''french link bits make the horse curl up behind the bit''

[lialls]

Just a quick post to see what others think on the above statement. Someone said it to me not long ago and its been stuck in my mind since then. They didnt explane why the horse would curl up behind the bit but they are very well respected and have have a lot of knowledge so im not going to argue with it lol. I just wondered if any one could either explane this? or say what your views are on the above statement just out of interest

 

[Magicmillbrook]

Just a quick post to see what others think on the above statement. Someone said it to me not long ago and its been stuck in my mind since then. They didnt explane why the horse would curl up behind the bit but they are very well respected and have have a lot of knowledge so im not going to argue with it lol. I just wondered if any one could either explane this? or say what your views are on the above statement just out of interest

Never heard this before. I have had three in French links and never had it happen.

 

[Nocturnal]

Pretty much any bit can make a horse drop behind the contact - if the rider's hands are too strong. French links aren't exactly high on the list of offenders, though...

 

[ThePony]

I haven't found that to be the case. Often heavy hands, insificient leg or poll pressure can cause this. Ime french links can cause a horse with a large or sensitive tongue to become heavy though as a way of trying to get away from the tongue pressure the flat plate of a french link can cause. A lozenge with a shaped bit can really help if that is the problem.

 

[flyingfeet]

I don't think you can just say that no matter how well respected you are - horses have different mouth conformation and preferences and what suits one will not suit others

On saying that I still hate single jointed bits!

Anyway a french link can be busy with busy hands, which would make a horse drop behind the bit, so yes a rider with unstable hands perhaps would make all horses drop behind the bit with a french link.... not sure its entirely the bits fault

 

[Damnation]

A bit is only as soft as what you ride in it.
Some bits suit some horses more than others.
If you horse is curling behind the contact, its either because you are too strong in the hand, they are behind your leg, or they are backing off and evading the contact and not working over their back. (Because the bit doesn't suit their mouth conformation)
This can happen with any bit, not just a french link.
I knew a cob who would run backwards in a french link, he hated them!
But Buffy my mare, its the only bit she doesn't evade/back off from!

 

[Wagtail]

Just a quick post to see what others think on the above statement. Someone said it to me not long ago and its been stuck in my mind since then. They didnt explane why the horse would curl up behind the bit but they are very well respected and have have a lot of knowledge so im not going to argue with it lol. I just wondered if any one could either explane this? or say what your views are on the above statement just out of interest

Not heard it before, but it doesn't surprise me if you are referring to the tongue as it puts pressure on the tongue and some horses find this uncomfortable. If she means they make the horse overbent, then I don't know why that would be, unless again it is to avoid the tongue pressure, though tongue pressure is stronger with a lozenge.

 

[marmalade76]

I haven't found that to be the case. Often heavy hands, insificient leg or poll pressure can cause this. Ime french links can cause a horse with a large or sensitive tongue to become heavy though as a way of trying to get away from the tongue pressure the flat plate of a french link can cause. A lozenge with a shaped bit can really help if that is the problem.

You must be confusing a French link with a Dr.Bristol, surely?

 

[ThePony]

You must be confusing a French link with a Dr.Bristol, surely?

No, I do mean a french link! French links like this with a flat link http://www.thehorseboxsaddlery.co.uk/Horse_bits/horse_french_link_eggbutt_snaffle can give rather a positive tongue pressure which some horses don't get on with, compared to ones that are shaped with a lozenge like this http://www.thesaddleryshop.co.uk/P/..._lozenge_centre_loose_ring_snaffle-(382).aspx
Easier to explain with pics as I'm not v good at making myself clear I think!

 

[marmalade76]

A French link is a mild bit. I had a horse that was very sensitive and would not take a contact in a single joint, would lean on a straight bar but went well in a French link.

 

[lialls]

Everything that has been said i agree with. Thats what i didnt really understand, its not known for making a horse curl up behind it and i dont see how is design could do that..

Thanks for everyone views on it though, just thought there might be something i was missing lol. Next time i will just have to ask about it when he says something and i'd like to know more

 

[spotty_pony]

If the bit doesn't suit that particular horse then yes it can make them come behind the bit. Not every horse though, it depends on the individual horse. One of my boys tends to lean on the bit and come above the bit and he works very well in a french link snaffle as it encourages him to 'mouth' the bit more and stops him from being able to lean on the bit. However, one of my other horses got into the habit of dropping behind the bit when I rode him in the same bit as my other boy. He has a very sensitive mouth and didn't want to accept the french link mouthpiece as he felt insecure as he is very light in the mouth so I tried him in a straight bar happy mouth mouthpiece and the difference was amazing and when he became used to it, he worked in a true outline with his head on the vertical. Like I said before though, it depends on the individual horse as to what reaction using a french link mouthpiece will give.

 

[MagicMelon]

I don't think you can just say that no matter how well respected you are - horses have different mouth conformation and preferences and what suits one will not suit others

On saying that I still hate single jointed bits!

Agree and agree!

 

[Jesstickle]

Sounds like garbage to me. Obviously all horses like different things but if your horse is in front of your leg and you have light hands it shouldn't be curling up behind the bit in anything. If it is you need to look at the way you're riding!

I include in this, double bridles, pelhams, three ring gags, and any other bit you chose to name.

I wouldn't use a lot of them but that doesn't mean you can blame the bit for the horse's horrible way of going!

Mine goes in a french link hanging snaffle. I'd rather he went in a french link loose ring but he doesn't like them.

Nitty is being started in a french link loose ring and hopefully she won't be so picky and can stay in it forever.

I like french links

 

[Zuzan]

I think sometimes to lozenge is too long causing the arms to lie on the very sensitve bars.. even without contact.. I have swapped to a single jointed bit (fulmer from a loose ring NS lozenge) and in our case my horse is going better in this than she was in the lozenge.

 

[Ibblebibble]

everyone has an opinion on bits and how good/bad, kind/severe they are, but the opinion that really matters is the horse that's wearing it!
my big girl wears a loose ring french link, she works well in it and you don't get any of the head tossing, nose poking or arsey attitude that she's very quick to offer if you try any other bit!

 

[Kat]

I think that the person who said this was a bit confused, and meant curl their tongue up behind the bit. I liked French link bits but my mare pulls her tongue up and back and fiddled so she has a lozenge now which is better. Want to try a demi anky though to see if that is better, if not will get a ns tranz angled lozenge to make old fat tongue more comfy!

 

[lialls]

Ah, so do you think that they ment that the horse might be more inclinde to fiddle with the link as there is more play/movement in french link?

 

[PapaFrita]

Anyone who would make such a sweeping statement isn't, IMO, worth listening to. As with so many other things concerning horses, it depends on the horse, depends on the hands, etc, etc, etc.

 

[merlin&brigit<3]

I ride in a french link with no problems

 

[madgeymoo]

i found that my sensitive TB mare did not cope with the pressure applied across the toungue by the french link (put this in as i thought would be kinder then single jointed) though i have now chand to a loose ring lozenge snaffle as she works fantastic in this on the other hand my 4 year old hates a single joint and loves his full cheek french link,

 

[KazzOnAPiano]

I recently swapped the mare to a french link - no problems at all, only improvements