Can you tell me about hanging cheek / Boucher bits please.

debsflo

debsflo

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Having got a new young horse after 20 yrs with a horse that went well in a plain snaffle I feel like I've entered a whole new world of bitting. My mare is a 16.1 Ish and was originally in a happy mouth but it was rubbing the corners of her mouth so advised to try a neue schule starter bit which is ok but not great out hacking. I have been advised by my instructor to try a hanging cheek but don't know much about them other than good for horses that are above the bit. As she is young I don't want to over bit her but she is big and strong and getting bigger and although we will continue with schooling need to find something she's happy in.Any thoughts pls.
 
A baucher is good for horses who like a bit to be still in the mouth. Depending on the mouth piece is is a fairly mild bit, and is still in the mouth. The action is more on the lips than the bars (and depending on the mouthpiece also on the tongue)
 
It's a bit that gives no poll pressure so it's good used on horses that are intolerant to poll pressure .
Why did your intructor think it would be better for hacking ?
 
It took me about 18months to find a bit my horse was happy in. He's incredibly fussy in the mouth and the hanging cheek was the only one that works for him. His is a mullen mouth as he hates any sort of jointed bit. He also has a Waterford version for more exciting stuff. It stays very still in the mouth so for a horse that likes consistency they're very good.
 
I used to ride my old mare in a hanging cheek french link. She was naturally quite a buzzy little mare but she was far more relaxed in that than anything else.
 
I'm a big fan of a hanging cheek, but like anything you will just need to try it to see if your horse approves :)

They keep the bit very still in the mouth and helps with steering.

I use the Hilary Vernon round lozenge one, but there are lots of good ones on the market, though I would recommend one that is very curved and not too thick.
 
I recently invested in a Neue Schule hanging cheek for my young TB whos fussy in his mouth and quite sensitive, I'd tried him in a regular hanging cheek but the shape and thickness didn't seem quite right. Ipreviously used one on my headstrong oldy who had a big tongue and was forever putting it over the bit and even he seemed to accept the hanging cheek with lozenge
 
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