a 'thing' of mine lol!

angua - maybe a baucher would work with a youngster then, cant comment having not used it! though if your RI said it does use poll pressure when it doesnt then you might be better looking into bits yourself.

 

[Angua2]

it really is a case of suck it and see, now isn't it. I do feel a little more comforted that the keepers thing has worked for someone else and b) the baucher doesn't do the whole pole action thing.

 

[madhector]

no worries, just one of my pet hates

 

[laura_1983]

trial and error is the best way to go if your not happy with current bit, go slowly though with baby horse, you could try your local tack shop for advice, they could more than likely show you bits aswell as expain the action of them!

 

[hadfos]

I broke my lad in an eggbutt french link!!decided to change this for a cyprium full cheek french link with keepers,went well for a couple of weeks then started leaning,went back to the previous and fine!!The full cheeks do need the keepers to do the job they were designed for(my lad hated the baucher),could you not try the egg butt or loose ring french link???I understand were you are going with the steering wobbly but this will come with patience and schooling,lots and lots of circles,and changes of rein,may take a little longer as she has been raced,i had to persevere for a while with my lad(not raced,lol)but it all fell into place eventually!

I have the same doubts with my boy as have changed bits to encourage various things with no great result

!!He loves his eggbutt french link though!

 

[pocket]

Hiya, I've bitted all mine in a french link with cheeks and when the time came used keepers, dont worry she will be fine

 

[SouthWestWhippet]

Mine too, if I had a £1 for every time I heard 'oh I'm getting a baucher becuase I think my horse will respond to the poll pressure" etc...

I know a lady who uses a baucher UPSIDE DOWN, she has the cheek pieces attached to the 'd rings' and the reins attached to the place where the cheek pieces would normally go...

doesn't hurt the horse but looks incredibly wierd

she claims it is because her horse doesn't like poll pressure... I bit my tongue so hard it still has teeth marks in.