Can someone help a numpty out and tell me if a full cheek bit is dressage legal? I read somewhere that the fulmer keepers add poll pressure so if you left those off would it be ok?
Fulmers and full cheeks (they're not the same thing ) are legal and don't have poll pressure. The loops are to hold the bit in position but they're not essential for full cheeks (although I'd recommend them for fulmers as the bit works in a very specific way) and - shock, horror - many people ride without them.
Fulmer is like a loose ring version of a full cheek. So the long side bits are more mobile in the fulmer so keepers needed. Using keepers on a full cheek can slightly lift the bit so less tongue/bar pressure- which works well for some