Full Cheek Snaffle....loops/keepers?

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Should you use the loops or are these just for fulmers?
If so, are there loops just to keep the bit safe or do they alter the way the bit works?
 
I have recently bought a full cheek fixed snaffle for my younger mare and decided against loops. I think they are generally just for fulmers, hence the name fulmer loops.
From what I read they are a safety thing to stop the cheeks jabbing the horse/going up a nostril (?!) but they do seem to affect the positioning of the bit in the mouth.
 
I never use them although people do, they should always be used with fulmers to keep the bit correctly in place, full cheeks were designed to be used without as they are stable enough, I think using them makes the bit too fixed I like some movement at the end of the reins, it depends on the horse and how they go as to which works best.
 
They are really just for fulmers. The loose ring allows the bit cheeks to move more and they can get caught on the bridle or the horse. The loops help prevent that. They don't alter the action of the bit as such - but you shouldn't use a Fulmer without them. If you use them on a full cheek you might fix the bit in the mouth which would probably interfere with the action. But that would depend on how the bit sits in the first place I would think?
 
I would only use them with a fulmer. To use with a fixed cheek you are completely altering (rotating) the position of mouthpiece. That could mean the difference between a nice "soft" bit, to something which digs into the tongue and/or bars and/or palate depending on the mouthpiece.
 
Difficult one as I've used a Fulmer both ways, with and without and far prefer it without the loops. It should not make a difference in 'danger' if the bridle is fitted correctly anyway.
Mine has loose rings and without, it is a soft bit that hangs nicely and youngsters go well in it if they're happy with a jointed bit. With the loops, it is very much a static mouthpiece on an angle that I thinks digs too high into the roof of the mouth permanently so causing the head to raise just that bit too much just to make it comfortable for the horse. I would rather my horse was comfortable TBH so the loops will stay off and it has the action of a loose ring snaffle with guiding sides. If the noseband is fitted correctly then the bit should not get caught up in it.
 
Our first pony always had the loops on but I've since tried them on 2 different horses and they seem to make the bit sit at a funny angle so have never used them since and haven't had any issues
 
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