Bit suggestions: New USDF Baucher regulations

I think there is an easier way to explain it (although I concede that if it were so easy, everyone would have accepted it by now!).

Basically, for a bit to have any leverage action, the reins have to be attached below the plane of the mouthpiece in the mouth. So in a bit that has a shank below the mouthpiece, it’s obvious how the leverage works: the cheekpiece of the bridle holds the bit in place (anchors it against the poll), while the reins pull the bit towards the rider which effectively pulls the bit onto the tongue and lower jaw. In a curb or pelham or Kimberwick, that action also tightens the curb strap or chain underneath the jaw.

An Uxeter Kimberwick has rein-slots that allow you to position the reins either in a “neutral” (i.e., on the same plane as the mouthpiece) position or in a position below the mouthpiece (a leverage position), plus the curb chain action.

A Myler bit with rein hooks allows you to use some leverage even with what looks like a straightforward, non-leverage snaffle bit because you’re attaching the reins below the mouthpiece’s plane.

The reins when attached to a Baucher bit are on the same plane as the mouthpiece. There simply cannot be any leverage. I don’t know if Myler makes a Baucher with rein hooks, but if they do, that could provide some leverage, but only because of the hooks. And of course there’s no curb chain involved. (If you added rein hooks and a curb chain, you’d effectively have an Uxeter Kimberwick).

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I know Fager makes a baucher with a sliding ring. That would be different and more equivalent to a 2 ring gag.

How? The rein is still at the same plane as the mouthpiece, not below it.

I think this is the bit you’re talking about? Or is it something different?

Compare to this, where the rein is fixed below the mouthpiece.

https://www.smartpakequine.com/pt/shires-two-ring-copper-lozenge-gag-21115

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Hm, to me, I am not sure what adding the loose ring to the hanging cheek would add, if it did not provide some sort of difference to the fixed ring. Fager doesn’t explain it well, but I did just sketch out the vectors and it does behave the same as a traditional baucher. I’m sure it would not be legal as a baucher, though, with the sliding ring?

A baucher with sliding rings is exactly what it looks like- a hybrid of a baucher and a loose ring. Does not add any leverage at all. (Similarly, if you have a bubble gag and you put the reins on the snaffle ring, there is no leverage.)

This is true, but in addition the cheeks have to be attached above the mouthpiece. So you could flip a baucher upside down and it will act a little funky but it still won’t have leverage.

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I made a little video today, my very patient mare let me pull on the reins to show the action of the bit. I see no leverage. The bit moves back, and it moves up. Does anyone else see leverage?

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Of course not. :slight_smile:

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No…the line of action of the reins is in line with the mouthpiece so there is no fulcrum or “leverage action”.

FYI…for those who will be at Dressage at Devon, it is my understanding that Hilary Clayton will be giving a lecture at DaD. Maybe someone going to DaD can ask her if her studies on the action of bits specifically stated that Bouchers had “leverage” or what her conclusions were regarding Bouchers.

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Echoing sascha’s “Of course not.”

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Last year this bit was specifically shown as legal in the rulebook. I’ve been riding my mare in one for a couple years now, but haven’t shown her this year, so I haven’t measured the length of the cheek piece to see if it is still legal. It does not behave as a gag. I bought it because I tried a couple regular Bauchers on her, and felt that a loose ring would prevent her from hanging on the bit a touch, which it does, similar to a loose ring snaffle vs. an eggbutt.

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it holds the bit up off the horses bars. I have a sensitve TB that hates the bit resting on his bars. The boucher solved our tongue over the bit problem.

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My farrier is going to be going so maybe I can get him to ask if I can’t attend (depends on if I’m needed for baby horse wrangling and how much it is) or really, he’s a better one to ask anyway since he’s more direct anyway

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Anyone tried anything else on their baucher loving horses? Any successes? I’m hoping we end up with small enough bauchers or changes to the rule book, but in the mean time, I think I should also look for a plan b…

We had two in competition last weekend that measured legal. They’re out there. I don’t know which ones they were, but they absolutely exist. I was shocked because every one that I had measured up into that point did not measure correctly. But the TD measured several and two were legal.

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Did the TD measure from the top of the mouthpiece to the top of the cheek ring?

Yes, measured from the top of the mouthpiece to the top of the upper cheek.

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One was right on the line and the TD told the competitor that someone else might measure it as illegal and she might want to look into something else. The other one was clearly under.

just a note to everyone : Jo McCracken at Southeast Sport Horse has posted on facebook that she has an order in for legal boucher bits. [

The picture she posted shows the measurement inaccurately, I think! She is measuring from top part of bit rather than the lower, which would make a couple centimeters of difference

read the first post. the Rule says to measure from the top of the mouthpiece.