question about bits: snaffle v's french snaffle

[Kittykins]

Hey all,

went to ride the new horse yesterday and she was LOVELY. I've only ever walked her (I'm buying her from a friend so know her a little bit already), so was a bit nervous about trotting / cantering etc - especially in a school as I honestly can't remember the last time I rode in an enclosed space! Have been happy hacking for the last five years or so.

ANYWAY, she was perfectly well behaved and we got on brilliantly so feeling much more confident, but I noticed that the rider who's currently schooling her (she's on full livery whilst was being sold) is riding her in a French snaffle. I've not yet bought tack for her, but was going to buy just a straightforward snaffle.

Is there any major difference? If she's been going well in the french, should I stick with it? She is quite lazy, so i was wondering whether the idea behind it was to stop her leaning on the rider's hands?

 

[martlin]

If she goes well in the French link snaffle, I would stick to that. Single jointed (straightforward as you called it) snaffle has a nut cracker action on horses mouth, not many horses like it, actually. The French link disperses that pressure, making the experience more pleasant for the horse.