New Tack Inspection Rule

Me too!

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The Springier bit has an arrow, the arrow has to be pointing forward on the left side. Weird huh? I always had my trainer double check mine anytime I used one because it could be backwards or upside down or something LOL

With several of the KK snaffles it really isn’t obvious and there’s very little visible difference when attached facing one way or the other.

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Yes. I’m not sure that it makes any difference at all if the arrow is left side pointing forward or right side pointing back for a lot of them. The curvature of the Dynamic RS types, it absolutely matters. But for straighter ones, I’m not sure I can tell any difference at all between the two orientations.

I still don’t see a rule in the main tack area or the annex

I have a Fager bit that I am still not sure I have on the bridle correctly.

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Yes, and some NS bits are same. Essentially the center link of the KK is “rotated” about 45 degrees, making the joints completely in line with the horse’s mouth. Your average, basic, everyday KK (or knockoff) is designed in one plane: the bars of the bit, the peanut, and the joints are all in a straight line perpendicular to the bit rings. When the bit is in the horse’s mouth, the joints will act on the tongue in line with the reins, which is not necessarily in line with the angle of the mouth, and that can cause some discomfort and fussiness in a sensitive horse. The rotation of the center joint in the new KK/NS bits keeps the pressure in line, far less likely to hit the palate, and more comfortable for some horses. Other horses don’t seem to notice the difference.

But if that bit was put in “upside down,” the 45-degree angle would be “backwards” and potentially more uncomfortable than intended. You really have to look at the mouthpiece to see what difference it makes…but if you’re in a hurry putting the bridle back together, it’s a VERY easy mistake to make.

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What sort of mouthpieces do they have?

Never mind. It’s been explained above. :slightly_smiling_face:

I had to look up the website FAQs last time I bought a new one from them because for the life of me I couldn’t figure out which way was right :see_no_evil:

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That explains it. I’ve never used a snaffle with a 3 part mouthpiece.

Leighbo009 for the win!!!

Netg: Great idea to put it on the buckle instead

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Here’s the image of what I was trying to describe, from Herm Sprenger’s website. You can also see the little arrow on the bit end by the left ring, facing forward.

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Thanks. It looks the same when it is backward?

You would have to put it on in a way that the bit could not be changed out after the check. And I can hear it now-people complaining about sticky tape on their leather.

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No. It has the same typical gentle curve on the bars to follow the mouth as any normal snaffle, so you know if it’s obviously it’s “backward” (the bit’s arrow is on the left, but pointed toward rider, instead of forward).

It’s the “upside down” that is easy to miss. When the arrow is on the right side of the mouth, pointing forward, the center link is at the wrong angle, to cause discomfort to palate and tongue.

A basic microsoft-paint illustration:

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Thanks!
I suppose I’d have to have one in my hands to understand. It seems to me that putting it on correctly wouldn’t be that difficult (especially with the arrow) and that the center connection being incorrect would be obvious if you felt it in your hand.

I used to make my sophomore level horse handling/training students disassemble and re-assemble bridles as part of their lab final. You would be AMAZED at the multiple crazy ways people can come up with to incorrectly attach a bit. :joy:

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Perhaps my 50 cents an hour job cleaning bridles, when I was a kid, taught me well. :blush:

Bridles, including full bridles, were completely disassembled, bits and leather cleaned, buckles cleaned and everything reassembled. Same with my horses’ bridles. I enjoyed cleaning tack and using clean tack.

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Yeah, and at least one of them is made to go two different ways for two different effects.

I messed up putting the Fager Nils on my mare. It is kind of like a Myler with cannons inserted in a middle barrel, so the cheeks can spin and get turned around. My mare actually went better when it was on wrong, and got worse when I fixed it! :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:

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I have seen bit checks done at Dressage at Devon.

It is my personal opinion that the reason French Link snaffles are no longer legal in some disciplines is that it is really hard for a volunteer to “feel” the difference between it and the non-legal Dr. Bristol. Therefore they banned the dog bone style French link rather than allow a Dr Bristol to slip through. The lonzenge style link is easy to feel the difference between it and a Dr Bristol so is allowed.

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Pretty sure that is the one (one of the ones?) that works both ways. One way is intended for tongue relief the other for bar relief.

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