someone please educate me......

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Beatrice5

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Bits.....

Is a French link more or less severe than a plain snaffle?

Is an eggbutt kinder than a loose ring? and how does it work?

Does a fulmer really help with steering? If not what does if anything ( for a youngster )

Thank you :)
 
A french link is kinder than a normal snaffle as it doesnt have the nutcracker action.
An eggbut is useful for horses that are reluctant to take up a contact.
A fulmer can help with steering with the correct schooling. For a youngster it may be best to go for a french llink and work on the steering with turns etc when schooling
 
Beatrice5 said:
Bits.....

Is a French link more or less severe than a plain snaffle?

Is an eggbutt kinder than a loose ring? and how does it work?

Does a fulmer really help with steering? If not what does if anything ( for a youngster )

Thank you :)
Click to expand...

Someone posted a link recently http://www.sustainabledressage.net/tack/bridle.php which I found incredibly useful. Apologies, I can't remember who to credit for the link posting! HTH
 
Thank you will look at the link now.

While I do can I ask would you recommend an eggbutt french link for a youngster then? I am looking at bits on ebay and there is such a massive variety it's rather overwhelming!
 
Any bit is only as kind as the hands holding the reins :) french link and single joint snaffles are both seen as 'mild' bits but it is down to the individual preference of the horse; some go better in french links and some prefer the single jointed snaffles.

Looserings help stop the horse leaning on the bit or keeping it 'fixed' as the bit is not solidly attached to the rings. Again it's down to preference although personally I usually use a loose ring.

Fulmer or full cheek snaffles can help with steering and I have found them to be really useful bits for youngsters :)

There's not really any hard and fast rules with bits; horses are so individual that what suits one, another will hate. It's good to look at the conformation of your horse's mouth as well - has she got a large, fleshy tongue (not much room for a thicker mouthpiece/may go better in a ported mouthpiece), thick lips, low palate...
 
Rhino please don't worry I have very soft hands to the extent I am a contact phobe hence wanting to get the right bit that I can feel confident enough to manage a contact without fear of it being unpleasant for the horse.

In this instant it is my young New Forest who does have a fleshy tounge so would prefer a thinner bit.

I am looking at Mylers and Neue Scuele but they could be an expensive mistake.

The article on tack is very interesting thank you so much OldNag
 
Fulmers with keepers attached to the bridle are also very, very mild as they are suspended in the mouth and apply less pressure to the bars. They also stay very still in the mouth so for horses who are a bit wibbly about taking a contact they can be very useful. BH is in a hanging snaffle because this is the same thing but means I don't have to fiddle with keepers (don't believe people who tell you they give poll pressure, they don't!)
 
Thank you,
I will look in ebay for a fulmer but have a hanging french link in the tack room ( broom cupboard ;) ) that I will try him in.

Would a happy mouth french link fulmer be a good idea for him ?
 
What is he in at the moment? Does he seem happy in it? If he does I would leave him be. If you think he doesn't what makes you think that? What does he do that makes you think he isn't keen?

All my horses apart from BH have been in a very boring loose ring french link and they've all seemed happy. He is the first I've had who's been a bit fussy in his mouth.
 
I dont like happy mouths.I have seen alot of sore mouths due to them where a horse either has produced enough saliva for the bit to slide or the horse has managed to bit a small piece off and has cut their mouth
 
I have only just backed him - now ridden him twice for about 10 mins.

Started him wearing a happy mouth just for 5 mins mouthing and he was very busy chewing it. Happy mouths are quite thick and have those 2 big bumps which I think irritated him.

Popped madams nathe in him yesterday and he was very quiet with no mouth movement but I am trying to help him with steering and give him as much help as possible with understanding what I am asking. He does open his mouth when I vibrate the rein to indicate I would like to turn and I am against tight nosebands as I think it masks potential problems.

But thank you again I have some more options to try now. He is a super little chap and O adore him hence am so committed to making him happy and comfortable right from the start.
 
Fulmers are good to help with steering, but can be a bit "dry" in the mouth as they don't move much, and don't always encourage saliva..

Our most recent youngster went fine in a fulmer, but much better in a D ring french link snaffle - the D helped with the steering..
 
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