ok hanks as instructor suggested moving out of out chunky happy mouth as it does neither of us justice on the flat so thought i may try our hanging cheek snaffle
wheras i agree with irish cob, howcould it have poll pressure, it is made to be independant in the mouth so they get a correct hand aid. but not good for leaners as it has more stability and they can get a better grip.
Exceptions to the snaffle-bit actions: Baucher, aka "Hanging Cheek Snaffle": With this bit, the headstall has a separate ring. In this case, the rein action causes the bit to tilt, exerting poll pressure that encourages the horse to lower his head.
Druid told us all this on another forum "hanging cheek snaffles, there is no poll action; for that to occur you need 2 fixed points of torque (i.e. the cheek ring and the lower rein rings in a dutch gag) which are either ride of the fulcrum/turning centre (the mouth piece)...a hanging cheek hasn't got 2 points of torque as the mouth piece and reins are level.
What hangign cheeks/bauchers do is stabalise the bit in the mouth and give clearer aids across the tongue and bars due to the angle they sit in the mouth."
Hanging cheek worked for me, bit is much stiller in the mouth,, and yes I would agree it does give a little poll action. I used a French link so each side moved independantly and she had nothing to hold onto. Worked so well we have now gone down to a myler comfort snaffle.