why oh why

[Gorgeous George]

doesn't anyone make a loose ring hanging cheek snaffle? I've tried George in various different bits with varying success but always end up going back to his dutch gag which I mostly use with the rein on the snaffle ring, but of course this isn't dressage legal but he just goes so nicely and lightly in it. I worry that it is a harsh bit, but he does seem to like it, I would hate to think i am hurting him

 

[RunToEarth]

I like to think that really the bit is only as strong as the hands operating it. If your horse goes nicely with the DG in a light contact then keep him in it, he is obviously happy there- better having a stronger bit and light hands than having a snaffle and no control. I always thought that is the hanging cheek was a loose ring it would create a poll pressure, which possibly wouldn't be dressage leagal anyway.
I wish my horse would go nicely in a snaffle, I have serious issues with him in a Cheltenham gag

 

[YorksG]

How would a loose ring hanging cheek work?

 

[RunToEarth]

I would think it gave a little more poll pressure, like the bubble bit does, but like I say, surely it wouldn't be dressage legal, as the poll pressure would be gag like in the action.

 

[YorksG]

I wouldn't have thought that with the loose ring it would have had that much poll action, surely the hanging cheek has to be fixed.

 

[Weezy]

A loose ring hanging bit just wouldn't work

The ring that is the hanging bit would fix the bit somewhat, so the loose action would be lost...am sure I am not missing a trick here!

 

[deicinmerlyn]

A hanging cheek snaffle is I believe dressage legal.

Could be wrong but a gag has a raising effect and a hanging cheek applies poll pressure so has a slight lowering effect.

 

[Gorgeous George]

ah well it is just a thought I keep having as with a gag and the reins on the snaffle ring it is in essence a loose ring hanging cheek, and as deicin points out 'proper' hanging cheek snaffles are dressage legal, but George just doesn't seem to like anything with fixed rings - ho hum, fussy sod!

 

[Baggybreeches]

Have you tried a wilkie snaffle, it has a bit of both actions, the poll pressure and because the cheek has like a sleeve to slightly turn in it is also not fixed, but they are not dressage legal either!
http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/horsecare/1370/40804.html

 

[merlinsquest]

can you not just get the same mouthpiece arrangement as the gag with loose rings and see how he likes that..... I cant see that the poll action would be effective if on the snaffle ring with the ring being loose. It might just be the mouthpiece he likes

Above posters are correct in saying that the action of a hanging cheek would be lost if it was loose ring

 

[DuckToller]

Just had a daft thought - buy a second hand dutch gag and get someone to lob off the bottom two rings. Doubt many judges would notice!