Question about cheek pieces on bits?

[JaniceH]

I am slowly working through my Horse Ownership cert and I am slowly learning about different bit actions in the mouth, but I am a little stuck on cheek pieces. I think I know what they whys and wherefores are but I am not 100% sure.

Imagine that we are just talking about a normal single link snaffle mouth pieces only, which would you choose:

An eggbutt rather than a hanging cheek?

A hanging cheek rather than a fulmer, same type of bars at sides of mouth but with a loose ring.

If a loose ring has the potential to pinch the horses mouth, so rubber round mouth guards are used, what are the benefits of a loose ring?

If anyone could also direct me to any decent bitting websites I would be very grateful.

[H & Bailey]

An egbutt is just a basic snaffle,the next step up is a full cheek ie snaffle with sides to aid with steering.Then a fulmer as you can use loops which attatch to the cheek pieces and slot onto the side bars giving the steering but also a touch of poll action for a bit more control.the hanging cheek is next or also called a baucher it gives alot more poll action than the others or so i am told.The loose rings just stop a horse getting hold and fixing the bit in its mouth?
please correct me if i am wrong

[Mehitabel]

An eggbutt rather than a hanging cheek?

a hanging cheek suspends the bit in the mouth - it is 'hanging' off the top rings so there's less tongue pressure. there's also a small amount of poll pressure, but very little compared to other bits. hanging cheek snaffle pic (http://www.equestrianworld.co.uk/prodimgs/thumb/Eldonian_hanging_cheek_snaffle.JPG)

the eggbutt has no 'extra' action. the fixed rings keep the bit relatively still in the mouth, so it always acts on the same place, and so is good for horses who appreciate a more exact action.

eggbutt (http://www.equestrianworld.co.uk/prodimgs/thumb/BI519.jpg)

so you'd choose a plain eggbutt snaffle if your horse had no trouble acceptign tongue pressure, and disliked a bit that moved around in the mouth. it's a 'default' bit for many, as it is very basic and acts on only the most basic areas of the mouth. most of our school ponies are in eggbutt snaffles.


A hanging cheek rather than a fulmer, same type of bars at sides of mouth but with a loose ring.

i think you might be confused with names here - are you thinking of a full cheek snaffle? (http://www.adamspetsupplies.com/images/store/item_411.jpg)
the full cheek, when you use one rein, gives pressure on the opposite side of the face - it guides the nose round. good for babies as it gives help with steering,. also if the horse opens its mouth, the bit can't slide through the mouth as a small ringed bit can.

a fulmer, (pic here, although this one is upside down) (http://www.equestrianworld.co.uk/prodimgs/thumb/BI542.jpg) is like a full cheek but loosering. the diference between fixed (eggbutt) and loose ring is that the mouthpiece can be moved by the horse. it's a less exact action, as the horse can play with the bit and move it round, but many horses dislike the 'deader' feel of a fixed mouthpiece and like to play with the bit and relax their jaw better in one.

benefits of a loosering - as above. petal backs off an egbutt - she needs to be able to play with the bit and mouth on it. she's better now, but a couple of years ago she hated the eggbutt bit. copper is the other way round - he constantly mouths at a loosering to the point where he isn't listening to any aids as he dislikes the bit moving in his mouth.

[Mossy]

Bits .... A perennial question. Try reading a bit of magic by Alix Etherinton or, Elwyn Hartley Davis has written a good one. PersonallY I would not recommend any specific bit as a generic good one. It depends on the horse's moth conformation, what the rider wants and their level of expertise, and above all what the horse finds comfortable!
Basically snaffles have either the cheek pieces attached level with the mouth piece, or, as in the hanging cheek or, multi link snaffles - they are NOT gags - the mouth piece is suspended from the cheek pieces. Any degree of difference in level between mouth piece and cheek piece indicates a poll action of the bit.
The second variable is the side rings, fixed or loose ring.
The third is the mouth piece. That can be straight bar, single link, or double linked. The single link can really pinch the horse's tongue if the reins are pulled. [Try it sometime with the bit round your forearm] Lots of folks like a double linked snaffle as it is said to have less of a pinch. [ Again try it]
Fourthly what is the bit made of, stainless steel, sweet iron, plastic, rubber, vulcanite etc, each have their place and preference.
As any mouth piece can be made with any sidepiece, and made of any available material. The limiting factor is your horse and your budget.
PS that is just the snaffles the curb family are another ball game.
Sorry to go on but bits fascinate me!!!

[JaniceH]

Thanks for all that info, it is so easy to get confused with names, especially when there are such subtle differences in action. Thanks Mossy for that book information, I will look that up and see if I can get a copy. Thanks Es, most of the school ponies I know are either in normal eggbutt snaffles or the double linked eggbutt snaffles, so I don't normally come across anything else. But the same as not everyone wears the same size and style of shoe, each horse has to be taken on it's individual needs and shape and type of mouth, so the more I learn, the better I will be able to judge if my horse is happy with the bit and know what alternatives there are (and then get the right help to find the right bit!). Thanks H & Bailey, its also good to find out the stages of strength of the snaffle as well, so that will help me too.

[cvb]

there's also the "fatness" of the bit to consider in relation to the horse's mouth. Generally a "fat" bit is seen as kinder - spreads the pressure over a wider area. But if a horse has a small mouth, fleshy tongue etc - a fat bit can actually be a problem.

For some reason, loose rings tend to be a bit skinnier than eggbuts.

Also the loose rings give you a bit more chance to move each side of the bit independently. The more "fixed" the bit is, the more any movement is translated through the whole bit. ie even if you are just using left rein, right side of mouth will be affected.

A loose ring also has a bit (no pun intended) more chance for the horse to lift the bit in its mouth, or at least let it have some vertical movement. Because the bit is more moveable, you tend to get a more "active", live feel from the horse (IMHO).

(as you may have gathered, I like loose rings - specifically french link loose rings).