French Link Full Cheek Bit

km-j

km-j

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My 6 year old is currently being ridden in a French Link Full Cheek Bit, to help aid her steering as she is still a little unbalanced and green of course....I don't do a lot of hardwork with her, but when we do hack out or have a schooling lesson she tends to play with it a lot which means her head sometimes nods up and down whilst she plays with it! I can cope with the ocassional nodding as she must ache if she is learning to use the appropriate muscles etc in her neck etc (please quote me if I am wrong)! But the chewing and playing with Bit and opening of mouth is getting very annoying! Is that normal for a young horse?

When I get her on the Bit she tucks her head in nicely but may be a too low .... help? Do I have right Bit and aids?
 
I've just bought a 4yo and whilst appreciating she's considerably less advanced than yours then yes I'd expect a certain amount of "mouthing" with the bit. I can remember the Horsemen of old always saying that this should be regarded as a healthy sign that the horse was accepting the bit and a nice moist mouth indicated that all was well.

Does your bit have the loose rings? Or are they all-in-one like an Eggbutt snaffle; I ride my girly in a French-link with side-pieces - mine has the loose rings on which I think gives more play to the bit instead of having a rigid feel to it.

Just to be sure, and for reassurance, I'd be inclined to get a teeth-check just to make sure everything is as it should be.
 
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km-j said:
My 6 year old is currently being ridden in a French Link Full Cheek Bit, to help aid her steering as she is still a little unbalanced and green of course....I don't do a lot of hardwork with her, but when we do hack out or have a schooling lesson she tends to play with it a lot which means her head sometimes nods up and down whilst she plays with it! I can cope with the ocassional nodding as she must ache if she is learning to use the appropriate muscles etc in her neck etc (please quote me if I am wrong)! But the chewing and playing with Bit and opening of mouth is getting very annoying! Is that normal for a young horse?

When I get her on the Bit she tucks her head in nicely but may be a too low .... help? Do I have right Bit and aids?
Click to expand...

Your final sentence makes me wonder if you understand what you are aiming for, being "on the bit" is not about tucking her head in nicely but getting her working from behind, lifting her back, using her core and taking the contact forward, if you are asking her to tuck her head in then you are probably fiddling too much and as she is not able to carry herself yet she is compensating by playing more and trying to avoid being held in a frame she is not ready for.
The bit may not be the right one for her but I doubt it is the real issue, I would suggest some lessons with a good trainer to help you get in the right track and more understanding of what you are aiming for at this stage, I would be looking to get her going on a longer frame, avoiding her tucking her head in, have her soft in the hand and in front of the leg so she can learn to balance and carry herself, she will come onto the bit when she is able to.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
I've just bought a 4yo and whilst appreciating she's considerably less advanced than yours then yes I'd expect a certain amount of "mouthing" with the bit. I can remember the Horsemen of old always saying that this should be regarded as a healthy sign that the horse was accepting the bit and a nice moist mouth indicated that all was well.

Does your bit have the loose rings? Or are they all-in-one like an Eggbutt snaffle; I ride my girly in a French-link with side-pieces - mine has the loose rings on which I think gives more play to the bit instead of having a rigid feel to it.

Just to be sure, and for reassurance, I'd be inclined to get a teeth-check just to make sure everything is as it should be.
Click to expand...


I have a bit that that is like the eggbutt, not loose rings. Would you suggest I change her bit? I chose this one for her balance and turning to be honest, Her teeth are fine and have been checked, she seems to be tilting her head to the left also, Should I just forget what her head is doing and concentrate on getting her working forwards? Or am I holding her too tight and not giving and she is resisting the bit on the right side!
 
km-j said:
I have a bit that that is like the eggbutt, not loose rings. Would you suggest I change her bit? I chose this one for her balance and turning to be honest, Her teeth are fine and have been checked, she seems to be tilting her head to the left also, Should I just forget what her head is doing and concentrate on getting her working forwards? Or am I holding her too tight and not giving and she is resisting the bit on the right side!
Click to expand...

You've hit the nail on the head. Modern riders all seem to focus on the "shape" in front. That beautiful shape we all want takes years to achieve without force. Unfortunately, young horses are forced which means the owners get ugly on the forehand horses with their noses "tucked in". If they don't tuck it in, all manner of gadgets get bought in order to get the "shape".

Your horse sounds normal. Playing with the bit is healthy. Find an instructor that understands how to get a horse strong in his back first.
 
My 5 yr old was in the same, I managed to find a loose ring full cheek French link and hoping that will help when he gets a bit fixed/strong.
 
pixie27 said:
My 5 yr old was in the same, I managed to find a loose ring full cheek French link and hoping that will help when he gets a bit fixed/strong.
Click to expand...

I have been reading about the French Link Fulmer Snaffle rather than the French Link Full Cheek which is the fixed bit so this may help.....I didn’t realise this was fixed but the snaffle Version is definitely worth a try! What do you think?
 
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