Newly broken youngster- french link or single jointed bit?

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MissMistletoe

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I have recently re-backed my youngster. For long reining and now the early ridden work she has had a Happy Mouth single jointed eggbutt snaffle.
She stops on command and never makes faces when i apply rein contact to halt and steer. I am happy that she is happy with this bit.

However, steering could be better. The bit fits her well width wise, so I dont want to make it narrower by putting on rubber biscuits. So I have thought about trying her in a full cheek instead.

Do you think that I should buy a singe jointed HM or the ones with the centre roller/french link?.

The only reason I am questionning this, is that I am wanting to give her clear commands through the bit, which maybe a single jointed bit does well. I wonder whether the french link makes the bit too mobile in the mouth giving i more 'play' like a loose ring would.

I know that it seems common sense to just put her in a full cheek single joint, but Im just wondering whether it would make a lot of difference if I put her in one with a centre link in your opinions?.

Also, when would you swap onto a metal bit?. She will just be hacking this summer.

Thanks.
 
It's generally accepted these days that a double jointed bit like a french link or lozenge snaffle is a lot kinder for the horse. A single joint has a nutcrcker action, literally! and as soon as any pressure or contact is taken up the link squeezes the tongue and sticks up into the roof of the horse's mouth, which is very sensitive. A full cheek, double jointed would be much kinder.
 
I generally use a loose ring lozenge type French link with a copper mix, but will probably be looking for the same but with full cheeks for my boy once he is ridden, the full cheeks really seem to support them well :)
 
I always use a bit with full cheeks on my youngsters o stop the bit getting pulled through the mouth. One of mine is still in a happy mouth but most of mine start off with a metal bit with a central lozenge.
 
I never use a single jointed bit as I hate the nutcracker action they give. My mare was started in a flexi mouth rubber snaffle then went into a normal loose ring but a with a French link. So I'd use a Full cheek French link personally :)
 
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