Bit - french link vs lozenge vs myler type vs…?

[maya2008]

Every bit I have pretty much, is a French link of some description. With the theory that in the future they might ban them for dressage, I decided to look at other options when buying new snaffle bits (a more ‘future proof’ approach as it were). Turns out, I know tonnes about different cheeks and leverage and materials but not a huge amount about the mouthpiece, because I and ponies were always perfectly happy with the French Link option, and the few that weren’t liked a single joint.

So as I wander through the internet looking at choices, can someone please explain the differences in terms of how it affects control/clarity of aids etc of:
- myler type barrel
- fat lozenge
- French link (for comparison)
- curved single joint
+ any other option I might have missed?

Ponies will merrily tell me if they don’t like whatever we try, so that’s no issue, and I have had a good look in their mouths so know how much space there is. Just wanting to know how it will affect things from a rider’s point of view (e.g. I already know that a French link with the separate sides improves steering and flexion control over a single joint in a younger pony or for a child where seat aids are less consistent) without having to buy one of each to try!

ETA: this is more for my kids than me - I ride mostly off my seat and my mare is older so less reliant on the bit other than for flexion etc. She’d probably be fine in any option, but the children are still learning and still teaching their young ponies, so it will be more important to them.

 

[Caol Ila]

So as I wander through the internet looking at choices, can someone please explain the differences in terms of how it affects control/clarity of aids etc of:
- myler type barrel
- fat lozenge
- French link (for comparison)
- curved single joint
+ any other option I might have missed?

I'm not an expert by any means but I wrote an article about bits once, so I had to do a bit of research.(haha)

All of these bits act a bit differently on the pressure points around the mouth. In terms of affecting control/clarity of aids, that entirely depends on your horse. Individual horses prefer some pressure points or shapes of bits over others.

The Myler-type barrels seem to be a good option for horses with small mouths and low palettes or ones who get annoyed by rattly bits. They don't have any sticky-outty pieces of metal or rings that can pinch, and they are also quite thin. Some of them have a port for tongue relief and some don't. The ones without a port apply some pressure to the tongue. That barrel-shaped centre joint allows the bit to shape itself to the tongue and put pressure on the bars and lips without pinching, and the way the sides can be moved independantly gives a horse a very clear signal for lateral aids.

Some horses get very fussy and leany in these but others take them really well. Not every horse likes the independently moving sides. Whenever I get around to bitting up my youngster, I might try a Myler because of her tiny mouth.

The fat lozenge works on the bars like a French link, but unlike a French link, it distributes tongue pressure more evenly. Depending on shape, some lozenges are designed for very uniform pressure across the tongue, while others apply a little bit of pressure, but not as much as a French link, and not nearly as much as a Dr. Bristol. If your centre joint is a flat piece of metal, those edges will dig into the tongue. The lozenge avoids this.

The attachment of the centre joint will be a bit rattly and could have a slight pinching effect. They are also tricky to fit to horses who don't have much room in their mouths. And some horses really lean on these.

However, many, many horses go well in this type of bit. I rode my old horse in a Neue Schule lozenge bit all her life. My Highland currently uses this one. https://www.horsebitbank.com/products/maria-titanium-baby-fulmer

The curved single joint bits are not a bad option for horses who don't have a lot of room in their mouths. The single joint puts pressure on the tongue by squeezing it, but the curved shape attempts to avoid the nutcracker effect you get with your standard single joint snaffle. The curve should distribute pressure more evenly and comfortable across tongue and bars than a straight bar would.

Despite it being gentler than a straight bar single jonted snaffle, some horses don't like the squeezy effect on the tongue. Others prefer it. And if the bit doesn't fit, you risk the joint putting pressure on the palette (as you would in any single jointed bit), which isn't that pleasant.

I know Hermosa's sister has one. The Bit Bank recommended I try one of Bomber's single jointed bits for Hermosa. I haven't yet but I probably will when I feel like bitting her up again.

Right...French link for comparison.... Most of these snaffles are similar in how they act on the bars and lips, though the Myler is obviously gives the horse a different feel due to the way the centre joint is attached. Or if you use a ported version, there is no tongue pressure at all. The French link applies more tongue pressure than any of these bits, and I think there is noise about banning it in dressage because the pressure is actually considerable, given the flat shape of that centre joint. It's the reason why Dr. Bristols are illegal, although they exert far more pressure than a French link.

Hope that was helpful.

 

[maya2008]

Thanks for that! Little Welsh A is MUCH more responsive to turning aids when he’s having a moment in a French Link vs a curved single joint, so I need something that does a similar job. To be fair they are all happy as metaphorical sand boys in the French Links…so tongue pressure is obviously not an issue.

There are so many different types of lozenge though . I also can’t help but feel that a lozenge, being narrower than the French Link, will have a more nutcracker action. That, none of them are especially fond of.

How mobile are the ‘arms’ on the Myler bits and on the one you have for Finn? Do they lock into place at a certain point like the curved single joint does?

And all the hype with neue schule and the different lozenge shapes?

 

[Caol Ila]

Some of the lozenges are not any narrower than the centre joint of a French link. Some are.

Some horses don't care what shape the lozenge is, and others care quite a lot. The horse will feel different things on their tongue, either a very uniform or pressure or a bit more pressure in the middle of the tongue. Gypsum was happy in the Neue Schule with its pillow-shaped lozenge, but most of those bits are too bulky for horses with small mouths. I liked it for its composite material. Most horses, in my experience, prefer warmer metals to cold steel.

I made a terrible video for you of the Fager bit and a Myler bit, showing how much the arms move. It's a Myler combination, but the mouthpiece will be the same as any of their normal bits.

I have ridden Fin in a standard Myler and he was very heavy in it. Much more ridable in the Fager.

- YouTube

Auf YouTube findest du die angesagtesten Videos und Tracks. Außerdem kannst du eigene Inhalte hochladen und mit Freunden oder gleich der ganzen Welt teilen.

www.youtube.com

 

[maya2008]

Thank you so much for that! I don’t like the Myler, but the Fager looks really good!

 

[Caol Ila]

The Fager is light. It's made out of high grade titanium. I think the lightness of it and warmth of the metal is one of the reasons it's worked for Fin. He has not been a fan of other snaffles.

 

[Nari]

Myler do have different mouthpieces too, I have their version of a mullen and while the sides rotate there is no upwards or forwards movement. I've found it to be a bit that two horses who were shy of a contact were very happy in, but my confident lad who'd cheerfully go in almost anything absolutely hated to the extent that he was unwilling to even walk forward on a loose rein.

 

[maya2008]

Well…figured I should try things out myself before inflicting them on the kids, so tried a lozenge snaffle today (I love the look of the Fager but figured let’s start at the lowest price point first!). We don’t have a school so off out hacking I went. Little cob put his head down beautifully but I had not a brake at all when I experimented…nothing, like the bit wasn’t there! Luckily he’ll stop from my seat alone, so we did that and combined it with the bit until he got it. I know in theory a person should always stop correctly, but if you’re riding and leading a young one and need to stop in a hurry while half being pulled off the back, being able to stop from bit alone is extremely handy! Very glad I tried this out on me not on the kids. Might long-rein the little ponies when we try different mouthpieces, rather than sticking the kids on straight away!