It’s incredibly frustrating that they’re making that determination based on incorrect data. But… Not surprised I guess.
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Hillary Clayton may understand biomechanics, but evidently doesn’t understand basic physics.
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I wonder if anyone can reach out to Dr. Clayton to ask for her force analysis for Baucher bits.
This is almost 2 hrs long
I have not found any published research that clearly explains how she concludes the Boucher applies some sort of lever force
Dr. Hilary Clayton Offers Many Prescriptions For Bits (equisearch.com)
I haven’t actually measured one myself, but the Fager Baucher bits say they are USEF legal. It doesn’t show where they measure though.
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She certainly does not make that conclusion in that video. Basically the only thing she says is that the FEI no longer allows Baucher bits to be used as bridoons with a double bridle.
Editing to add that I found this: https://www.usdf.org/EduDocs/Tack/Bitting_The_Inside_Story.pdf
“Baucher. The Baucher snaffle also
has a single joint, but its mechanics are
different from those of the loose-ring
snaffle because of the method of at-
tachment to the bridle cheekpieces and
the reins. With a Baucher, the cheek-
piece attaches to a small upper ring
that does not allow the mouthpiece to
rotate around it. Consequently, the
mouthpiece is fixed in a more elevated
position on the horse’s tongue than the
loose-ring snaffle. In this position, the
bit’s joint is adjacent to the horse’s
palate and the mouthpiece has rela-
tively little mobility, so it is difficult for
the horse to move the bit to relieve pres-
sure on sensitive structures.”
It seems if she’s concerned, it’s about the way the joint is pressed up into the hard palate (she discusses hard palate shapes and various things horses may do to escape unwanted hard palate pressure) and cannot be moved to a more comfortable position by the horse.
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Yes, be careful with makers claims and check yourself. If it is found incorrect, the USEF will not accept “Fager said it was legal” as a defense
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Bombers makes a “baby” baucher with a much shorter cheekpiece; I worked for a bit fitter recently and it was basically the only baucher she recommended. You won’t find it on their webpage though, or in stores - you can email them to request it made!
They could tell you how long the purchase of the cheekpiece is, I don’t have one on hand to measure unfortunately. But it’s significantly shorter than their standard baucher.
Looks like the work cited in that article was done by Dr. Jane Manfredi when she worked in the McPhail Center through the Merck-Merial Veterinary Scholars Program.
I found the paper,
Manfredi, Jane M., et al.
“Fluoroscopic Study of Oral Behaviours in Response to the Presence of a Bit and the Effects of Rein Tension.”
Comparative Exercise Physiology , vol. 6, no. 4, Dec. 2009, pp. 143–48. EBSCOhost , https://doi.org/10.1017/S1755254010000036.
From the abstract
**Repeated-measures ANOVA indicated that behaviours did not differ between bits, so bit type was not predictive of behaviour, but there were significant effects of horse and rein tension. Horses spent less time quiet and more time mouthing the bit, retracting the tongue and bulging the tongue over the bit when tension was applied but there were significant effects of horse and rein tension. Horses spent less time quiet and more time mouthing the bit, retracting the tongue and bulging the tongue over the bit when tension was applied.
ANOVA says the bit type was not predictive of behavior???..so what leads USDE/USEF to the conclusion the “Bauchers are bad???”
There is some sort of cosmic insight that “Horses spent less time quiet and more time mouthing the bit, retracting the tongue and bulging the tongue over the bit when tension was applied???”…eg., bad hands make horses anxious?
Found the paper on ResearchGate
Manfredietal2010Fluoroscopicstudyoforalbehavioursinresponsetothepresenceofabitandtheeffectsofreintension.pdf (624.4 KB)
Edited to add that this paper does not include work on Baucher snaffles. It does make these statements
The presence of a bit and/or the application of excessive tension has also been associated with behaviours that are generally regarded as indicative of discomfort, such as drawing the nose back onto the chest, opening the mouth, grasping the bit between the premolar teeth, grinding the teeth, putting the tongue over the bit and sticking the tongue out. These behaviours are readily visible to an observer, but there may be other more subtle intra-oral behaviours that are not visible externally.
-snip-
There were significant effects of horse and tension,
> but not of bit. Significant interactions were present
for horse x tension, bit x tension and horse x bit
x tension but not for horse x bit. Thus, individual
> horses varied in how the application of tension
> changed their behaviour (Fig. 3). Rein tension was
associated with less time spent quiet, and more time
spent mouthing, retracting the tongue and bulging
the tongue. The findings support the hypothesis that
[u] rein tension affects the amount of time spent in different intra-oral behaviours, but do not support the hypothesis that type of bit affects the pattern of intra-oral behaviour."
As a closet statistical nerd, I like to see the researchers do statistical tests of their results…and all I see is that bits have no effects but rein tension is correlated with evasive behaviors.
Seems like this is statistical proof of something horsemen have known for centuries.
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I have a very hot little horse! He’s very fun! When I got him he had been through multiple trainers as he had developed some pretty bad tricks to dump his rider. I’ve had him Three years and we get along really, really well. One of his evasions was\ can be rude rooting. I started him in a kk snaffle and he wants to lean on it. Then I tried a Milar and he hated it. Shaking his little head and stamping his feet!! Seriously! He has a temper. He LOVES the French link Baucher, his trot and canter lengthenings can be brave because he comes back easily. Now that the French link in illegal, do you have any suggestions?
He has no dental issues, mouth well cared for by knowledgeable vet. He is sound and comfortable, extremely athletic.
That’s it right there. According to some bit makers, you say?
After reading this discussion, I went out and bought a Baucher, as it seems it might be helpful for my mare and her tongue/poll sensitivities. Thanks, USDF! 
and thanks to the knowledgeable posters here. I’ve had some good discussions with western riders about bits, it’s nice to see a bit discussion on the other side of the arena.
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Me too! Best ad there is for Bauchers!
Yes that is what it said on the manufacture’s tag tag attached to a Bombers Happy Tongue Dee bit I just purchased. Not the first time I read that.
It’s not a point of view, it’s thousands or tens of thousands of hours of study and facts. I get someone not being able to understand, but don’t mistake your point of view as equivalent to experts who use levers and similar for a living.
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I need to read the USEF bylaws on rule changes, but I’m pretty sure from last time I read them that these out of cycle, not reviewed, rule changes are so egregiously in violation I wouldn’t be surprised if lawsuits for what they’re costing people and threatening their nonprofit status come about.
I’ve heard several officials question who is getting payouts for these rule changes, as that’s about where the logic seems.
Since there is no shank on a baucher, and no drawing showing measurements… I’d say technically every baucher is legal.
My bit mouthpiece is shown as legal in the annex, so at least until next whim I’m unaffected personally. But I’m still SUPER PO’d about these nonsensical rule changes seemingly geared toward making bit makers more money.
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whatevah
Well, here’s the baucher I bought. I think it squeaks in as legal. I’m going to send photos to the USDF for clarification. And the mare loves it, of course.
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It must be wonderful never to be wrong about anything. On the other hand, one doesn’t learn much.
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What bit is this? I’ve been thinking about trying a Baucher, and I want to be sure it’s legal. I would love to try showing in something other than the double.
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