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Bits
Jan 25, 2009 11:27:18 GMT
Post by kitcat on Jan 25, 2009 11:27:18 GMT
Please could someone explain the different ways that an eggbutt snaffle and hanging cheek snaffle work. Sorry if I've got the names wrong but I'm not at all knowledgable about bits.
The reason I ask is that the horse I hack out on normally has a hanging cheek snaffle but yesterday was in an eggbutt snaffle instead. Now, what I'd like to find out is whether this is at all responsible for the change I felt in him. He was much more relaxed, didn't pull or throw his head about at all even when the horse in front was out of sight whilst we were cantering. Normally he would be pulling like a train demanding to go faster.
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Bits
Jan 25, 2009 11:37:43 GMT
Post by fleabitten on Jan 25, 2009 11:37:43 GMT
Ok, will give this one a go! Eggbutt snaffle - has a nutcracker action if there is a single jointed mouthpiece. so when you pull the reins it goes into an arrow shape and puts pressure on the bars and a wee bit of the tongue. Thats really all there is to an eggbutt. a hanging snaffle is a bit stronger as there is an extenstion to it - the cheekpieces attach onto here so when the reins are pulled, a bit of pressure is exerted on the poll. This could be why your horse was shaking his head about, because he doesnt like the pressure on his poll. Again, if the mouthpiece is single jointed as described above then it will have that action as well. However, there are several types of mouthpiece but the single jointed is the most common, so wil only describe it so as to try not to confuse you! Ceej did a post on dannyboy's thread about different shapes of mouth. If he has a small mouth with a low roof (e.g. an arab shaped head) then a single jointed mouthpiece would hurt him because the joint would be poking the roof of his mouth. There is a pony who is araby at my RS and he shakes his head around a lot - he has a single jointed snaffle. Usually, a single jointed is used without any problems on a lot of horses though. Hope this answers your question!  |
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Bits
Jan 25, 2009 11:56:33 GMT
Post by kitcat on Jan 25, 2009 11:56:33 GMT
Thanks Flea that's really helpful. Both bits are single jointed. I'm not sure what shape mouth he has. He's a warmblood. Any ideas?
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Bits
Jan 25, 2009 13:44:23 GMT
Post by zara on Jan 25, 2009 13:44:23 GMT
Don't know enough on the shape of WB's mouth's to comment but echo fleas comments above. I have had 2 arabs and neither tolerate a single jointed bit. I ride my current arab, AJ, in a hanging cheek, Myler comfort snaffle and we love it! Zx
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zoon
Apprentice Poo Picker
Posts: 482
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Bits
Jan 25, 2009 19:24:44 GMT
Post by zoon on Jan 25, 2009 19:24:44 GMT
warmbloods have low palates and very large fleshy tongues so generally should be bitted with thin double jointed mouthpieces
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Bits
Jan 27, 2009 16:07:24 GMT
Post by fleabitten on Jan 27, 2009 16:07:24 GMT
Oh yes, just thought of this today. If both the bits were single jointed then its not likely that it was the mouthpiece that was annoying him. More likely to be the poll pressure |
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