Wilkie Snaffle and Hanging Cheek, differences and opinions???

[Bay_Beasty]

Hi,

I currently jump Dougal in a loose ring revolver snaffle (jeffries one). He was fine, however yesterday I took him SJ and I was really feeling a little out of control before the fences. He was jumping o.k (didnt look at anything as usual even the water tray which we had never jumped before), but I was really not able to check him and get him back, especially between fences like the double and the triple, and he just stuck his head down and was off, which resulted in him taking off too late and having the front pole down in the second part of the combination, with his front legs).

I think I may need to change his bit, as before I was spending all the time getting him to have energy going into the fences, and using his back end to push over the properly and not jump flat. Now feels great around the ring, his back end is engaged etc, but I am struggling holding him and getting him to listen to me, he sort of gets to the fence and says 'I know what I am doing'. So I was thinking of changing his bit. I will keep the revolver mouthpiece but I wanted opinions on these types of cheek bits. He is soft mouthed and would back off from anything strong like a gag or pelham, I just want a little more control at the front end.

Which do you think is better to try, not going to pull his head down too much, but give me that little bit more control before the fence.

I hope I have explained myself O.K with this. All help and suggestions welcome. I am going to stop going to shows now and just concentrate on lessons and schooling until I feel we are back working together, especially as it is a waste of my money and time.

 

[beatrice]

My Mare sounds similar.

For the last year i have showjumped her in a wilkie (with lozenge) which she really liked. Just gave me a bit more control with out upsetting her (very easily done) However she has started to take a slight objection to it in that she has started throwing her head around when i take a good check (dentist is on way). so i jumped her in a hanging cheek at the weekend which she really likes. Was still onward etc but could take a check without her throwing her head in my face. Shes still probably a little stronger than i would like in the hanging cheek but would rather that than getting smacked in the face by her head!

I would try both and see what yours prefers. I have a feeling i may have to laternate between the 2.

 

[Tnavas]

The Wilkie will be a lot stronger than a hanging cheek which really acts just like a Fulmer without the cheeks.

Having the headpiece fixed in place and the rein fixed it rotates the joint in the mouth so makes the bit stronger.

 

[jumptoit]

The wilkie will have more poll pressure as it has a loose ring action whereas the hanging cheek can only pivot about a fixed point.

http://www.sustainabledressage.com/tack/bridle.php#loose-ring (scroll down quite a bit!)

The wilkie is more similar to a continental gag but the action is not as severe.

 

[lauraandjack]

I would definitely say that a wilkie is stronger than a hanging cheek, as it has something of a gag action.

I'd try a hanging cheek first. I use one for flatwork on my sec D. He used to be in a loose ring french link, but was very strong and leany in canter and I felt like I was forever hanging on to his mouth (at the time he would just shoot forwards if you gave the contact).

So, we swapped to a hanging cheek french link, and he loves it. It gave just that extra bit of brakes that I needed, and he's so happy in it that I have never swapped back even though he has come a long way in his schooling since then. Oh, the joys of a 12 year old horse that has never had any proper schooling!