French link vs. O ring snaffle

[Annasmom]

:) Well right now me and Anna are in an O ring snaffle with just a regular jointed mouthpiece.. that is working just great.
I really don't even use the bit except for refinement and collection purposes
although now and then on a turn she doesn't listen well...

I was wondering the difference a french link mouthpiece works as opposed to just a regular jointed snaffle.
I know the difference in appearances.
I've read some things on the internet but i'm still not sure I really understand how it affects your horse
maybe someone can help me out?

The reason I ask is that my trainer rides her horse in french link snaffles only.. so just curious pro's and con's.
Wasn't planning on switching but i'd like the input.

Also part 2 lol.. is about bit size. I've always used 5 inch with Anna just because thats what I've always had I guess
I didn't know it was that big of a deal. how would I know if thats inaccurate?

[Cat]

You are talking about 2 different parts of the bit. A french-link can come in O or D ring. The "ring" is the part you see next to your horse's mouth when the bit is in place. Its what the reins connect to.

Now when you are discussing "french link" you are talking about the actual mouthpeice. There is the most common - a single jointed or "broken" mouth peice. This is where it bends right in the middle & is your standard bit. A french-link has 2 breaks. There is also arched mullen mouth, straight bar, barlink, etc that you can get for a mouth peice and all of these can come on any of the ring types.

[luv2show]

Yup, I agree with Cat :)

[Annasmom]

O sorry I guess thats a bad way to put it.. I do know the ring is on the ouside (DUH) sorry blonde moment.
ok pretend I said regular snaffle. ;)

right I know it means it has two breaks but how does that change the way it functions in your horses mouth.
Let me go edit my post it makes no sense haha to what I was actually trying to ask sorry!

[Cat]

OK - here is a single jointed:
http://www.statelinetack.com/productimages/standard/104863.jpg


Here is a french link:
http://www.statelinetack.com/productimages/standard/104846.jpg

And arched mullen:
http://www.statelinetack.com/productimages/standard/104845.jpg

All 3 are on a "eggbutt", but you can get them on a D, Full cheek, or regular ring.

[Annasmom]

hehe cat I think your misunderstanding.
I know the difference in appearance :)

I just want to know what difference it makes for your horse.

[Cat]

Ok - the big way of how it works is that it gets rid of some of the "nutcracker" effect that a standard snaffle can produce because the middle link gives the tongue relief and keeps it from being pinched. Also, horses with a small mouth or low pallet can be jabbed in the top of the mouth by a regular snaffle and a french-link prevents that. Its a milder bit while still giving the same cues.

[WashingtonBay]

The french links are usually milder... depends some on the shape of the link. It's less solid, so that tends to make them milder on the tongue, relying more on the corners of the mouth... like trying to push a chain, it breaks and bends over the tongue instead of applying pressure. Some horses like that better... those who have a low palette and/or are fussy about the tongue.

[Cat]

BTW - I posted my 2nd one (with the pics) before I read your 2nd post asking about function. LOL - it took a bit to find the photos!

[Annasmom]

Cat- Sorry you went to all that trouble haha its a good illustration for others who might now know :)
thats interesting though I always thought it would be harsher. It looks like it would pinch the tongue but maybe I'm mistaken.

WB- thanks thats helpful. So if some horses really like it than others probably have a real disagreement to it?
I guess theres no reason to change bits I was always curious to see though.

[WashingtonBay]

Lay your single joint snaffle over the palm of your hand and apply pressure to it... then do the same thing with a french link.

No - there's no reason to change if Anna does well in the one you have. I actually think french links give a mushier cue and prefer the standard old single joint.

[Annasmom]

o hmmmm very interesting! I'll have to borrow my trainers french link for my palm ahha

yeah and we both know Anna hates mushy cues. man that girl is smart ask her correctly and she'll do anything you ask ask wrong and you'll be crying and red mad by the end on the ride :)

[Palogal]

Sometimes they find that little plate in the middle wiggling around annoying too and feel the need to endlessly try to play with it. :)

[cloedoll]

I know your question was already answered, but really, it just depends on what the horse prefers and some just don't care, lol. Cloe was in a d-ring w/ your standard jointed mouthpiece and I switched her to a d-ring w/ french link mouthpiece and she is doing so much better in it. As for Keidas, he really doesn't care. He's been in a Kimberwick w/ low port, loose ring snaffle w/ jointed and now a d-ring w/ jointed mouthpiece.

[oursarge]

I'm changing my CS Horse to a French Link, he does have a small mouth and the bit really seems to bother him, he's had his teeth all done over [They were in bad shape when his foster mother got him] and I had them checked and got an OK with them. He's so good then gets the bit in his mouth and he rides OK but is always chewing on it, his foster mother uses the French Link on her horse and says it's better for him so I'm going to try it and see if there is a difference. I hope so, I hate that bit biting. Our mare used to do that 'til we changed her bit and now she's better.

[Annasmom]

palo- yeah that would be Anna :)

Cloe- yeah I'm not sure Anna does either.. when I bought her she was in some type of really long shanked bit. Which was totally unnessecary since she was 4 and a roping horse. And then she was in a tom thomb for a little (I know kill me! I didn't know anything about bits until a trainer told me to throw that out and educated me on it.. woo.. poor girl.) Then she was in a loose ring, then an O ring , now she is in just a regular jointed no pinch o ring. Haven't seen much difference except with the tom thumb she didn't want to do anything (which is understandable.)

oursarge- Let me know what changes you see :)