those who use full cheek snaffles......

[georgiegirl]

Do you ever have problems with it getting caught in your noseband?

Autumn goes better in a full cheek french link for flatwork than any other bit we have tried but very very occasionally it gets caught in the cavesson part of her flash noseband.

Now I know you can get keepers but Ive heard it can change the action and feel of the bit so Im inclined not to try that option as when its in the right place she goes lovely in it.

Any thoughts on what to do?!

 

[Smith123]

Could your raise/lower or tighten it so it can't get caught?

 

[Keenjean]

I've got keepers on mine and still have this problem (fulmer). I can't raise/lower my noseband significantly enough to stop it though so I'll watch this thread with interest

 

[Gamebird]

Mine doesn't interfere at all. Use one with cavesson, flash and grackle. I do have my cavesson pretty high though. Don't use keepers, they're incorrect unless with a fulmer.
Not the best pic, but you'll get the idea (sorry, security settings tight so only friends will be able to see it)

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?...848857.-2207520000.1366231053.&type=3&theater

It look like the cheeks go on the outside of the noseband. The noseband is a crank one though and probably done up more firmly than it should.

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

I am curious how, when bit and nose band are correctly fitted, the bars could get caught while in use, unless it is rubbed under?

Technically full cheeks are supposed to be used with the keepers as they are designed to help with the steering. They can also help keep the bit more stable in the mouth. Arguably without the keepers they are no much different to a regular snaffle with the same mouth piece.

Ultimately one way to see, they are only about £2/3 for a set of keepers, and providing you ride with them in an open frame of mind so as not to find your riding subconsciously changing her way of going then you will see if they help or hinder.

Other option is if you don't need the cavesson part of the flash is to use a drop?

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

Don't use keepers, they're incorrect unless with a fulmer.

Have to admit, I googled the difference as have always thought they were the same thing!

 

[NeverSayNever]

why are keepers only correct for a fulmar? Ive not heard that before

I was always taught their purpose was for safety, nothing else. I use a full cheek snaffle and have used keepers but took them off as my horse went better without them. Ive never had a problem with the cheeks catching the cavesson.

 

[georgiegirl]

I must admit it is a wierd problem.....

Having looked at a pic Ive got that shows it happening quite well it could be that I need to put the bit up another hole but Im a in a bit of a quandry over what to do as she seems to go better with it slightly lower set????? I think my noseband is done up tight enough but it does seem to sort of curve away from her face at the points where the points where the headpiece straps join on if that makes any sense?


Im not sure what my facebook settings are like but hopefully you'll be able to see here.....

https://www.facebook.com/becky.blyt...52760245665089&set=t.689230088&type=3&theater

 

[Nugget La Poneh]

For me personally, the cavesson part is too loose and not high enough. I was always taught 1 finger below the 'cheek' bone and one finger to fit under the nose. This will bring the flash up past the soft bit of the nose meaning better airflow

And as you've a running martingale, consider a drop - will remove the issue then

 

[NeverSayNever]

id agree, your noseband looks too loose and low

this is mine with keepers, but i dont use them now

 

[Bantry]

Yes! I had that problem. Only happened about twice or 3 times in total but one of those times was during a SJ round at a show and I had to pull up and release if from under the cavesson.

I tried putting the cavesson higher but in the end changed to a mexican and problem solved. Either that or you could try a drop noseband?

 

[dressagelove]

I use mine with a drop.

 

[SuperH]

I have two in full cheek snaffles (no keepers, I'm another one who thought this was incorrect unless a fulmer?) with cavesson nosebands. They only get them caught up if you leave them tied up and they rub them. Ridden I don't have a problem. I put the nosebands high enough that they don't catch.

 

[georgiegirl]

Thanks for the input guys always good to have another set of eyes to see what they think.

I'll have a fiddle around with the nose band positioning and see if it helps. Im loath to crank it up very tight as she tends to go a bit wooden in your hand if it's done up very tight. I do have a grackle which I use when I'm showjumping but unfortunately not dr legal! Might have to beg a drop from somebody to try if adjusting the nose and fit doesn't help.

Thanks again everyone

 

[NaeNae87]

Nope never had a problem with them, I ride both of mine in them.

 

[siennamum]

Just to come at this from another angle.... could you dispense with the full cheek..... I am about to do this with my horse, he doesn't really need them now he's all grown up.

I've never had a problem with them catching in noseband so now sensible comments, sorry. Do agree tho that keepers simply shouldn't be used as a matter of course. I see some horrible sights with keepers on poorly fitting full cheek snaffles, can be really painful for the horse.

 

[Firewell]

My mums used to catch in the noseband, very irritating! Her full cheek was a NS and when we checked it against mine (I had exactly the same bit) the cheeks on her bit were shorter than mine. V odd! She got fed up and swapped to the eggbut version.
I have never had a problem with my fullcheek (don't use keepers, they are for fulmers).

 

[georgiegirl]

I had tried swapping over to an eggbutt French link but to be honest she just didn't go as well in it why I don't know as its essentially the same?? Strange horse!

It may be I need to get a different flash nose band I'm not sure. It's hard to see on the pic but the nose band does come away from her face a little bit on each side where the head piece straps join on??

 

[MandyMoo]

I used to always use a full cheek (not a fulmer though) on Monty years ago, and then one on Socks recently - I have never had this issue and have used them with flashes and cavessons.....weird !

 

[rara007]

I always have this issue with mine on Calv and his big full size head, yet not on the ponies using the same bit- odd! I think it might be due to the curve of the bit sitting differently in their mouths and different lengths of mouths. C has a crank, but loose and couldn't be much higher