What does this bit do?!

[Klix]

A friend and I were clearing out the her tack room earlier and we stumbled across this bit - Which neither of us know what an earth it does?! I'm sure the picture if the right way round, but what does it help/prevent the horse from doing? The lozenge in the middle is very thick (the picture doesn't do much justice - Also sorry I it is huge!!)

 

[Ladyinred]

Not one I know but I rather like it. Bet there are horses out there that would suit to a 't'

 

[Klix]

Not one I know but I rather like it. Bet there are horses out there that would suit to a 't'

What about it do you like? I understand the full cheek, however I don't understand what the middle is supposed to achieve/encourage/deter?

 

[TandD]

it looks a bit like a ported mouth piece...so gives room for the tongue? (guessing here!)

 

[mil1212]

Its a half moon bit, gives the tongue room, not a harsh bit

 

[Ladyinred]

I imagine the slightly raised middle could be for a horse that tries to put his tongue over the bit but has too low a palate for a proper port. The action would be very mild, even milder than a french link, as the ported area is so wide. No nutcracker action or pinches with that bit.

 

[**Vanner**]

It is supposed to be much kinder on the tongue as already said.

 

[Klix]

Oh right very interesting, thanks everyone with all of the replies so far!! I may be inclined to try this at a later stage with my girls jumping (could it potentially help? she is in a loose ring snaffle at the moment and would like to stay that way however she does try to get her tongue over the bit after a fence and ****** off!! I was considering a French link next, but maybe this could be a better option?)

 

[Ladyinred]

Oh right very interesting, thanks everyone with all of the replies so far!! I may be inclined to try this at a later stage with my girls jumping (could it potentially help? she is in a loose ring snaffle at the moment and would like to stay that way however she does try to get her tongue over the bit after a fence and ****** off!! I was considering a French link next, but maybe this could be a better option?)

Much as I love french links even I have to admit that they make it easy for a horse that gets his/her tongue over the bit. One of mine would have his tongue over before I could do up the throat lash!! We reorted to bitless with him but I would happily have tried this one.

 

[Aleka81]

Oh right very interesting, thanks everyone with all of the replies so far!! I may be inclined to try this at a later stage with my girls jumping (could it potentially help? she is in a loose ring snaffle at the moment and would like to stay that way however she does try to get her tongue over the bit after a fence and ****** off!! I was considering a French link next, but maybe this could be a better option?)

It's a ported full cheek snaffle. You can get different thickness of port. This one is the same as I use one all the time on my TB. He much prefers this to his French link!
But for jumping I'm afraid it's just not enough for mine.

Some horses love them others loathe them. Same as most bits

 

[Klix]

Much as I love french links even I have to admit that they make it easy for a horse that gets his/her tongue over the bit. One of mine would have his tongue over before I could do up the throat lash!! We reorted to bitless with him but I would happily have tried this one.

I may keep hold of it and try if we do a bit more jumping then! I have tried her bitless once, partially for a laugh and to see how she would react... Never again, haha! I think it was fairly conclusive that she didn't like nose/poll pressure!

 

[Klix]

It's a ported full cheek snaffle. You can get different thickness of port. This one is the same as I use one all the time on my TB. He much prefers this to his French link!
But for jumping I'm afraid it's just not enough for mine.

Some horses love them others loathe them. Same as most bits

Again thank you for your help and advise!! She's not particularly strong with the jumping, it would just be nice to have something with a little more strength so that I can get her attention but also forgiving.. So I may have a little play with it when we introduce a bit more jumping to her routine.

 

[webble]

It is kinder to the tongue and having two joints will reduce the nutcracker action slightly

 

[tango'smum]

its a half moon..

 

[saddlesore]

As above, its ha half moon. Its a good option if your horse prefers a jointed bit but also needs tongue room. A mild bit that most horses readily accept. However it is not designed to stop the tongue going over the bit, although reducing the pressure might reduce the need for your horse to try.

 

[Alyth]

IMO a half moon is a curved bar - like a half moon!! This looks a nice kind bit as one poster said, the middle link prevents the nutcracker action hitting the roof of the mouth and the curve gives the tongue a bit more space.

 

[ozpoz]

I'd also call a curved straight bar a half moon!
This is a double jointed fulmer snaffle,imo. and the curved middle joint should indeed give the tongue more space.

 

[Shysmum]

nothing wrong with this - the half moon gives tongue relief, and the cheeks are full, for helping with guidance.

 

[Capriole]

IMO a half moon is a curved bar - like a half moon!! This looks a nice kind bit as one poster said, the middle link prevents the nutcracker action hitting the roof of the mouth and the curve gives the tongue a bit more space.

I'd also call a curved straight bar a half moon!
This is a double jointed fulmer snaffle,imo. and the curved middle joint should indeed give the tongue more space.

I'd call that a mullen mouth. Like this?

http://www.aussiesaddlery.com.au/mullen-mouth-eggbutt-bit/

 

[saddlesore]

IMO a half moon is a curved bar - like a half moon!!

sounds like you are describing a Mullen mouth. The bit the OP posted is a half moon. The middle link is kind of half moon shaped - if you squint your eyes

 

[TheMule]

I have one of these and like it but what you have to watch is the joints for the links are quite close to the corners of the mouth so when it pulls through a bit they can rub