Looking at this bit - will it help me?

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Lollii

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I am looking for a new bit for my warmblood, he has a hard mouth and is heavy in my hands for flatwork, he lacks concentration, I need help to keep him on the bit - any ideas?

Anyone used one of these: it's on Ebay;

Filet Baucher / Hanging Cheek with quarter moon mouthpiece

Copper mix 1/4 moon



Filet Baucher / Hanging Cheek

The Filet Baucher is also known as the Hanging Cheek, it uses pressure on the poll as the cheek piece has an extra ring above the snaffle ring where the bridle cheek pieces are attached to, this poll pressure encourages the horse to lower the head and come on to the bit especially useful for horses that have a high head carriage. This cheek has proven one of the most popular cheeks with various mouthpieces. It is a fixed cheek bit, which may be useful for horses that are unsure of the bit, as it doesn’t move around too much in the mouth. It may prove a suitable alternative to a snaffle, for children riding ponies that need an extra bit of help to stop, or horses that are slightly too strong in a snaffle.

Quarter moon mouthpiece:

The quarter moon provides relief over the tongue and comfortably follow the natural contours of the horse’s mouth without hurting the bars. It evenly distributes pressure on the tongue and encourages swallowing and relaxation of the jaw. This unique mouthpieces encourage chewing and salivation and produce a softer, more relaxed mouth.

Copper Mouthpiece:

Copper mouthpiece promotes salivation for a softer mouth.

Size:

5 3/4" or 14.4 cm
 
It will apply some poll pressure which may help with the horse being strong. The link should make the bit quite playful in the horse mouth so may help him soft his contact and being copper it shoudl be quite warm.

I suppose with most things you'll have to give it a go and see if he like it
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not sure if the hanging cheek is dressage legal, does that matter?
 
Do you know what working a horse "on the bit" means? -i've not long found out what this is too. lol

Hanging cheek is good but if you want he horse to truely work 'on the bit' then probably not.

Go for something with a french link, sweet iron perhaps to promote salvitation
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A hanging cheek will exert a small amount of pressure on the poll which will encourage him to come down into more of an outline, but he still requires riding between hand and leg in order to remain in an outline and work through from behind. I think you should do plenty of transitions which will encourage him to get his hocks underneath him more, and plenty of changes of directions to encourage enthusiasm and interest! The trouble with warmbloods is that as a general rule they are quite happy to slop along, being as they are easy natured and laid back. They tend to pull themselves along rather than push themselves along from behind. My horse is like this and becomes very much on the forehand from time to time and tends to need a lot of riding. I have had the odd lesson from my instructor (prefer to spend money competing rather than learning - each to their own) and he has taught me to lift my inside hand slightly and use inside leg to create impulsion and outside hand to half halt to rebalance and prevent the shoulders from falling out. I know quite a bit of the stuff, but concentrate so much on my position that half the time don't stop to think about how my horse is going.
 
Hi Applecart, This sounds just like my horse Quote:"The trouble with warmbloods is that as a general rule they are quite happy to slop along, being as they are easy natured and laid back. They tend to pull themselves along rather than push themselves along from behind. My horse is like this and becomes very much on the forehand from time to time and tends to need a lot of riding."

My horse takes A LOT of riding when he is looky (not spooky) and it takes ages to get him back and concentrating, I just thought maybe this bit would help 'lift' him?

I am always being told on my dressage sheets to ride him more between leg and hand - but I do! my legs & arms ache after a schooling session on him - knackering!
 
I'd be careful that he isn't leaning on you, as in your sig. photo (if it is the same horse) it looks like he would fall over onto his nose if it was for you holding him up!

Bits that work via poll pressure (hanging cheeks, gags etc) can only increase this error, causing the horse to place more and more weight on their front ends. If a horse is flopping along on his front end the he is at risk of fallin gover as horses heads are heavy! To rebalance himself he is leaning on your hands, which is why your arms will hurt! Arms should not hurt after riding, they should feel like a connection to the horse's mouth, not a tug of war lifting him up/under etc!

I'd try get some lessons to help with the leaning etc.
 
He sounds just like mine and I also ride in a hanging cheek, but a mullen mounth one as he hates jointed bits (huge and slightly deformed tongue means he's very uncomfortable in a jointed bit) It definitely helps me cope with his leaning and strength
 
Hi Scribbles, no it is not the horse in my siggy, he has the opposite problem that there is no mouth at the end of the reins and natrualy overbends, but that it getting better, I can work on that one!

On my 'problem horse' I have a lesson every week, my trainer makes sure we start on a loose rein and stretch down which he is very good at!

The problem is when we go out to an event he can't concentrate and then I have trouble holding him in, he gets very looky, pokes his nose out and leans on the bit - really heavy, so I try and get him back together- thats when I start to ache, I just want something (a bit?) to help me with that,
I think I need more help with him - back to the drawing board!
 
Hi friends horse has just been on holiday for reschooling as she was having some confidence problems.He leant on the bit was heavy on forehand and overbent and didnt work into bit.The instructor has him in quarter moon mouth piece (snaffle)and she rode for the first time the other night,she said he was fantastic in this bit all his issues had gone .He is large 17 2 warmblood.Hope that helps
 
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He sounds just like mine and I also ride in a hanging cheek, but a mullen mounth one as he hates jointed bits (huge and slightly deformed tongue means he's very uncomfortable in a jointed bit) It definitely helps me cope with his leaning and strength

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Thanks for this Annagain, I was just looking at a hanging cheek, mullen mouth bit and I was wondering if this would help, I think I may give it a go - it's worth a try!
 
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