Bits with keys

[RubysGold]

What are they for?
Ive seen them on websites, for breaking in, but why use one with keys as opposed to a normal snaffle?

And also, full cheek snaffle bits, Ive seen some keeper things, from what I remember there are 2 types of full cheek, one with a loose ring and one with fixed, and only one of those needs a keeper. Which one?

 

[Shavings]

well i am not fully sure on this so please n oone bit my head of as i could be wrong and if so i am sorry!

but we had a 3 year old and he was back and broken and starting to ride away ok.. but he was very numb in his mouth as in he would stop but he didn't give a happy feeling and he would never mouth the bit even when in his stable, so a friend offered me her bit with keys, popped him in it and he was a different horse!!! now I never worked him in a out line as he was a 3 year old and we were just looking for the forward between we work on any thing else, but that little horse foamed at the mouth!! and carried him self so much more and felt a lot happier in the mouth, after riding him in the keys for about a week i swapped back to his normal fullmer snaffle and i never looked back!! it really helped him!!

i am lead to believe keys are good for getting the mouth to mouth/play with the bit but they should not be used for to long or it can encourage the horse to head change and chew on the bit (what i am told sorry if its wrong!!)

they are not for every horse, but no bit is, however i do thing it helped my lad and it can help some horses find bitting or having a bit in a little friendly for the start

 

[Shavings]

ps the loose ring full cheek bit is called a fullmer and we didnt us keepers so i think it would be the fixed one which would need them

 

[RubysGold]

Thanks
My young horse has been introduced to a normal snaffle and so far he seems happy with that but he's not broken in yet. Will keep in mind what you said