Does anyone use a fulmer or full cheek snaffle?help needed!

Bluecat

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I've just got a new french link fulmer snaffle for my youngster instead of his jointed fulmer but even though I am using the same bridle and using the keepers as I was with the jointed one the cheeks keep sliding under the noseband. It's just a cavasson noseband.how can I stop this happening as I don't want it to dangerous for him or scare him.many thanks
 
Can you adjust the noseband/cheekpieces at all? Is the bit the correct size? Sorry to sound obvious. I know what you mean as I remember this happening to me and I think I did fiddle around until it sat right (with cheekpieces etc). The keepers are needed and I have seen many ride with out them but the bit fidgeting around. Hope this helps?

Forgot to say I had hairy cob and with loss of winter coat (sheepdog) I did use to adjust bridle etc as he would literally lose an inch etc in spring, plus leather stretching etc with age. Just a thought?
 
I use one and never noticed it happen, maybe when leading her to get on etc but not while riding. Is your noseband tight enough so it can't slide under, also have you tried adjusting the noseband, higher or lower? hope this helps
 
Hi thanks for replies.i have keepers on but it's still doing it.ive tried adjusting cheek pieces to bit and that didn't help.im not sure the noseband could go any tighter but I could try.i could also try lowering the noseband but don't want it to be too low.not sure why it's happening as bits same size as my last one with a joint.only difference is its a French link :confused:
 
I use a full cheek bits with and without keepers and had this problem along time ago with one of my bits but the keepers sorted it out. Maybe worth getting someone to check it as it really shouldn't be getting caught. I can't picture the keepers not helping this...sorry this doesnt help you out. Maybe you need to raise nose band instead of over-tightening?!
 
This is why a proper fulmer has slightly curved ends at the top. You should be able to buy proper keepers that slip over the top of the bit and join the cheekpieces.
 
having trouble imagining what is going wrong here with keepers being used too. .
Lay out your jointed fulmer - that you know fitted, and your new french link one side by side and make sure your new one isnt too large. even by half an inch may make the difference.

are the fulmer cheeks the same length in both bits too?

if they are definitely the same size i can only imagine perhaps the keepers are too large giving too much 'play' in the rotation of the cheeks.

if this is still a problem and all these check out, without seeing it exactly its hard to tell.
can you get someone experienced at your yard to check over the bridle and bit fitting for you>?
 
having trouble imagining what is going wrong here with keepers being used too. .
Lay out your jointed fulmer - that you know fitted, and your new french link one side by side and make sure your new one isnt too large. even by half an inch may make the difference.

are the fulmer cheeks the same length in both bits too?

if they are definitely the same size i can only imagine perhaps the keepers are too large giving too much 'play' in the rotation of the cheeks.

if this is still a problem and all these check out, without seeing it exactly its hard to tell.
can you get someone experienced at your yard to check over the bridle and bit fitting for you>?

Also , and no sarcasm intended, make sure you have it the right way up!
 
I did resort to taking the noseband off today.the keepers are the same ones I used before and the bit is the same size.the full cheeks are slightly bent at the top as with my previous fulmer.I didn't have this problem before its really bizzare!thanks for all your suggestions
 
Do you have to use a noseband?

I was told that keepers increase the poll pressure, is this correct?

yes. keepers on a fulmer will give a slight poll action. It is correct to use them to keep the cheeks and the mouthpiece still.

Id try to get to the bottom of this and not just remove the noseband as a solution as there might be times ;competing etc, when you need to have one.
 
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Thought - where are your keepers attached? May be worth trying them at the other point to where you have them?
I've seen them attached high up, like this http://www.yourhorse.co.uk/ImgGalleryTn/96/138596/29272_99969.jpg and lower down like this http://allhorsestuff.files.wordpress.com/2012/03/dsc_1940.jpg
I always attached mine higher, and it seemed to work fine.
I also don't believe they increase poll pressure, same as with hanging cheeks. There's no point for leverage so there is never a great enough degree of rotation through the bit to cause poll pressure. Unless you can somehow attach the reins to the bottom of the 'cheek' rather than the bit ring! :)
 
Change to a drop noseband. If the horse doesn't need a drop then he won't be doing anything to make it have an effect. A drop noseband is fine for everything except showing, but you wouldn't generally use a cheek or fulmer snaffle for showing either.
 
I also don't believe they increase poll pressure, same as with hanging cheeks. There's no point for leverage so there is never a great enough degree of rotation through the bit to cause poll pressure. Unless you can somehow attach the reins to the bottom of the 'cheek' rather than the bit ring! :)



there's been a whole heap of debate and controversy around the whole baucher/hanging snaffle having any/not having any poll action on here recently which i wont (hopefully) :D , drag up again now but unless there's a fixed rein position to act as a fulcrum for leverage on the poll (as in a a slotted kimblewick) and there isnt on a fulmer either eggbutt or loose ring even with keepers there would be no poll action.

so my apologies, i think you are correct.
 
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