Drop Cheek Snaffle - anyone used one?

HollyWoozle

HollyWoozle

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I currently ride Belle on the middle ring of a Dutch Gag (with one rein, shock horror). We tried on the snaffle ring a few months ago but she was still unsettled and unpredictable at that time and I felt more in control with the reins on the next ring down.

Now she seems quieter and is coming along with her schooling, my instructor has suggested that we try heading towards a drop cheek snaffle (starting by moving to the snaffle ring of the gag first).

Does anyone have any experience with this bit please? Her gag is a french link. I trust my instructor completely and if that's what she thinks then I'm certainly happy to try it, I just wondered if anyone else had given it a go.

Thanks HHO, I love being able to ask for advice and opinions on here. :)
 
Do you mean a hanging cheek? That's what Dylan's in, with a French link mouthpiece. Only changed to it in February, and we're both much happier with that than the jointed D-ring he was in before.
 
My friend uses one on hers, she likes it, not much help was it, but all you can do is try it I guess. For safetly when you hack out you could always use the gag with double reins one on the snaffle and one on the next one down
 
When I bought her, my mare was in a Dutch gag, but ridden with one rein, it's not ideal. My trainer suggested we switch her to a drop cheek snaffle and she was just fine in that. She wasn't any stronger or harder to stop in the milder bit at all. We switched bits nearly two years ago and I'd never go back to a Dutch gag now. I've taken to the beach and galloped her and she pulled up just fine. :)
 
Is a drop cheek the same as a hanging cheek???

If so.....fabulous bits, rode my previous horse in one and just about to put my mare in one next week, horses seem to really like them and i find go really well in them, i know it depends on the horse! but they seem very well liked.

Good luck!
 
dibbin said:
Do you mean a hanging cheek? That's what Dylan's in, with a French link mouthpiece. Only changed to it in February, and we're both much happier with that than the jointed D-ring he was in before.
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Hello, yes, I think drop cheek/ hanging cheek snaffles are the same thing (I think, I know nothing about bits... evidently!).

brigantia - that's great to hear, thanks!

Thanks for all your comments, I'd much prefer to ride her in a snaffle and I think she would pull up OK (hopefully, hehe!)
 
Hanging cheek snaffles suit some horses well, I know of a couple who go very nicely in them. They are a good dressage legal bit to use on a horse than goes nicely in a dutch gag as there is an element of similarity in the action.
 
Agree with Katt, I know quite a few who go really well in a hanging cheek - seems to be a nice "inoffensive" bit to most horses.

I *think* a drop cheek and a hanging cheek are the same thing ... mine looks like this lol.
filet-baucher-hanging-cheek-snaffle-with-french-link-173-p.jpg
 
I have used them, one horse liked it but leant on it though. Another did well in it.

Just tried new horse in it- he hates it:mad: awkward boy.

In general though its a good bit...you can but try, you can pick them up for a couple of quid on ebay too:)
 
I used to use one on my mare but she really leant on it, it depends whether your horse tends to lean on the bit or not! :)
 
i use one for dressage & really like it - it ws the nearest i could get to a dutch gag - her hacking bit - & i have been using it for about a year now & as we hack to comps I feel confident that i have brakes in an emergency
 
rubysmum said:
i use one for dressage & really like it - it ws the nearest i could get to a dutch gag - her hacking bit - & i have been using it for about a year now & as we hack to comps I feel confident that i have brakes in an emergency
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That's super, thank you. Just what I wanted to hear. :) I hope that she will go nicely in it but I guess we will find out!
 
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