Hanging cheek snaffles

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Lurky McLurker

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Just a quick question: I understand that the main function of a hanging cheek snaffle (as opposed to a normal one) is to exert a little bit of poll pressure, which I presume encourages the horse to lower its head. I've been advised to use one on my cob mare to give me slightly more effective brakes, but she never raises her head to evade the contact - she's more of a "head down, neck set" kind of evader, so would a hanging cheek snaffle still be effective in this situation?

Thanks :)
 
I think the jury is out on poll pressure..... from my experience of using one, it did not exert poll pressure. The cheekpeices just bulged and were a bit redundant. In order to exert poll pressure, it needs a pivot point i.e. curb chain and a fixed rein on the snaffle ring.. which will turn it into a jointed kimblewick....

I looks like it should, but all it really does is hold the bit off the bars. It's revered by some, but I don't know.... I'm not sure it's all that its cracked up to be.

Having said that, I AM going to give it another go this week as my current gelding does exactly what your mare does. So, I'll revisit your post and let you know. Will you do the same if you get chance to try?
 
my horse did similar to yours and tried the HC he just used it to lean on then

I put him in a ton thumb for SJ a few times he then learn't what I mean't and stopped it. i am sure I will have to use it as a reminder at some point
 
I agree with tallyho I dont see that they exert poll pressure at all, just bulge.
I, like soulfull rode my last horse in a tom thumb for extra brakes jumping and xc and it worked a treat, much prefer to use a strong bit and ride light than a weak bit and have to wrestle and argue.
 
I use one but not for poll pressure. I don't believe that they exert any. If you have any basic physics understanding/common sense you can see that there can't be any leverage due to the lack of a fixing point between the rein and the bit ring.

I use mine because it lifts the bit off the bars and is very still in the mouth. Brown horse really likes it, he won't settle to a contact in a bit he feels moves too much. He likes his hanging cheek or else a fulmer with keepers. I'm sure people see me using it and assume I have no idea what I'm doing though!

Might go back to fulmer with keepers but they look so clunky! At least then people wouldn't assume I'm an idiot!
 
millitiger said:
pull the head down.
Click to expand...

I think you'll find OP said this wasn't an issue.... it was the poll pressure to encourage relaxation which is exactly what a bit of poll pressure encourages.

OP, are you thinking of poll pressure for competition?

If not, the kimblewick is a lovely bit. It needs the lightest of aids, yet harsh hands do not get response as it's easily evaded. It's essentially a short shank pelham.
 
Thanks for your replies, now that I think about it, I can see why it doesn't really exert poll pressure! I borrowed a hanging cheek to try out this evening, and she went nicely and didn't pull or run away with me, but I don't know if that was more to do with the muggy heat making her less energetic! She did seem to like it though, and was much more quiet in her mouth than usual - she tends to chomp at her normal snaffle, but she seemed more comfortable in the hanging cheek, so I think I will get one for her as it's obviously what she prefers. :) I wasn't specifically looking for a bit with poll pressure, just one that she would be happy and comfortable in, which it seems she is. :)
 
Hi, hope it's ok to jump in here? A friend told me it stopped her horse leaning so I borrowed one for mine to try - she's a cob - the same thing happened the cheek pieces bulged and she still overbent and leant on it which gives me pain between my shoulders. Am wondering what to try next?
 
If your horse tends to tuck head in and run then its more being able to grab hold of the mouth piece that you want to prevent. you could try a snaffle with a waterford mouth piece which can prevent this. :)
 
We tried a hanging cheek on a hard mouthed pony for my daughter , didnt seem to make any difference, changed to buble bit but the poll pressure just made him get his head even lower as an evasion. Have changed to a pelham and it is great , he keeps his head lovely accepts the contact and has stopped pulling her forward. She can use the lightest of hands and njoy riding him again. My sons pony is in a Schule french link hanging snaffle and loves it , he has never gone better.
 
Agree with maree... I am an eternal pelham fan. I need to compete so have tried baucher with drop noseband. Hmmmm.... ok, we have head down but absolutely no confidence in lateral work. I guess we need to give it more time... have a lesson in it tomorrow - will report back...
 
I use a hanging cheek french link snaffle for dressage, it does not have poll pressure and I too have the issues with the bulging cheek pieces but he does go better in it than the other snaffles I have tried.

For SJ I use a NS beval which does have poll pressure and that does help with the breaks quite a bit unfortunately not dressage legal though.
 
tallyho! said:
I think the jury is out on poll pressure..... from my experience of using one, it did not exert poll pressure. The cheekpeices just bulged and were a bit redundant. In order to exert poll pressure, it needs a pivot point i.e. curb chain and a fixed rein on the snaffle ring.. which will turn it into a jointed kimblewick....

I looks like it should, but all it really does is hold the bit off the bars. It's revered by some, but I don't know.... I'm not sure it's all that its cracked up to be.

Having said that, I AM going to give it another go this week as my current gelding does exactly what your mare does. So, I'll revisit your post and let you know. Will you do the same if you get chance to try?
Click to expand...


:) Woo Hoo! :D at last someone else who believes that there is no poll pressure. I sometimes wonder who starts of the rumours.
 
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