[buck1173]

I'd like to experiment with the bit below, however, I've never used one, and am curious how to adjust it?

I typically let my snaffles hang a touch lower rather than higher, encouraging the horse to pick up the bit and hold it where comfortable (ie, no wrinkles in the mouth corners, or just barely a hint of one).

can I adjust this bit in a similar fashion? or must it be more snug?

second question, I just want to be clear that there is no leverage with this bit, correct? no poll pressure? I read the recent dialog here about it, and left with the feeling that it is a true snaffle, however, when shopping for this bit, its overwhelming in the sales literature about it "having the extra control of poll pressure".... not my goal at all, so just wanted to ask one more time.

thanks all!

[Dawn]

Let your horse tell you where he wants it. (Of course that also depends on just how low you're letting them hang.)

It does not have poll pressure. No leverage.

[buck1173]

Yes of course, I just wasn't sure if these are different animals than more common snaffles and I should be more learned going in. I realize its approximately similar to a fc with keepers, but I've not ridden much in that outfit either.

thank you!

[Dawn]

I rode just the other day for the first time with a full cheek with keeper setup. Let me tell you, for the horse in question, I was in love. It will feel different when you're riding in it, but that's really the biggest difference.

[harli36]

I typically let my snaffles hang a touch lower rather than higher, encouraging the horse to pick up the bit and hold it where comfortable (ie, no wrinkles in the mouth corners, or just barely a hint of one).

That is ideal for me too but horses have different shaped lips sometimes if you let a bit hang low enough to cause no wrinkles it is hanging too low in the mouth because that horse has large lips.

A baucher is a snaffle and yes I would try to hang the bit in the same position as you would any other snaffle.

And no boucher bits definitely do not have leverage (it is even listed as a snaffle by show organizations like USDF). You need to have BOTH a purchase and a shank in order for leverage to be created on any bit, since a boucher has only a purchase it is physically impossible for this bit to have ANY poll pressure/leverage/curb action.

Tack stores and people in general really typically don't understand the bits they use and how they work which is why you will always get incorrect bit descriptions in tack stores. Plus the tack stores are selling this bit to their clients if their client is buying this bit because they think (even if incorrectly) that it has a small amount of leverage the tack store is going to advertise it like that to make their customers happy. I can't even begin to tell you how many times I've seen a bit (not just a boucher) incorrectly described or shown upside down, called the wrong name etc... in tack stores. Go with the showing organizations they usually know more then the tack stores

[buck1173]

Yep, its been a couple of years since I have, and fireworks didn't go off on that horse... but my current one I think might benefit from a bit that is more stable in his mouth.

I don't have keepers on any of my headstalls, so I figured I'd give this a go.

thank you so much!

[Dawn]

I actually used baling twine (how redneck of me I know), so that I wouldn't have wasted the couple of bucks on keepers if it didn't go over well.

[buck1173]

Harli, thanks, yes I always experiment with adjusting for each horse's mouth... some like a little more slack, some like a slight wrinkle in the corner, it all depends as you said.

With a new bit, or new mouth, I always adjust a tad on the low side and then work my way from there, allowing the horse to tell me what they like best... I guess what I'm saying is that I've yet to see the need to adjust a horse to where he's smiling, but I'm not nearly as experienced as most of the folks here, and I sure could've made some mistakes thus far.

I was just curious if the boucher is inherently different because of its design and I should be considering something that might not have occurred to me.

thanks again!

[buck1173]

Originally Posted by Dawn

I actually used baling twine (how redneck of me I know), so that I wouldn't have wasted the couple of bucks on keepers if it didn't go over well.

you know I was thinking that!?!? I was considering macgyver'ing some bit keepers for my fc as I was having a really hard time find the boucher I wanted (french link AND not stainless) at a reasonable price.

But then I happened across this one, so figured I'd just give it a ago.

thanks so much!