Is a full cheek snaffle permissible for pleasure driving ? (in a Welsh Pony/Cob show) My little mare is most comfortable in her full cheek and I haven’t had a chance to get a proper half cheek for her with the same mouthpiece.
Thanks
Full cheek may be considered incorrect in Pleasure Driving, where traditional bits are more the norm.
You also face the issue of longer cheeks catching on things, so she may get bumped in the mouth more.
Do you use the holders/bit keepers to keep the cheeks in place on the bridle? I never ran into any use of them until we joined Pony Club years ago, and any bit with cheeks, half or full, had to have the bit keepers on the bridle. I did come to appreciate them for changing how the mouthpiece laid across the tongue, because the old mare never went better for the kid. We used an egg butt half-cheek for her, and have always used that bit with bit keepers on the horses since then. Does look a little odd if you never saw a half cheek set with the cheeks up like that, but there is no chance of bit snagging or bumping the mouth. We do get questions about it now and then, the “why” of using bit that way.
I have never seen the half cheeks prevent bit being pulled into the mouth unless there is a leather chinstrap on the rings. Longer cheeks were supposed to prevent that, but don’t if horse gaps mouth open big during hard pulls. Just a driving bit tradition from the past, not really effective for the reasons old-timers told me. However with the cheeks UP, bit keepers in use, that bit can be just what the horse needs with a totally different feel of hanging, jointed mouthpiece. I find quicker response time, horse has no “delay time” while bit moves into working position with rein pulls.
I am not sure if Welsh show Judges would come from breed background or from Carriage Driving background, to know the correctness in your use of the Full Cheek bit in Driving classes. Performance classes like Obstacles, probably no issue with the Full Cheek because they are timed with points. While Pleasure, Turnout, Lady or Gentleman to Drive, are more Traditional in Judging, so Judge would expect a traditional Driving bit.
The Welsh section of the USEF Rulebook makes no comments on bits, so that would be taken as any bit is permissable.
The Welsh Pony & Cob Society of America has a seperate Rulebook publication on their website (odd that a USEF reckognized breed would have a different version of rules than the ones reckognized by USEF). LOn the subject of bits and pleasure driving this referance says , “Article 113.1.4 Bits Snaffle bits and other types of traditional driving bits are allowed. Bits may be covered with rubber or leather.”
Also in the WPCSA rulebook Pleasure Driving and Carriage Driving have 2 seperate sets of rules. They also have Draft Driving, Roadster, Fine Harness and Formal Driving. http://welshpony.org/HISCORE6web.pdf
Your best referance would probably be to e-mail or call someone who is active in your local club.
Thank you so much for all of the great information !!
I need to buy trace extenders anyway, and will continue my search for the right driving bit for her.
It really is just coincidence that I have a full cheek snaffle for her. The bit was given to me and she loves the mouthpiece. No, I don’t use keepers on it, they tend to stabilize the mouthpiece too much for her liking. She is a very well schooled dressage pony, @ 2nd level, so no issues with pulling 
thanks again !!!
I don’t think its a good idea. You’ll face the issue of longer cheeks catching on things, so she may get bumped in the mouth more.
[QUOTE=betinaB;5780454]
I don’t think its a good idea. You’ll face the issue of longer cheeks catching on things, so she may get bumped in the mouth more.[/QUOTE]
Sounds like the OP’s pony would rather have it float, so not a problem. Mine likes a 4 ring wilson bit that floats & bumps around. Some horses are like that.
