Dr Bristol confusion

Jenna1406

Jenna1406

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Which way do you put a Dr Bristol in?

I have recently bought one for my mare for doing XC and Hunting etc but havent yet tried it out as I am unsure on what way it goes into the mouth as have been told that there is a milder and a stronger way to use it.

Much confusion. :confused:
 
Not sure who told you that as I believe they might have been talking out of their bottom. The mouth pieces are sometimes curved slightly and they would curve round the bars of the mouth ie if you imaging a semi circle the semi circle points would point backwards towards the horse's bottom.
 
Someone told me there was a milder way & a stronger way as well, so your not the only one to have heard it, no idea if its true though.
You can still have it curving out & change how it sits by turning it up the other way...IYSWIM.
 
navaho said:
Someone told me there was a milder way & a stronger way as well, so your not the only one to have heard it, no idea if its true though.
You can still have it curving out & change how it sits by turning it up the other way...IYSWIM.
Click to expand...

Yes this is what I have been told. Since the link is at an angle it can be used two ways..........but which way is which lol :confused:
 
I wouldn't be putting a bit in a horses mouth curving outwards!! Perhaps they meant if you turn it upside down the link would sit on the tongue differently? If you want something milder get a french link
 
MrVelvet said:
I wouldn't be putting a bit in a horses mouth curving outwards!! Perhaps they meant if you turn it upside down the link would sit on the tongue differently? If you want something milder get a french link
Click to expand...

Yes, turning it upside down is what I mean.

I need the stronger way of the two and my horse leans and pulls otherwise and if very strong out XC and Hunting.
 
MrVelvet said:
I wouldn't be putting a bit in a horses mouth curving outwards!! Perhaps they meant if you turn it upside down the link would sit on the tongue differently? If you want something milder get a french link
Click to expand...

I think perhaps you & i word things differently, all bits curve out when sitting in a horses mouth....i cant think how else to describe it....& yes that it exactly what i meant, was to turn it upside down.
 
The link is angled so there is tongue pressure. One way the link lays flatter on the tongue giving less pressure than the other way. You'll have to try both to see which way gives you the best result with your horse. If you hold the bit in front of you as if your head was the horses head, you should be able to see which way up you've got the link.
 
Sugar_and_Spice said:
The link is angled so there is tongue pressure. One way the link lays flatter on the tongue giving less pressure than the other way. You'll have to try both to see which way gives you the best result with your horse. If you hold the bit in front of you as if your head was the horses head, you should be able to see which way up you've got the link.
Click to expand...

Agree with SugarandSpice, it will be more angled one way so that the thinner edge presses onto the tongue.
 
As you look at the horse if the bit is sitting like this then it is almost identical to a french link and becomes purely a multi-jointed snaffle:
212007-full-cheek.jpg


But if it looks like this (as you look at the horse/bridle hung up) then the middle link becomes acitve by pressing into the tongue when a strong contact is taken up:
250px-Fullcheckwithtwistsnafflealpha.jpg
 
Not all Dr Bristols are made to be used either way - some do have curved arms - but many are. If you position it so the link lies with the lower side forward in the mouth it's milder (relatively) than if the higher end is towards the front. It makes sense when you hold the bit as if it's in the horse's mouth.
 
TarrSteps said:
Not all Dr Bristols are made to be used either way - some do have curved arms - but many are. If you position it so the link lies with the lower side forward in the mouth it's milder (relatively) than if the higher end is towards the front. It makes sense when you hold the bit as if it's in the horse's mouth.
Click to expand...

i didnt think you turned it back to front though, more turning it over/upside down? Mine def has curved arms...

more confusion eek, thanks nugget la poneh, still trying to figure it out
 
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