Nutcracker action - good or bad

[DanniRenske]

I'm having a nightmare trying to figure out what bit to use for dressage competitions, I school and hack at home in a cherry roller with a single joint. Whilst reading about all different bits i'm coming across the term 'nutcracker action'.

Is this a good or bad thing to happen in a horses mouth? Part of me thinks a bit hitting the top of the mouth can't be good!

Also has anyone any advice what bit to use to compete in some suggestions have been to try a straight bar or a ky rotary loose ring snaffle (singe joint).

 

[spaniel]

Is this a good or bad thing to happen in a horses mouth? Part of me thinks a bit hitting the top of the mouth can't be good!

Listen to your inner voice!

 

[MrsMozart]

Most people in the know, or have done some research on bits, would not want a single jointed bit (which gives the 'nutcracker' action) anywhere near a horse's mouth.

So saying, there are no doubt some horses that for some reason prefer these bits over others.

 

[POLLDARK]

My youngster has a French link, hanging cheek snaffle & gets on very well with it, same bit for dressage competition & daily use.

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

Danny my welsh D hates egbut snaffles and any jointed bits. I put him in a rubber happy mouth snaffle and he dropped onto the bit and worked into his bridle! This was unheard of!! We used it at a dressage comp in the summer- I checked the rules and it is allowed!

 

[Housemouse]

The nutcracker action only happens when the bit is used in the wrong way. Otherwise, with the riders hands in the classical position - in line from elbow to bit, the link runs forwards over the tongue, not the nutcracker action up to the roof of the mouth. So it is not the bit that's causing the nutcracker action, but the rider.

Any simple loose or fixed ring bit with a single or double joint or lozenge will be suitable for dressage. Try doing to a bit bank and trying your horse in a couple till you find one that is right.

 

[ischa]

Try putting the bit in between the crease of elbow ,fold arm and twist bit this is the reaction it has , then try and tell us if it's good or bad ,
The best one I found was JP bits eliminate the "nutcracker" action and stop the bit from hitting the roof of the mouth, tongue and bars.

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

The nutcracker action only happens when the bit is used in the wrong way. Otherwise, with the riders hands in the classical position - in line from elbow to bit, the link runs forwards over the tongue, not the nutcracker action up to the roof of the mouth. So it is not the bit that's causing the nutcracker action, but the rider.

Completely agree, I have a heavy twisting left hand but even when I made an effort over several years to sort out my wrist my pony was still unhappy in the bit! He was never confident in going forwards into his bridle! Perfectly happy to assume responsibility for this reluctance though!!!

 

[touchstone]

There is also a school of thought that says that a double jointed bit such as a french link acts directly over the jaw bones, so might not necessarily be the kindest option for some horses. I guess it all boils down to what suits the individual horse.

 

[Molasses]

The nutcracker action is a bit of a myth. An awful lot of excellent riding was and is done with single jointed snaffles before the modern jointed ideas and innovations. To create a nutcracker action you need a badly fitted bit and bad hands or in some circumstances a rare mouth shape. If the bit is too large then yes it will poke the palette, if the rider is pulling back and down unilaterally yes this effect is possible. But for light steady connection and a horse that is working up to the bridle it simple cannot happen.

To replicate the often touted forearm test on a horse you’d need a mouth shaped like a humans arm and you’d need to pull down and inward on it?? I wouldn't recommend riding like that! Granted all horses are individuals and some with simply prefer certain shapes and textures in bits. The use of any bit is a balance of the horses individual shape and taste and the ability of the rider. Double jointed snaffles have their place, but honestly so do single joints. Searching for a bit a horse likes can be a nightmare, don't add the dreaded 'nutcracker worry' to your list too - Good luck!

 

[diamondrockharvey]

The nutcracker action is a bit of a myth. An awful lot of excellent riding was and is done with single jointed snaffles before the modern jointed ideas and innovations. To create a nutcracker action you need a badly fitted bit and bad hands or in some circumstances a rare mouth shape. If the bit is too large then yes it will poke the palette, if the rider is pulling back and down unilaterally yes this effect is possible. But for light steady connection and a horse that is working up to the bridle it simple cannot happen.

To replicate the often touted forearm test on a horse you’d need a mouth shaped like a humans arm and you’d need to pull down and inward on it?? I wouldn't recommend riding like that! Granted all horses are individuals and some with simply prefer certain shapes and textures in bits. The use of any bit is a balance of the horses individual shape and taste and the ability of the rider. Double jointed snaffles have their place, but honestly so do single joints. Searching for a bit a horse likes can be a nightmare, don't add the dreaded 'nutcracker worry' to your list too - Good luck!

Nice response
I agree some amazing horsemen and women have very happy horses in a simple single jointed snaffle!

 

[MrsMozart]

And how many of us ride that well...

 

[Bernster]

Am I mistaken or is there a real lack of bitting experts/specialists out there? I don't mean people posting on HHO btw but there seem to be experts for every aspect of horseyness but I've never come across anyone who does 'bits' for a living. (Apart from time on Team Fredericks on H&C TV.)

The number of bitting threads/questions on this forum alone shows how much people need help. So many types available, with each horse having a different mouth/tongue/way of going etc.

Maybe I've spotted the gap in the market!?

 

[Housemouse]

Am I mistaken or is there a real lack of bitting experts/specialists out there? I don't mean people posting on HHO btw but there seem to be experts for every aspect of horseyness but I've never come across anyone who does 'bits' for a living. (Apart from time on Team Fredericks on H&C TV.)

The number of bitting threads/questions on this forum alone shows how much people need help. So many types available, with each horse having a different mouth/tongue/way of going etc.

Maybe I've spotted the gap in the market!?

Hilary Vernon?